Look back at pharma news to Dec 1

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

It was a bad news week for drug trials, with major failures including German drugmaker Merck KGaA’s disappointing results with its immuno-oncology drug Bavencio, negative results for Regeneron’s combination trial of ophthalmic drug Eylea, and Auris Medical’s hearing loss therapy AM-111 flunking in a Phase III study. Attracting attention on the licensing front was Biogen’s acquisition of Alkermes’ multiple sclerosis candidate ALKS 8700, in on the M&A setting, The Medicines Company sales of its antibiotics portfolio to Melinta.

Bavencio’’s failure calls into question rival approvals