The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to March 3, 2023

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

New clinical research news last week included USA-based Blueprint Medicines on Monday releasing promising data on its Ayvakit in the treatment of indolent systemic mastocytosis. On Friday, US drug developer Exelixis announced that a Phase III trial of its Cabometyx in kidney cancer failed. On the regulatory front, Germany’s Bayer gained expanded approval for its oncology drug Nubeqa in Japan for the indication of metastatic prostate cancer, and last Wednesday the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for Reata Pharmaceuticals’ Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) as a treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia. Also of note, there were media reports that Pfizer had stepped in where fellow US pharma giant Merck & Co had failed, entering early-stage talks to acquire US biotech firm Seagen.

Ayvakit data leaves room for bezuclastinib differentiation