US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson yesterday announced the acquisition of TARIS Biomedical, a privately-owned US biotechnology company specializing in the development of a novel drug delivery technology for the treatment of bladder diseases including cancer. 21 December 2019
The US Food and Drug Administration is warning that serious breathing difficulties may occur in patients using gabapentin (Neurontin, from Pfizer, Gralise, from Depomed, Horizant, from XenoPort) or pregabalin (Lyrica, Lyrica CR, both from Pfizer) who have respiratory risk factors. 20 December 2019
A large real-world data study has confirmed the safety and effectiveness of Daiichi Sankyo’s Lixiana (edoxaban), in routine clinical practice for older people with atrial fibrillation (AF). 18 December 2019
The billionaire Sackler family moved billions out of their company Purdue Pharma as the net closed in on the firm’s aggressive marketing of potentially addictive opioids, according to numerous reports. 17 December 2019
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of Vifor Pharma’s Veltassa (patiromer) for adults with hyperkalemia in England. 16 December 2019
AstraZeneca has completed an agreement to divest commercial rights to its atypical anti-psychotic Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate immediate release) and Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate extended release) in Europe and Russia to Cheplapharm Arzneimittel. 16 December 2019
The UK’s Diurnal, a firm targeting chronic endocrine diseases, has filed for European approval for Chronocort (hydrocortisone), as a treatment for adults and adolescents with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). 16 December 2019
SanBio and Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma have agreed to discontinue joint development of the regenerative cell medicine SB623 for chronic stroke in the USA and Canada. 13 December 2019
Almirall and Iktos, a company specializing in artificial intelligence for novel drug design, have agreed to collaborate to speed up the identification of promising drug candidates for an undisclosed Almirall drug discovery program. 12 December 2019
German family-owned drugmaker Grünenthal today announced that Dr Jan Adams has been appointed chief scientific officer (CSO) and a member of the corporate executive board effective January 1, 2020. 10 December 2019
Nearly five years after it was granted conditional clearance for use in Japan, Lenvima’s (lenvatinib) authorization has been upgraded to a full approval. 6 December 2019
Paris-based ophthalmics specialist Nicox has outlicensed rights to develop and sell Zerviate (cetirizine) to Samil Pharmaceutical, for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis, in South Korea. 6 December 2019
Companies that manufacture ranitidine and nizatidine have been told to include all lots for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) before making them available to consumers. 5 December 2019
The US Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Orencia (abatacept) for the prevention of moderate to severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in hematopoietic stem cell transplants from unrelated donors. 4 December 2019
Shionogi has launched Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) 20mg/30mg capsules for use by children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japan. 3 December 2019
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has appointed Dr Richard Torbett as its new chief executive from January 1, 2020. 2 December 2019
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Cambrex Corp of the USA by Permira Holdings of the UK. 28 November 2019
Shares in cancer-focused Norwegian biotech PCI Biotech have risen by more than 20% this week with news that the company’s pre-clinical research collaboration with Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca has been extended. 28 November 2019
Osaka-based Ono Pharmaceutical has filed for Japanese approval for tirabrutinib, also known as ONO-4059, for people with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL). 27 November 2019
Hoth Therapeutics has entered into a licensing agreement to study North Carolina State University’s “exon skipping approach” for treating allergic diseases. 27 November 2019
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