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
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
Zenas BioPharma announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering of 13,235,294 shares of its common stock at an initial public offering price of $17.00 per share. 13 September 2024
US pharma major Eli Lilly and Egyptian firm EVA Pharma have entered into an agreement to expand access to Olumiant (baricitinib) to an estimated 20,000 people in 49 low- to middle-income countries in Africa by 2030. 6 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
Japan’s Eisai and US biotech Biogen today revealed that the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved Leqembi (lecanemab) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 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
San Diego, USA-based biotech AnaptysBio saw its shares edge up 3.6% to $19.95, after it released results from the Phase III GEMINI-1 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of imsidolimab (interleukin (IL)-36R MAb) in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) flares. 10 October 2023
Dutch biosynthetic pharma products specialist Centrient Pharmaceuticals is to open its new innovation lab at Spanish dermatology company Almirall’s R&D center in Barcelona. 10 October 2023
Welcome to The Pharma Letter Podcast for a promotional episode, sponsored by Janssen, where we will deep dive into barriers and challenges in treating major depressive disorder (MDD), and finish with a few reasons for optimism. 10 October 2023
German life sciences and pharma firm Merck KGaA today announced the presentation of new analyses from the Mavenclad (cladribine) MAGNIFY-MS study. 10 October 2023
Swiss pharma giant Roche has announced positive top-line long-term results from the global Phase III BALATON and COMINO studies, evaluating extended treatment intervals with Vabysmo (faricimab) in macular edema due to branch and central retinal vein occlusion. 10 October 2023
The US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is on the lookout for new research that would enhance its analysis of policies affecting the use of obesity treatments - especially research on the use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs). 10 October 2023
Russia is losing its positions in the global drug export market due to difficulties in settlements with foreign partners, caused by sanctions imposed against the country, The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent reports. 10 October 2023
Swiss biotech LimmaTech Biologics has announced the closing of a $37 million Series A financing round co-led by Adjuvant Capital, AXA IM Alts, and the Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund. 9 October 2023
The situation with the availability of modern, original drugs continues to deteriorate in Russia, which is mainly due to ever-tightening sanctions against the country and its growing isolation in the international arena, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 9 October 2023
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter (CRL) in response to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for patisiran for the treatment of the cardiomyopathy of transthyretin-mediated (ATTR) amyloidosis 9 October 2023
New Cleveland Clinic-led research shows that the COVID-19 antivirals Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir)—from Pfizer and Merck & Co, respectively - reduce risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients with mild disease, even with Omicron subvariants. 9 October 2023
Shares of Chinese high-tech biological enterprise Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products leapt 20% to 58.40 renminbi, on the news that it will to co-promote UK pharma major GSK's shingles vaccine, Shingrix. 9 October 2023
More than 20 industry leaders from companies supplying the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) with essential medicines warn that plans to change the Statutory Scheme for branded medicines are unworkable. 9 October 2023
Privately-held Danish dermatology specialist LEO Pharma has named Professor Alexander Egeberg, a globally recognized dermatologist and top key opinion leader as the company’s new vice president, head of global medical affairs. 9 October 2023
Taiwanese biotech company PharmaEssentia has entered into a license agreement with the Irish business of WuXi Biologics for a new immune checkpoint inhibitor. 9 October 2023
India’s Biocon has signed a partnership agreement with Canadian specialty pharma company Juno Pharmaceuticals, for the commercialization of its vertically integrated, complex formulation, liraglutide, a drug-device combination for the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. 9 October 2023