The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight - week to November 19 2021

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell

News of note last week included US Pharma giant Merck & Co releasing new data on its PCSK9 inhibitor MK-0616, which could have a major impact on the cholesterol-lowering therapy sector. US firm Atea Pharmaceuticals had a setback last Tuesday, when partner Roche decided to pull out of a deal on the development of AT-527, a potential COVID-19 antiviral treatment. US biotech Biogen and Japanese drugmaker Eisai’s Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, which gained a very controversial approval from the US Food And Drug Administration, received a negative early trend view from the European Medicines advisory committee, the CHMP, casting further doubt on the future of the drug. Also, Danish diabetes care giant announced a $3.3 billion deal to acquire its long-term partner Dicerna.

Merck’s oral cholesterol lowerer could heap more misery on Esperion