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
Zevra Therapeutics revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated it will convene a meeting with the recently formed Genetic Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee (GeMDAC) on August 2, 2024, to review the New Drug Application (NDA) for arimoclomol. 15 July 2024
German active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturer Axplora has appointed Stephan Haitz as president of the Novasep business unit. 19 October 2023
Swiss pharma giant Roche saw its shares fall more than 5% to 254.60 francs this morning, after it posted a cautious forecast for full-year 2023. 19 October 2023
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) late yesterday confirmed that pre-filled pens falsely labeled as the diabetes medicine Ozempic (semaglutide, 1mg, solution for injection) have been identified at two UK wholesalers. 19 October 2023
The life sciences sector contributed £43.3 billion ($52.6 billion) to the UK economy in 2021 through production of goods and services, with pharma manufacturing responsible for a majority of £19.2 billion. 19 October 2023
Japanese drugmaker Takeda has announced that the Phase III ADMIRE-CD II study of Alofisel (darvadstrocel) in complex Crohn’s perianal fistulas (CPF) failed to meet its primary endpoint of combined remission at 24 weeks, based on topline data. 18 October 2023
A firm in Massachusetts, USA, has won approval for a new kind of medicine, a phosphate absorption blocker, which will be used to treat certain people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). 18 October 2023
October marks the annual Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to examine the support and research being afforded to advance pharmacological treatments for this rare condition. 18 October 2023
Despite statements from international pharmaceutical companies about the suspension of new clinical trials in Russia after February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca will conduct a study of a new drug for the prevention of COVID-19 in Russia, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 18 October 2023
A formal disclosure from Aldeyra Therapeutics, suggesting a potential rejection from the US Food and Drug Administration, has stripped around 70% from the firm’s share price. 17 October 2023
Analysis of American prescribing trends made available by health tech pioneer DrFirst show a six-fold increase in prescriptions written for popular weight loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) between December 2022 and June 2023. 17 October 2023
Swedish enzyme specialist Hansa Biopharma has announced results from an extended pooled analysis of the 17-HMedIdeS-14 study, testing the antibody-cleaving enzyme imlifidase. 17 October 2023
With pipeline approvals of varying mechanisms of action and an influx of newly diagnosed patients, the heart failure (HF) market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from $31.9 billion in 2022 to $53 billion in 2032 across the seven major markets. 17 October 2023
Danish company Novo Nordisk has agreed to acquire ocedurenone - a drug in development for uncontrolled hypertension with potential application in cardiovascular and kidney disease - from Singapore biotech KBP Biosciences for up to $1.3 billion. 16 October 2023
If Ireland’s people were not already somewhat pessimistic on Monday following the country’s exit from the Rugby World Cup, they have further reason for gloom, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). 16 October 2023
US pharma major Eli Lilly has released detailed results from the Phase III SURMOUNT-3 clinical trial evaluating tirzepatide in adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related comorbidities, excluding type 2 diabetes. 16 October 2023
Britain’s largest drugmaker, AstraZeneca, has been granted a Priority Review for its bid to broaden the label for Tagrisso (osimertinib) in the USA. 16 October 2023