The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to December 23, 2022

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Research news last week featured strong Phase III results for Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ investigational drug resmetirom in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis, sending the firm’s share rocketing as much as 270%. Also of note, AbbVie announced that its Vraylar has gained a fourth approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, this one for major depressive disorder. On the deal-making front, Canada’s Zymeworks leapt on the news that Ireland’s Jazz Pharmaceuticals had opted into a previously announced collaboration that could be worth nearly $2 billion for the development of zanidatamab. And Germany’s Merck KGaA last Thursday revealed a new collaboration with Mersana Therapeutics using its STING platform to develop antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

Smash hit in resmetirom’s pivotal trial set up an accelerated approval filing next year