The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to April 14, 2023

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Significant research news last week included US firm Horizon Therapeutics reporting positive Phase IV data on its thyroid eye disease medication Tepezza, while mRNA specialist Moderna released an ambivalent analysis of its influenza vaccine program. Also, French biotech Genfit announced important developments in its R&D pipeline, notably on elafibranor in cholangitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and on ezurpimtrostat. On the regulatory front, Germany’s Merck KGaA had a setback with its multiple sclerosis candidate evobrutinib last week, when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) slapped a partial clinical hold on its Phase II trial.

Tepezza success should broaden access