The share prices of Pfizer, GSK, Novavax and other vaccine companies were all markedly lower on Friday. This was not due to the publication of disappointing research results in the sphere, or an ominous stance taken by a major regulator on a key filing, but rather a political development that could spell trouble for the vaccines field as a whole. 15 November 2024
Japanese drugmaker Chugai, which is majority owned by Roche, On Friday revealed that Zenyaku Kogyo has obtained regulatory approval from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), for an additional dosage and administration of an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituxan (rituximab) intravenous injection 100mg and 500mg, which is co-marketed by both companies, for chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children. 23 November 2024
Zhongshan-based biopharma company Akeso will await the verdict of the Chinese medicines regulator on a penpulimab-based combo therapy. 22 November 2024
The nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr — known as RFK Jr — for the role of US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) President-elect Donald Trump sent shares in vaccine companies sharply downwards. 22 November 2024
British pharma major AstraZeneca is facing challenges in its bid to secure full approval for its anticoagulant reversal therapy, Andexxa (andexanet alfa), in the USA. 22 November 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Ziihera (zanidatamab-hrii) 50mg/mL for injection for intravenous use, say the drug’s developer, Jazz Pharmaceuticals. 21 November 2024
Astellas Pharma has been hit by bad news from the US Food and Drug Administration, which will not currently approve the firm’s request to supplement the label for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol). 21 November 2024
The UK’s health technology assessor the Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says that talks with the makers of Enhertu have ended without agreement, meaning guidance that does not recommend Enhertu for advanced breast cancer will remain unchanged. 20 November 2024
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) yesterday warned that health professionals and consumers are advised that the oral antihistamine promethazine hydrochloride, sold as Phenergan and other generic brands, should not be used in children under six years of age. 20 November 2024
Germany’s Lindis Biotech, a specialist in multi-specific antibody platforms, has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Pharmanovia, for the commercialization of Korjuny (catumaxomab). 19 November 2024
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Monday approved the medicine Filspari (sparsentan) from Vifor France to treat primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). 19 November 2024
Following US approval in May this year, South Korea’s Samsung Bioepis and US biotech Biogen have now won approval from the European Commission (EC) for their Opuviz 40mg/mL solution for injection in a vial, a biosimilar referencing Regeneron and Bayer’s Eylea (aflibercept). 18 November 2024
Shanghai-based Junshi Biosciences has received UK regulatory approval for Loqtorzi (toripalimab) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). 18 November 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the resubmission of the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Dupixent(dupilumab), Regeneron and partner Sanofi revealed late Friday. 18 November 2024
The Danish government’s newly-unveiled health reform has been praised for tackling chronic disease care and health inequalities while driving health innovation. 18 November 2024
In November 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a webinar on the topic Understanding Generic Narrow Therapeutic Index (NTI) Drugs. The aim of the webinar was to educate healthcare professionals on NTI drugs and the FDA’s efforts to ensure therapeutic equivalence of generic NTI drugs.1 3 January 2023
South Korea’s Samsung Bioepis says that Health Canada has approved its Hadlima (also known as SB5) - a citrate-free, high concentration (40mg/0.4 ML) formulation of biosimilar referencing AbbVie’s mega-blockbuster Humira (adalimumab). 3 January 2023
USA-based Legend Biotech Corporation has announced that China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has formally accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) for ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel). 3 January 2023
A marketing authorization submission for talquetamab - an immunotherapy with the potential to shake up the multiple myeloma market - is now sat on regulators’ desks at the European Medicines Agency. 3 January 2023
Never has the importance of Flanders’ biopharmaceutical output to the international community been more obvious than it was during the COVID-19 crisis. 3 January 2023
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now approved TG Therapeutics’ Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy), for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. 31 December 2022
Faith in the transparency of the US regulatory process has been shaken, following an accusatory report from influential congressional committees into the approval of Aduhelm (aducanumab). 30 December 2022
A growing number of key starting materials (KSMs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) coming into India have become 25% to 35% more expensive as reports of Covid infections spiral out of control in China, squeezing margins and increasing drug prices. The Indian government's production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical KSMs, drug intermediates (DIs) and APIs is soon set to come to the aid of many domestic players, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent. 29 December 2022
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
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
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
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
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
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
Indian generics major Zydus Lifesciences, formerly known as Cadila Healthcare, subsidiary Zydus Worldwide has received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Selexipag Tablets, 200mcg, 400mcg, 600mcg, 800mcg, 1,000mcg, 1,200mcg, 1,400mcg, and 1,600mcg. 22 December 2022