7 April 2025 Thousands of workers dismissed from the US Department of Health and Human Services this week may soon be reinstated, after health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr admitted that a significant share of the job cuts were made in error.
The ACTION3 Phase III trial of DMX-200 in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was successful in the pre-specified interim analysis of the proteinuria (efficacy) endpoint from the trial’s first 72 randomized patients, Melbourne, Australia-based Dimerix Limited revealed today. 11 March 2024
In a new report, The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of growing resistance to certain HIV medications, while the overall picture on combating the disease remains positive. 11 March 2024
US retinal disease specialist Apellis Pharmaceuticals today announced that Dr Philip Ferrone will join the company as chief medical retina advisor, effective March 18. 11 March 2024
Privately-held German firm Boehringer Ingelheim and Japan’s Sosei Group Corporation have entered into a global collaboration and exclusive option-to-license agreement. 11 March 2024
Shares of Switzerland-based MoonLake Immunotherapeutics were up 10.5% at $50.38 in pre-market activity today, after its Sunday R&D update on its Nanobody sonelokimab. 11 March 2024
Polish cell therapy company PolTREG has received a Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) certificate, allowing it to produce advanced therapies at its own facility. 11 March 2024
Data protection is in the spotlight in Europe, as lawmakers gather to decide on an important set of rules on intellectual property, the Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) law. 11 March 2024
Brazil’s Institute of Drug Technology (Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz) has announced a partnership agreement with the Brazilian unit of the German family-owned pharma major Boehringer Ingelheim. 11 March 2024
India has finalized a trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, marking a significant milestone in international commerce. 11 March 2024
Belgium’s largest drugmaker UCB on Friday announced the first presentations of Bimzelx (bimekizumab-bkzx) four-year efficacy and safety data in the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. 11 March 2024
Generic drugmaker Aspire Pharma today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of fellow UK-based Cenoté Pharma, in continuation of its strong organic growth. 11 March 2024
Germany’s Bayer has entered into deal with USA-based BridgeBio Pharma to commercialize its cardiovascular candidate acoramidis worth $310 million in upfront and milestone payments. Research news last week included Denmark’s Novo Nordisk releasing positive new data on its semaglutide, showing it cut kidney-disease related events in diabetes patients by 24%. Also, Singapore-based TauRx Pharma released new data on its Alzheimer’s candidate hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM). US President Joe Biden is moving further with his intent to bring down drug prices in the USA, with plans not to limit Medicare negotiations to just 20 drugs a year. 10 March 2024
In another win for Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new indication for use for its Wegovy (semaglutide) injection to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight. 9 March 2024
Sino-American biotech BeiGene on March 8 disclosed in stock exchange announcement that it has filed patent infringement suits under the Hatch-Waxman Act against the US subsidiary of Swiss firm Sandoz and separately against Indian-owned companies MSN Pharmaceuticals and MSN Laboratories Private in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. 9 March 2024
With demand for GLP-1 agonists outstripping supply, Zepbound (tirzepatide) developer Eli Lilly has issued a warning against resorting to counterfeits. 8 March 2024
Research undertaken by Californian antiviral specialist Gilead Sciences and fellow American company Merck & Co is moving in the right direction, new data show. 8 March 2024
The uveitis treatment market across seven major markets—the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan—is projected to grow from $522 million in 2023 to $1.5 billion by 2033, according to a report from data analytics firm GlobalData. This marks an annual growth rate of nearly 11%. 8 April 2025
In the USA, the layoffs at health agencies, proposed tariffs on imports and other disruptive policies under President Donald Trump have led some to express concern over a potential ‘brain drain’ impacting pharma and other industries. 8 April 2025
Myricx Bio, a UK biotech focusing on the discovery and development of a novel class of payloads for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), is expanding its team. 8 April 2025
Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan) has been approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2 negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have received endocrine therapy and at least one line of chemotherapy in the advanced setting. 8 April 2025
US biopharma Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has announced positive topline results from the pivotal Phase III TRANSCEND trial evaluating setmelanotide, a melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist, for the treatment of acquired hypothalamic obesity. 8 April 2025
Indian drugmaker Sun Pharmaceutical Industries revealed it has launched fexuprazan tablets 40mg in India under the brand name Fexuclue, which is a novel potassiumcompetitive acid blocker (PCAB) that is approved as a new treatment for adults with erosive esophagitis of all grades. 8 April 2025
Following hot on the heels of Monday’s European Commission EC approval of an indication extension for Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex (daratumumab) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, comes a second EC approval today – this time in lung cancer. 8 April 2025
Ireland’s government remains confident in its ability to retain the country’s strategic position in pharmaceutical manufacturing, despite rising tensions between the European Union and the United States over trade policy. 8 April 2025
At the recent AD/PD 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Cerevance announced that solengepras, a first-in-class G-protein coupled receptor 6 (GPR6) antagonist in development for early PD, failed to meet its primary endpoint in the Phase II ASCEND trial as a monotherapy. 8 April 2025
US biotech company Vertex Pharmaceuticals has received European Commission approval to extend the use of its cystic fibrosis therapy, Kaftrio (ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor), in combination with ivacaftor. 8 April 2025
Australia’s Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a safety notice on isotretinoin, originally sold as Roaccutane by Swiss pharma giant Roche. 8 April 2025
The USA’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Rate Announcement for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Programs that finalizes the payment policies for these programs. 8 April 2025
US biotech start-up RayThera has secured $110 million in series A financing to fund the early clinical development of its small molecule drug candidates in immunology. 8 April 2025
The UK’s Prime Minister has announced action to accelerate the discovery of life-saving drugs, improve patient care and make Britain the best place in the world for medical research. 8 April 2025
Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals industries today revealed two important updates reflecting its commitment to expanding access to both biosimilars and innovative medicines. 7 April 2025
Alzheon, a privately-held clinical-stage biopharma company, presented promising Phase III APOLLOE4 trial results for ALZ-801 (valiltramiprosate) in treating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in APOE4 homozygous patients at the AD/PD 2024 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases (PD). 7 April 2025
South Korean clinical-stage biotech ABL Bio on Sunday announced a worldwide licensing agreement enabling GSK to develop novel medicines for neurodegenerative diseases by utilizing ABL Bio's blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttle platform, Grabody-B. 7 April 2025
China-based biotech DualityBio has named Hua Mu as its global chief medical officer, as the company prepares to ramp up its international clinical development efforts and advance toward key capital market milestones. 7 April 2025
US-listed biotech CASI Pharmaceuticals has received a revised proposal from its chairman and chief executive Wei-Wu He to acquire its business in China along with certain regional rights to pipeline drugs for $20 million. 7 April 2025
Italy-based Angelini Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Angelini Industries, has named Regina Hodits as managing director as it looks to scale its biotech investment activities across Europe and North America. 7 April 2025