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
French drugmaker Mitem Pharmavhas the worldwide acquisition of Desferal (deferoxamine), a major MITM in hematology, from Swiss giant Novartis. 25 September 2024
The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) is further expanding its focus on life sciences by opening an institute for biomedical artificial intelligence (AI) based on a 150 million euros ($166.8 million) funding from the German non-profit Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation (BIS). 18 September 2024
Novartis is building two new radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facilities in the USA to enhance its supply chain for cancer treatments. This move supports the growing use of RLTs, a form of precision medicine that targets tumors with radiation. 6 September 2024
Belgium’s largest drugmaker UCB announced a strategic divestment deal in China, underscoring its strategic shift towards innovation and partnership in one of the world’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets. 27 August 2024
The UK’s largest pharma company AstraZeneca has rejected claims that it is moving its vaccine operations to the USA, according to media reports. 23 August 2024
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma announced the termination of its exclusive sales rights agreements with AnGes for the HGF gene therapy product, Collategene (beperminogene perplasmid) intramuscular injection targeting peripheral arterial diseases in Japan and the USA. 23 August 2024
UK pharma major AstraZeneca has become the only current UK-lis¬ted company to reach a £200 billion ($256.4 billion) valuation, the Financial Times reported today, noting that it is a vindication of the company’s bet on developing a leading portfolio of cancer drugs. 14 August 2024
US pharma giant Pfizer has announced the publication of real-world results from a cohort of the longitudinal, observational Phase IV THAOS (Transthyretin Amyloidosis Outcomes Survey) study in the Journal of Cardiac Failure. 8 August 2024
Japanese drugmaker Shionogi says that its New Drug Application (NDA) for cefiderocol has been accepted for review by the Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). 5 August 2024
Germany’s Bayer has submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration for approval to market elinzanetant for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS), commonly known as hot flashes, associated with menopause. 2 August 2024
Spanish plasma-derived medicines company Grifols announced with the Andorran government the cancellation of the immunology research center planned for the parish of Ordino. 29 July 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Palforzia (peanut [Arachis hypogaea] allergen powder-dnfp] to include initiation of treatment, up-dosing and maintenance in individuals ages one through three years. 27 July 2024
Vividion Therapeutics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany’s Bayer, today announced it will expand its global innovation capabilities with a new research and development (R&D) center and corporate headquarters in San Diego, California. 23 July 2024
US pharm major Eli Lilly on Friday revealed via a social media posting that it has been granted approval from the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to sell tirzepatide for weight loss in the country. 20 July 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance for industry, “Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Developing Drugs for Treatment,” to help sponsors in the clinical development of drugs to treat pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 19 July 2024
New research finds that growth in the female infertility sector is expected to continue through to 2028, despite being limited by the small number of innovative drugs under development. 14 October 2019
China is currently the second largest pharmaceutical market in the world and is aiming to be a major innovator as well, as part of its ‘Made in China 2025’ program. 14 October 2019
CureDuchenne, a USA-based non-profit group for research, patient care, and innovation in improving and extending the lives of those living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD; Duchenne), over the weekend announced it has initiated the development of a biobank for Duchenne. 14 October 2019
Last week’s deal-making news included Akcea Therapeutics and majority owner Ionis Pharmaceuticals joining forces with US pharma giant Pfizer on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases research. Also, bluebird bio entered into a gene editing deal with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk to tackle hemophilia A. Regulatory news included Swiss giant Novartis announcing that its much-anticipated anti-VEGF treatment Beovu (brolucizumab) for wet age-related macular degeneration had received approval from the Food and Drug Administration. On the M&A front, investors applauded on Thursday when US biotech Ra Pharma agreed to a $2.1 billion takeover offer from Belgium’s UCB. 13 October 2019
The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Reyvow (lasmiditan) tablets for the acute (active but short-term) treatment of migraine with or without aura (a sensory phenomenon or visual disturbance) in adults. 12 October 2019
US trade group the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has raised objections to a drug pricing plan outlined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 11 October 2019
Kitov Pharmaceuticals today announced its combination drug to treat osteoarthritis pain and hypertension is expected to be commercially available in the USA within the fourth quarter of 2019. 11 October 2019
Although Johnson & Johnson is currently resisting pressure to cut the price of a tuberculosis (TB) drug, the company can point to a major investment that shows its commitment to eradicate the disease and HIV within a decade. 11 October 2019
Japan’s Shionogi has entered into a new license agreement with USA-based Hsiri Therapeutics regarding a collaborative research and development program to discover and develop additional novel therapeutics for non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases and tuberculosis (TB). 11 October 2019
Donors at the Global Fund's sixth annual conference have pledged a record-breaking $14 billion for the next three years – the largest amount ever raised for an organization of this kind. 11 October 2019
As the UK’s political leadership continues to signal its intention to leave the European Union at the end of October, “come what may,” the country’s medicines regulator is getting ready to enter the big leagues. 10 October 2019
Privately-held US pain specialist Neumentum has entered into a global licensing agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica and McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals, both part of US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, for the rights to an oral analgesic, JNJ-10450232, plus a portfolio of backup compounds. 10 October 2019
Teaming up with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India’s Health Ministry is looking to halve the time taken to get vaccines approved from the 15 years it normally takes if one follows strict procedures. 10 October 2019
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is today calling on pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson to lower the price of its anti-tuberculosis medicine bedaquiline to no more than $1 per day for those who need it. 10 October 2019
The developer of heartburn med Zantac (ranitidine) has issued a global recall of the product, due to possible contamination with the carcinogenic impurity N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). 10 October 2019
Despite new launches dropping abysmally, India’s pharmaceutical market has grown at its fastest pace in more than a year in the quarter ended September given higher volumes and prices. According to data from market research agency AIOCD-AWACS, the Indian pharma market expanded 11.5% for the quarter ended September 30. 10 October 2019