27 November 2024 The strain of opioid use disorder (OUD), a chronic neurological disorder characterized by the compulsive, repeated use of opioid drugs, has weighed heavily on many countries in recent years, especially the USA.
The European medicines regulator has approved a combo therapy starring PD-1 inhibitor Tevimbra (tislelizumab), from cancer firm BeOne Medicines, formerly BeiGene. 27 November 2024
After trading closed yesterday, Exelixis revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the company that the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for cabozantinib (Cabometyx) for the treatment of adults with previously treated advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) and advanced extra-pancreatic NET (epNET) will be discussed at an Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) meeting in March 2025. 27 November 2024
According to a report from industry analyst DelveInsight, the market for Down syndrome treatments in the USA is now valued at almost $250 million. 27 November 2024
The European Commission (EC) has approved a single-vial, fully liquid presentation of Menveo (meningococcal Group A, C, W-135 and Y conjugate vaccine, MenACWY vaccine) to help protect against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by bacterial serogroups A, C, W and Y, UK pharma major GSK announced today. 27 November 2024
The strain of opioid use disorder (OUD), a chronic neurological disorder characterized by the compulsive, repeated use of opioid drugs, has weighed heavily on many countries in recent years, especially the USA. 27 November 2024
Novartis announced today that the European Commission (EC) has approved Kisqali (ribociclib) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) for the adjuvant treatment of patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer (EBC) at high risk of recurrence. 27 November 2024
Chengdu-based Kelun-Biotech has received marketing authorization in China for sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT), a Trop2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). 27 November 2024
The Biden administration has proposed a new rule that could significantly expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for obesity medications, potentially benefiting millions of Americans. 27 November 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the review period for Soleno Therapeutics’ the New Drug Application (NDA) for DCCR (diazoxide choline) extended-release tablets 27 November 2024
AI-powered protein engineering company Cradle has raised $73 million in a Series B funding. The European firm, which has now raised more than $100 million in total, calls itself the leading platform for AI-powered protein engineering. 27 November 2024
Swiss drugmaker Idorsia was trading more than 10% higher by lunchtime on Wednesday. Idorsia earlier announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with an undisclosed party for the global rights to aprocitentan. 27 November 2024
Samsung Bioepis has appointed Kyung-Ah Kim as its new president and chief executive, succeeding Christopher Hansung Ko, who will lead the Samsung Future Business Division. 27 November 2024
US clinical stage biotech Alector saw its shares tumble 35% to $2.57 by close of trading yesterday, as it announced disappointing results from the INVOKE-2 Phase II clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of AL002 in slowing disease progression in individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 27 November 2024
Japanese drugmaker Otsuka has announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for the manufacture and sale in Japan of bempedoic acid - trade name Nexletol in Japan - for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and familial hypercholesterolemia. 27 November 2024
Berlin, Germany-based Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma has received approval of its proprietary non-carrier added Lutetium-177 chloride, Theralugand, by the European Commission (EC). 27 November 2024
PTC Therapeutics has announced that its Phase II trial for utreloxastat, aimed at treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), failed to meet its primary endpoint. 27 November 2024
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) today announced that Dr Thomas Schinecker, chief executive (CEO) of Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX), will take up the post as president of the trade association effective January 1, 2025. 26 November 2024
US central nervous system (CNS) disorders specialist Axsome Therapeutics today released encouraging late-stage results for its narcolepsy candidate AXS-12 (reboxetine), sending its shares edging up 2.6% to $100.00 in pre-market activity. 26 November 2024
Clinical-stage US CAR-T therapies developer Poseida Therapeutics saw its shares skyrocket 227% to $9.36 pre-market today, on the news of a proposed takeover by Swiss pharma giant Roche. 26 November 2024
Russia plans to localize production of a number of vaccines for the treatment of certain serious diseases in the next several years, according to recent statements by some senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Health and local media. 28 December 2022
Global drugmakers have significantly cut their portfolios in the Russian market in recent years due to the decline of profitability and low prices under public procurement programs. 28 December 2022
AstraZeneca’s Calquence (acalabrutinib) has secured a new approval in Japan, for the treatment of adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in the first-line setting. 28 December 2022
Shares of Jounce Therapeutics were trading up a massive 72% at $1.27 pre-market, on the news that biotech major Gilead Sciences is amending an existing license agreement for GS-1811 (formerly JTX-1811), enabling Gilead to buy out remaining contingent payments potentially due under the license agreement executed in August 2020. 28 December 2022
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Olpruva (sodium phenylbutyrate; ACER-001) for oral suspension for the treatment of certain patients living with urea cycle disorders (UCDs). 28 December 2022
South Korea’s Celltrion Healthcare has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) under the 351 (a) pathway of the Public Health Service Act for its lead product candidate, CT-P13 SC (also known as Remsima), which is the subcutaneous formulation of infliximab, to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 28 December 2022
Japanese biotech PeptiDream saw its shares gain more than 20% to 1,965 yen today, after it announced a new research collaboration and license agreement with US pharma major Eli Lilly focused on the discovery and development of novel peptide drug conjugates (PDCs). 27 December 2022
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved anti-cancer agent/humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Gazyva (obinutuzumab [genetical recombination]) intravenous infusion for an additional indication of CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (including small lymphocytic lymphoma). 27 December 2022
The market position of Bristol Myers-Squibb’s Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel; ide-cel) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), is facing a serious threat from a relatively novel class of drugs known as bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), as they leverage clinical advantages such as improved duration of response to therapy and quicker administration. 27 December 2022
Research news last week featured strong Phase III results for Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ investigational drug resmetirom in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis, sending the firm’s share rocketing as much as 270%. Also of note, AbbVie announced that its Vraylar has gained a fourth approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, this one for major depressive disorder. On the deal-making front, Canada’s Zymeworks leapt on the news that Ireland’s Jazz Pharmaceuticals had opted into a previously announced collaboration that could be worth nearly $2 billion for the development of zanidatamab. And Germany’s Merck KGaA last Thursday revealed a new collaboration with Mersana Therapeutics using its STING platform to develop antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). 26 December 2022
Although Amgen’s investigational drug AMG-133, it has the potential to address a key unmet need for drugs that reduce patient burden among patients with obesity. 23 December 2022
Following marketing authorization by the European Commission in August for the same indication, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Sunlenca (lenacapavir), a new type of antiretroviral medication for adult patients living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), whose HIV infections cannot be successfully treated with other available treatments due to resistance, intolerance, or safety considerations. 23 December 2022
Ahead of the expected December 29 action date, and adding to European approval in June, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday granted marketing authorization for Swiss pharma giant Roche subsidiary Genentech’s Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb). 23 December 2022
Germany’s Merck KGaA has embarked on a new research collaboration with Mersana Therapeutics (Nasdaq: MRSN), including terms for a commercial license. 23 December 2022
A draft report on amyloid beta-targeting antibodies in Alzheimer’s disease, prepared by the Boston, Massachusetts-based pricing watchdog the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), recommends a price range below the current or anticipated cost. 23 December 2022
Following a previous rejection by the agency, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now accepted for review the Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission for bimekizumab, filed by Belgium’s largest drugmaker UCB, for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. 23 December 2022
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which was developed by Kite pharma, now a subsidiary of US biotech Gilead Sciences. 23 December 2022
US health technology assessor the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) today released a Final Evidence Report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of two gene therapies intended for the treatment of hemophilia A and B. 22 December 2022
While the vast majority of M&A deals announced so far this year are in the hundreds of million dollars, licensing agreements have been getting ever bigger. 22 December 2022