The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, today announced that Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against coronavirus, has been registered by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, which becomes the first foreign country to officially register the vaccine. 21 December 2020
The UK is planning to roll out a fast-track drug approval process, following the end of the transition period which has seen the country bound by the European regulatory process. 21 December 2020
Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo has announced the achievement of the primary endpoint of a Phase III study of mirogabalin for central neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. 18 December 2020
Chippenham, UK-based Vectura Group has secured an $11 million milestone payment, after its partner Hikma Pharmaceuticals launched a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline’s Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol) in the USA. 18 December 2020
Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical has won Chinese approval for Edirol (eldecalcitol), an active vitamin D3 derivative, as a therapeutic drug for osteoporosis. 18 December 2020
An outcomes-based deal between Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim and American insurer Highmark has resulted in a 20% cost of care saving, the firms said. 16 December 2020
The production of drugs in Russia for 10 months of the current year grew to 399.1 billion roubles ($5.4 billion), which is 17% higher than in the same period in 2019, according to a recent report from the Russian pharma analytics agency RNC Pharma. 15 December 2020
The European Commission said on Friday it is negotiating intensely to build a diversified portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines at fair prices. 12 December 2020
The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) health ministry says an interim analysis of in-country phase-three clinical trials of Chinese-made Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine has 86% efficacy against the infection, according to a report by the Aljazeera state news agency. 9 December 2020
Swiss firms RetinAI Medical and Novartis are to collaborate in the use of artificial intelligence tools for the development of ophthalmology and digital health products. 8 December 2020
The Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court has ruled that Novo Nordisk's publication of the press release of September 19, 2019: "Tresiba showed an overall lower risk of hypoglycemia and significantly lower HbA1c when compared to insulin glargine U300 in people with type 2 diabetes" was in violation of the Danish Marketing Practices Act and the Danish Medicines Act. 7 December 2020
Sweden’s Orexo has licensed the UK’s Accord Healthcare to commercialize the opioid use disorder (OUD) medicine Zubsolv (buprenorphine/naloxone) in Europe. 7 December 2020
Novo Nordisk announced on Saturday that the US Food and Drug Administration approved an updated label for Saxenda (liraglutide) injection 3mg for use in the treatment of obesity in adolescents (12–17 years) with a body weight above 60 kg and an initial body mass index (BMI) corresponding to 30 kg/m2 or greater for adults, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. 5 December 2020
Age-related disease specialist BioAge Labs has raised $90 million in a series C financing round co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and including new investors Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, AARP Foundation and Phi-X Capital. 4 December 2020
Chugai Pharmaceutical has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Nissan Chemical Corporation, in relation to Edirol (eldecalcitol). 27 November 2020
Randomized, controlled trials are the gold standard for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drugs, said the US Food and Drug Administration yesterday, in a defense of its recent approval of a COVID-19 treatment, the efficacy of which has been questioned by the World Health Organization (WHO). 26 November 2020
The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and the ESTRO Cancer Foundation (ECF) have announced the launch of a new research initiative to explore challenges to the uptake of radiotherapy for lung cancer patients in Europe. 25 November 2020
In a novel approach to raise interest in research that it does not intend to pursue itself, Japanese drug major Astellas Pharma has launched a “Contact for Potential Acquisition of Astellas’ R&D programs” section on its corporate website. 25 November 2020
Gilead Sciences and development partner Eisai have launched the oral JAK1 blocker Jyseleca (filgotinib maleate) in Japan, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 18 November 2020
Daiichi Sankyo has reorganized its business structure, with the creation of a new Oncology unit which brings together its American and European oncology businesses. 13 November 2020
ViiV Healthcare, the specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, today announced the presentation of new real-world evidence and implementation data showing the effectiveness, adherence, and quality-of-life improvement of Apretude (cabotegravir long-acting (CAB LA)) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). 16 October 2024
Jaguar Health today announced the US launch of Gelclair, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved mucoadhesive on the market indicated for the management of pain caused by oral mucositis 16 October 2024
Netherlands-based life sciences venture capital firm Forbion has raised more than 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) across its two newest funds. 16 October 2024
The American Lung Association Research Institute has announced a $22 million research investment in 2024, marking one of the largest lung health research programs in the USA. 16 October 2024
US pharma major Eli Lilly has announced a strategic collaboration with two UK government departments and the devolved nations to tackle significant population health challenges, including exploring new models to better care for people living with obesity. 16 October 2024
TenNor Therapeutics, a Suzhou-based clinical-stage biotech company, has announced the initial closing of a series E financing round, raising over 300 million yuan ($41 million). 16 October 2024
Switzerland-based Novocure saw its shares rise 10% yesterday and leap a further 24% to $22.05 pre-market, after the company received a new US regulatory approval for its key product Optune Lua. 16 October 2024
Shares of Spanish drugmaker PharmaMar leapt more than 28% to 63.70 euros today, after it announced positive clinical trial findings for its combo lung cancer treatment, under development with USA-based Jazz Pharmaceuticals, which rose 4.2%. 15 October 2024
Novartis has discontinued an early Phase II trial of LTP001 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The company confirmed that the decision was not related to safety, with no issues emerging in the study. 15 October 2024
US pharma major Eli Lilly has announced plans to invest around 1.5 billion renminbi ($206 million) into expanding its manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China. 15 October 2024
Spanish dermatology specialist Almirall (BME: ALM) has announced the successful completion of the decentralized regulatory procedure in Europe for efinaconazole. 15 October 2024
French biopharma company Inventiva has announced financing of immediately 94.1 million euros ($103 million) and up to 348 million euros, subject to satisfaction of specified conditions. 15 October 2024
India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has provided a favorable recommendation for its novel antibiotic Miqnaf (nafithromycin) discovered and developed for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adults. 14 October 2024
The Danish Medicines Council (Medicinrådet), responsible for evaluating and recommending new treatments for Denmark’s healthcare system, is facing a significant increase in processing times. 14 October 2024
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will strengthen collaboration between the two health product regulators. 14 October 2024
California-based AI company Suki has raised $70 million in new funding to accelerate the growth of its AI-powered voice solutions in healthcare. 11 October 2024
Pfizer is to present initial findings from its CULTIVATE study of its sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator Velsipity (etrasimod) in Crohn’s disease (CD) at United European Gastroenterology Week 2024. 11 October 2024
Switzerland-based KeyBioscience and US pharma major Eli Lilly have agreed to extend their collaboration on the development of dual amylin calcitonin receptor agonists (DACRA), a new class of potential treatments for obesity and related disorders. 11 October 2024