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
US biotech Insmed (Nasdaq: INSM) yesterday released positive top-line results from the ASPEN study, a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of brensocatib in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. 29 May 2024
After more than 30 years with neuroscience-focused biopharma Neurocrine Biosciences, founder and chief executive Kevin Gorman is to retire in October - albeit staying on as a board member. 29 May 2024
Russia has suspended state purchases of a number of original anti-cancer drugs due to problems associated with sanctions and the ever-growing isolation of the country in the international arena, The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent reports. 29 May 2024
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) has appointed Patrice Matchaba, as chief executive (CEO), starting June 10, 2024. 29 May 2024
US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson has acquired Yellow Jersey Therapeutics (YJT), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss biotech Numab Therapeutics. 29 May 2024
Cambridge, USA-based Agios Pharmaceuticals closed up more than 23% at $38.81 yesterday, after it revealed it has agreed to sell its rights to its 15% royalty on potential US net sales of Servier’s vorasidenib to Royalty Pharma. 29 May 2024
Chief Executive Officers of the world’s largest generic and biosimilar medicines companies recently met in Vienna, Austria, to provide strategic advice to the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA). 29 May 2024
Sapreme, a Dutch biotech developing next-generation RNA therapeutics for genetically-driven diseases, has appointed Marco Timmers as chief executive. 28 May 2024
The European Commission today approved, under EU State aid rules, the first Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) to support research, innovation and the first industrial deployment of healthcare products, as well as innovative production processes of pharmaceuticals. 28 May 2024
Shares of Swedish biotech Calliditas Therapeutics shot up more than 78% to 202.60 kronor by late afternoon, on news of a takeover bid from Asahi Kasei. 28 May 2024
The drug shortage crisis in the USA, intensified by supply chain disruptions and increased demand, presents a significant opportunity for Indian pharmaceutical companies to offer essential support. 28 May 2024
Australia’s Neuren Pharmaceuticals has announced top-line results from its Phase II trial of NNZ-2591 in children with Pitt Hopkins syndrome (PTHS). 28 May 2024
Privately-held Swiss drug firm Ewopharma it has entered into a strategic commercial collaboration with China’s CStone Pharmaceuticals to gain rights for sugemalimab in Switzerland and 18 Central Eastern European countries (CEE). 28 May 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for Priority Review the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Sarclisa (isatuximab) alongside bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) for transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). 28 May 2024
USA-based Nippon Shinyaku subsidiary NS Pharma has published a disappointing initial analysis from an important trial of Viltepso (viltolarsen). 28 May 2024
Russia has registered a new domestic drug, fluorothiazinone, which is intended for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by microorganisms resistant to antibiotics, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 28 May 2024