6 February 2025 The 90 million euros ($94 million) raised by Orbis Medicines in a series A round was not January’s biggest venture investment by a long stretch. That honor belonged to the whopping $410 million netted by UK obesity group Verdiva Bio, but what Orbis’s VC round does show is the growing interest in macrocyclics as a drug class.
Russia is experiencing a sharp growth in the demand for drugs against diabetes this year, particular those that are also used for weight loss, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 4 February 2025
US President Donald Trump has implemented a series of tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China, but the additional taxes could affect the price Americans pay for generic drugs, with pharma trade groups expressing their fears about the consequences. 4 February 2025
Russia plans to significantly expand the geography of the export of its drugs this year, paying attention both to emerging nations and developed countries, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 3 February 2025
Swiss generic and biosimilars drugmaker Sandoz today revealed that Francisco Ballester, president Region International and a member of the Sandoz executive committee, will retire and step down from the SEC on March 1, 2025. 3 February 2025
This article explores the latest conversations around generic topical and transdermal drug delivery systems (TDS) in the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA dermal pharmacology space, delving into recent guidance updates and examining the challenges facing the development of generic TDS. 21 January 2025
Several of the USA’s biggest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have generated billions of dollars in revenue by charging “enormous mark-ups,” according to the competition regulator. 15 January 2025
Swiss pharma giant Novartis has expressed its satisfaction at a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) that affirms the validity of the Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) combination patent. 14 January 2025
India's Parliamentary panel has come down heavily on the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and directed it to provide a detailed report explaining the recent 50% price increase on 11 essential drug formulations. 30 December 2024
Viatris has disclosed that its oral finished-dose manufacturing facility in Indore, India, is subject to regulatory action from the US regulator, after an inspection earlier this year. 24 December 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed on Monday that it has approved the first generic referencing Victoza (liraglutide injection) 18 milligram/3 milliliter. 24 December 2024
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday affirmed a lower district court order against Israeli pharmaceutical maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries requiring its US subsidiary to delist several asthma inhaler patents from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Orange Book. 23 December 2024
Venture capital firm BC Partners has entered into an agreement under which the private equity business at Goldman Sachs Alternatives will acquire a majority stake in Netherlands-based Synthon, from funds advised by BC Partners. 17 December 2024
Swiss generic and biosimilar medicines major Sandoz today announced a number of steps to resolve the US Generic Drug Antitrust Class Action Litigation. 17 December 2024
Shares of Swedish pharma firm Orexo leapt 20.2% to 20.60 kronor this morning, following its announcement over the weekend that is has reached a settlement agreement with India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries to resolve the patent litigation regarding Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual tablet (CIII), for the treatment of opioid use disorder in the USA. 16 December 2024
Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has entered into an agreement with JKI - established by the fund managed and operated by J-Will - whereby all shares of Teva Takeda Pharma Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Teva Takeda Yakuhin, will be transferred to JKI. 6 December 2024
Sino-American oncology company BeOne Medicines, until now known as BeiGene, has entered into a settlement agreement with MSN Pharmaceuticals and MSN Laboratories Private resolving patent litigation related to MSN’s Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) seeking approval to market a generic version of Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) in the USA. 25 November 2024
Indian drugmaker Aurobindo Pharma has taken on the might of China in terms of Penicillin G pricing, and is doing so by leveraging a fully integrated production process at its new plant. Anticipating the price erosion of Penicillin G, the company has put up an integrated plant from scratch. 10 November 2024
Indian markets are abuzz with a singular refrain. Donald Trump's Presidency of the United States is set to open new opportunities for India, especially in the pharmaceutical sector. 8 November 2024
The European Commission (EC) has accused privately-held API manufacturer Alchem International of breaching European Union antitrust rules by participating in a long-lasting cartel concerning an important pharmaceutical product. 14 June 2024
A New Jersey, USA, federal judge has ruled that five patents covering Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries-brand asthma inhalers were improperly listed in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Orange Book, in a win for US drugmaker Amneal Pharmaceuticals. 12 June 2024
Indian generics drugmaker Cadila Pharmaceuticals, together with the Russian investment fund the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), will invest more than 10 billion roubles ($112 million) in the establishment of a pharmaceutical complex and an injection drug plant in Russia. 11 June 2024
India has become the largest supplier of drugs to the Russian market, overtaking Germany, which had been in the lead for the last two years, reports The Pharma Letter’s Russia correspondent. 4 June 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
UK-based Alliance Pharma (AIM: APH) has successfully appealed against a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ruling that had found the company guilty of breaching competition law. 24 May 2024
Indian biotech major Biocon has signed an exclusive licensing and supply agreement with South Korea’s Handok, for the commercialization of its vertically integrated, complex drug product, synthetic liraglutide. 24 May 2024
On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA0 Center for Drug Evaluation and Research published its fiscal year 2023 (FY23) Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (GDUFA) Science and Research Report. 24 May 2024
The Russian government is considering tightening domestic patent legislation, in a move to respond to numerous calls of global drugmakers, which are unhappy with the level of protection of their original drugs in the local market, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 22 May 2024
Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has appointed Matthew Shields as executive vice president of Teva Global Operations (TGO), the company’s manufacturing and supply division, effective June 3, 2024. 15 May 2024
Norwich Pharmaceuticals has submitted to the US regulator for approval to market a generic version of Xifaxan (rifaximin), a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. 15 May 2024
The Russian Ministry of Health has registered domestic generic of Spinraza (nusinersen), an expensive drug used for the treatment of all types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children and adults, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 14 May 2024
Indian biotech Biocon today announced the signing of a semi-exclusive distribution and supply agreement with Medix, a specialty pharmaceutical company in Mexico, for the commercialization of its vertically integrated drug product, Liraglutide (gSaxenda), used in the treatment of chronic weight management. 13 May 2024
Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries missed estimates relating to earnings and exceeded expected revenue levels in presenting its first-quarter financial results. 9 May 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the vulnerabilities inherent in global supply chains, particularly those predicated on single-country reliance. 2 May 2024
The level of competition in the Russian market of anti-HIV drugs is tightening, due to the plans of global drugmakers to launch their products and expand their existing portfolios, The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent reports. 1 May 2024
Colombia’s government yesterday issued its first-ever compulsory license (CL) for use by the country’s Ministry of Health, to improve access to less-expensive generic versions of the key HIV medicine dolutegravir. 25 April 2024
UK pharma major AstraZeneca has appealed to the Russian Investigative Committee and the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) against Russian drug firm Akrikhin, which produces a generic of the diabetes drug Forxiga (dapagliflozin) during the validity of the patent. 24 April 2024