Look back at pharma news in week to June 22

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell, Editor

Roche’s proposed acquisition of the already partially-owned Foundations Medicine was seen as another targeted cancer drug deal for the Swiss pharma giant. On the regulatory front, there was the clinical hold from the US Food and Drug Administration of Ziopharm Oncology’s CAR-T therapy. Also FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said he was withdrawing the draft guidance in biosimilar, which has raised concerns from industry. Clinical trial results news included one positive story with positive news on Sarepta Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug, named rAAVrh.74.MHCK7, sending the firm’s shares rocketing, and negative outcomes for Anika Therapeutics’ osteoporosis candidate Cingal failing in Phase III.

Roche buys out Foundation Med in $2.4 billon bet on targeted cancer treatment