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
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), an independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if specific mutations and combinations of mutations alter the behavior of the virus, was convened on November 26 to assess the SARS-CoV-2 variant: B.1.1.529. 27 November 2021
Shares in Merck & Co were 3% down at lunchtime Friday after the company and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics provided an update on the MOVe-OUT study of molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral medicine for COVID-19. 26 November 2021
Not many companies in the pharmaceutical sector can say that they have kept growing and targeting growth through the pandemic, while maintaining the same commitment to their values, patients and employees. 26 November 2021
Preventing regulatory delays from slowing down the journey of new medicines from laboratory to patients in Europe is the ambition behind a new report endorsed by trade associations, patient groups and other organizations. 26 November 2021
US RNA-targeted drug developer Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced on Wednesday that partner Pfizer has provided an update on the Phase IIb study of vupanorsen, formerly IONIS-ANGPTL3-LRx. 26 November 2021
The UK subsidiary of Italian family-owned Chiesi Farmaceutici announced yesterday that pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102) was awarded Innovation Passport status by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on August 25, 021. 26 November 2021
Japanese drug majors Takeda Pharmaceutical and Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma announced today that Takeda will succeed the manufacturing and marketing approval and the marketing rights of Replagal (agalsidase alfa) for Fabry disease, an α-galactosidase enzyme intravenous (IV) infusion, as of February 15, 2022. 26 November 2021
Fitusiran, an investigational siRNA therapeutic targeting antithrombin for the treatment of hemophilia, has shown its efficacy in late-stage trials. 25 November 2021
Japanese mid-size drugmaker Mochida Pharmaceutical and Ayumi Pharmaceutical announced that Adalimumab BS MA (adalimumab biosimilar, code: LBAL) has now been launched in Japan as the NHI (National Health Insurance) drug price has been listed today. 25 November 2021
Privately-held Italian biopharma company Dompé Farmaceutici has announced the sale of six brands to French drugmaker Substipharm, which specializes in niche generic and mature pharmaceutical products. 25 November 2021
Japanese drugmaker Ono Pharmaceutical and its partner Bristol Myers Squibb have announced the approval for the use of Opdivo (nivolumab) in two new indications in Japan. 25 November 2021
The European Medicines Agency’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended granting an extension of indication for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty to include use in children aged five to 11. 25 November 2021
Swiss anti-counterfeit medicine group Fight the Fakes Alliance (FTF Alliance) is gearing up for a week of action to help raise awareness around the issue of fake medicines. 25 November 2021
British specialty medicines firm Essential Pharma today announced the closing of two transactions with fellow UK-based Rosemont Pharmaceuticals. 25 November 2021
US pharma major Eli Lilly says that, following a decision by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), adults with advanced RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will now have access to Retsevmo (selpercatinib), a targeted treatment option, via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) in England. 25 November 2021
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) yesterday put forward proposals to make medicines more affordable and boost transparency on prices and promote joint European Union public procurement. 25 November 2021
The leading Australian trade group for the pharmaceutical industry has welcomed the delivery of a report into the medicines approval process in the country. 25 November 2021
Livtencity (maribavir), an antiviral from Japanese drugmaker Takeda, has won an approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 24 November 2021
A life-changing drug that can improve mobility in children and adults with a rare genetic condition will be available on the National Health Service (NHS) following a new commercial deal, chief executive Amanda Pritchard announced. 24 November 2021