Pharma & Biotech Pricing, Policy & Regulation
Pharmaceutical
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
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Biotechnology
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a Biologics License Application (BLA) for belantamab mafodotin in combinations with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BorDex [BVd]) and pomalidomide plus dexamethasone (PomDex [BPd]) for multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy. 25 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Imkeldi (imatinib) oral solution, the first oral liquid form of imatinib to treat certain forms of leukemia and other cancers, from privately-held US-Ireland-based pharmaceutical company Shorla Oncology. 25 November 2024
Biotechnology
StemCyte, a subsidiary of StemCyte International, has secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for Regenecyte, a cord blood-derived stem cell therapy. 25 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
In what could be construed to be India's quest for pharmaceutical supremacy, a clarion call has been made for the country to set its indigenous standards. 25 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals has announced a major strategic shift, prioritizing its late-stage pipeline following a rejection by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 25 November 2024
Biotechnology
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Attruby (acoramidis), an orally-administered near-complete (≥90%) stabilizer of Transthyretin (TTR) for the treatment of adults with ATTR-CM to reduce cardiovascular death and cardiovascular-related hospitalization. 25 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are gaining momentum in Europe, with the introduction of innovative measures to drive the development of new antimicrobials. 25 November 2024
Biotechnology
Research news last week included US biotech releasing early data for its FT819 in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which sent the firm’s shares leaping as much as 70%. Also, Netherlands-based NewAmsterdam Pharma announced positive data on its obicetrapib and ezetimibe combination in cardiovascular disease. On the regulatory front, Dutch firm argenX and China’s Zai Lab gained approval from the Chinese medicines regulator for their Vyvgart Hytrulo in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) care. Meantime, USA-based Kura Oncology signed a collaboration with Japan’s Kyowa Kirin on the development of ziftomenib for myeloid leukemia (ALS). 24 November 2024
Biotechnology
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
Biotechnology
Zhongshan-based biopharma company Akeso will await the verdict of the Chinese medicines regulator on a penpulimab-based combo therapy. 22 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
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
Biotechnology
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
Biotechnology
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
Biotechnology
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
article
The UK government has reappointed BioIndustry Association (BIA) chairman Daniel Mahony as its Life Sciences Investment Envoy. 21 November 2024
Biotechnology
The European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for Hympavzi (marstacimab), from US pharma giant Pfizer. 20 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Ascentage Pharma will see its investigational BCL-2 selective inhibitor, lisaftoclax, assessed under China’s Priority Review scheme. 20 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Anthony Harnden has been appointed as the new chair of the UK’s Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 20 November 2024
Biotechnology
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
Pharmaceutical
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
Biotechnology
Imfinzi (durvalumab) has been approved in China for the first-line treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), in combination with standard of care platinum chemotherapy (etoposide plus a choice of either carboplatin or cisplatin). 19 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vaxneuvance (pneumococcal 15-valent conjugate vaccine) for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F and 33F in adults 18 years of age and older. 19 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
Licensing agreements featured heavily in last week’s news, starting with US biotech Biogen entering into an agreement that could cost it $1 billion to get rights to a BTK inhibitor – orelabrutinib for multiple sclerosis – from China’s InnoCare Pharma. Denmark’s Novo Nordisk in-licensed rights to Prothena’s ATTR amyloidosis program, and PRX004, in a deal worth up to $1.2 billion. Also, Ionis Pharmaceuticals last Tuesday exercised an option on fellow USA-based Bicycle Therapeutics’ oligonucleotide targeting the transferrin receptor 1. On the M&A front, Eli Lilly revealed on Wednesday it was acquiring privately-held US company Protomer Technologies for what could be a $1 billion transaction, getting rights to its glucose-sensing insulin project. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration took issue with Amgen’s promotion of its cancer drug Neulasta, which the agency said could undermine confidence in biosimilars. 18 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
Shares of USA-based Kadmon Holdings shot up more than 20% to $4.28 on Friday, after the company revealed its pharma unit had received its first regulatory approval, for Rezurock (belumosudil). 17 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a new use for Prograf (tacrolimus) based on a non-interventional (observational) study providing real-world evidence (RWE) of effectiveness. 17 July 2021
Biotechnology
The European Medicines Agency has validated and accepted the marketing authorization application (MAA) for surufatinib for the treatment of pancreatic and extra-pancreatic (non-pancreatic) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), submitted by China’s Hutchmed. 16 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
USA-based FibroGen's shares have dropped by more than a third after a scientific panel of the US Food and Drug Administration voted against approval of roxadustat. 16 July 2021
Biotechnology
Looking to overturn a regulatory rebuff, New Jersey, USA’s Merck & Co has announced positive event-free survival (EFS) data from the pivotal neoadjuvant/adjuvant Phase III study KEYNOTE-522. 16 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has hit out at a decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) not to recommend Zytiga (abiraterone) as a first-line National Health Service (NHS) treatment for newly-diagnosed, advanced prostate cancer. 15 July 2021
Generics
Following investigations from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a fine of around £260 million ($360 million) has been imposed on several pharmaceutical firms, due to competition law breaches. 15 July 2021
Biosimilars
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an untitled letter to US biotech giant Amgen for the misbranding of its biological product, Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) injection, for subcutaneous use, resulting from a false or misleading promotional communication. 15 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
The European Medicines Agency and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have provided an update on key measures necessary to combat the novel coronavirus. 15 July 2021
Biotechnology
The US Food and Drug Administration has lifted a partial clinical hold, previously announced on April 8, 2021, on the first-in-human (FIH) Phase Ib, dose escalation clinical trial of RVU120 (also known as SEL120) in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (high-risk MDS), being conducted in the USA, Poland largest biotech Ryvu Therapeutics (WSE: RVU) announced today. 14 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced revisions to the vaccine recipient and vaccination provider fact sheets for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 jab. 14 July 2021
Biotechnology
British pharma major and coronavirus vaccine developer AstraZeneca has cleared the final regulatory hurdle in its acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals. 14 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
Israel’s RedHill Biopharma on Tuesday announced that one of America’s largest payors, serving many Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans and more than 30 million members, has added Movantik (naloxegol), a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) for opioid-induced constipation (OIC), as a preferred brand with no restrictions to a National Formulary and as a preferred brand on its other commercial formularies starting July 1, 2021. 14 July 2021
Biotechnology
The Russian government is considering allowing foreign vaccines against COVID-19 to enter the domestic market, according to recent statements by some senior state officials and some local media reports, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent. 13 July 2021
Biotechnology
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Darzalex Faspro (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. 13 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
Shionogi has teamed up with the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to accelerate access, including in low- and middle-income countries, to the antibiotic cefiderocol for bacterial infections in patients with limited treatment options. 13 July 2021
Pharmaceutical
On Friday, US President Joe Biden issued a wide ranging Executive Order seeking to address overconcentration, monopolization, and unfair competition in the US economy. 13 July 2021
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