The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to January 27, 2023

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Last Monday Japanese pharma giant Takeda announced a licensing deal with China’s Hutchmed for rights to the latter’s colorectal cancer drug Elunate (fruquintinib). On the research front, US pharma giant Merck & Co released new clinical data for its mega-blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda in two therapy settings – one positive and one missing its endpoint. Also, Ocuphire released top-line Phase II data on its diabetic retinopathy candidate APX3330 that failed to meet the primary endpoint of the study. There was also positive news for Merck &Co, with the US Food and Drug Administration granting a new indication for Keytruda as adjuvant treatment in lung cancer.

World’s 12th VEGF drug will be sold by Takeda