The Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS) in Mexico has approved humanized anti-soluble aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody Leqembi (lecanemab) for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 5 December 2024
Japanese drugmaker Eisai today that the humanized antisoluble aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody Leqembi (lecanemab) has been launched in South Korea. 28 November 2024
UK-based immunotherapy firm Centauri Therapeutics has secured a £1 million ($1.25 million) grant from PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy) to further develop its Alphamer technology. 25 November 2024
Germany’s Evotec says it has taken notice of the statement made by Halozyme Therapeutics on November 22, stating that it has withdrawn its non-binding proposal to acquire Evotec for 11.00 euros per share in cash. 23 November 2024
Colorado, USA-based OncoVerity announced the closing of a series A extension led by existing investors, argenX and RefinedScience. The value was not disclosed, but this extension follows a $30 million Series A fundraiser in March 2023. 22 November 2024
Sweden-based BioArctic saw its fall 7.5% to 139.90 kronor on Friday, after its announced that its partner, Japan’s Eisa, has updated its revenue outlook for the Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi (lecanemab) for the 2024 fiscal year (FY), which runs from April 2024 through March 2025. 11 November 2024
Danish biotech Gubra announces that Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim has decided to discontinue the development of the long-acting neuropeptide Y receptor type 2 (NPY2R) agonist BI 1820237 in obesity. 4 November 2024
Japanese drugmaker Eisai has completed the rolling submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lecanemab-irmb (US brand name Leqembi) subcutaneous autoinjector for weekly maintenance dosing after it was granted Fast Track designation by the FDA. 1 November 2024
Following a re-examination, the European Medicines Agency’s human health committee, CHMP confirmed its initial recommendation to refuse the granting of a conditional marketing authorization for Masitinib AB Science’s masitinib. 18 October 2024
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and SHINE Europe have secured a 10.5 million euro ($11 million) grant to advance European production of terbium isotopes for cancer treatments. 17 October 2024
Danish dermatology focused LEO Pharma has announced the launch of Anzupgo (delgocitinib) cream in Germany for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE), for whom topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate. 15 October 2024
French pharma major Sanofi revealed it has entered into negotiations with private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) for the potential sale of a 50% controlling stake in Opella, its consumer healthcare business. 14 October 2024
The UK’s new 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access, and growth (VPAG) came into force at the beginning of January this year. 4 October 2024
GigaGen has been awarded a contract by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 4 October 2024
Oxford, UK-based Enara Bio today announces the closing of a $32.5 million Series B financing supported by a strong syndicate of new and existing biotech investors. 3 October 2024
French drugmaker Mitem Pharmavhas the worldwide acquisition of Desferal (deferoxamine), a major MITM in hematology, from Swiss giant Novartis. 25 September 2024
Japanese drugmaker Shionogi has announced that it will acquire full ownership of its joint ventures with subsidiaries of Ping An Insurance. 23 December 2024
Texan biopharma firm XBiotech has announced a suspension of its clinical program in rheumatology, after its Phase II trial for rheumatoid arthritis failed to meet the primary endpoint. 23 December 2024
US pharma major Eli Lilly today announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zepbound its (tirzepatide) as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity. 23 December 2024
AstraZeneca has secured European Commission approval for Tagrisso (osimertinib) to treat certain people with locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 23 December 2024
New York-based Nuvation Bio today announced that the FDA has accepted the company’s new drug application (NDA) for taletrectinib, an investigational next-generation ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for the treatment of advanced ROS1+ NSCLC (line agnostic), for priority review. 23 December 2024
Spanish plasma-based medicines maker Grifols has announced disappointing top-line data from its Phase III PRECIOSA clinical trial evaluating the potential of long-term albumin treatment with Grifols Albutein on patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites, sending its share down 2.4% to 9.27 euros on Friday. 23 December 2024
Denmark has introduced a three-year agreement to regulate price ceilings for hospital medicines, aimed at providing stability for the public healthcare system and pharmaceutical companies. 23 December 2024
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday affirmed a lower district court order against Israeli pharmaceutical maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries requiring its US subsidiary to delist several asthma inhaler patents from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Orange Book. 23 December 2024
French pharma major Sanofi says it has entered into a new chapter of the collaboration with South Korean firm SK bioscience in pneumococcal vaccines, with an expanded agreement to develop, license and commercialize next-generation PCVs for both pediatric and adult populations. 23 December 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved an expanded indication for Imcivree (setmelanotide), from Boston, USA-based Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, to include children as young as two years old. 23 December 2024
US pharma giant Pfizer on Friday revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Braftovi (encorafenib) in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. 23 December 2024
Among significant research news last week, UK drug developer PureTech released positive new Phase IIb data on its deupirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. France’s Sanofi and Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced encouraging new Phase IIb data for their duvakitug in inflammatory bowel disease. Meanwhile, Vertex Pharmaceuticals released Phase II results for its investigational sciatica treatment suzetrigine that failed to impress. Also of note, AbbVie announced strong Phase III results of tavapadon in early Parkinson’s disease. 22 December 2024
Denmark’s Novo Nordisk said late Friday that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Alhemo (concizumab-mtci) injection. 22 December 2024
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted a conditional marketing authorization for Duvyzat (givinostat) to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). 22 December 2024
Epitopea, a UK and Canada-based cancer immunotherapeutics company, has partnered with nucleic acid delivery specialist Genevant Sciences to develop new RNA-based therapies targeting proprietary tumor antigens. 20 December 2024
UK pharma major GSK today released mixed headline results from the FIRST-ENGOT-OV44 Phase III trial evaluating Zejula (niraparib) and Jemperli (dostarlimab) in first line advanced ovarian cancer. 20 December 2024
US biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has announced positive Phase II results for two novel monoclonal antibodies targeting distinct domains of Factor XI, supporting its bid to bring new blood thinners to the market. 20 December 2024
Denmark’s Zealand Pharma has been hit with a complete response letter (CRL) from the US regulator for glepaglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analog. 20 December 2024