Venclexta (venetoclax), in combination with azacytidine, has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for previously untreated intermediate, high- and very high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) based on the revised International prognostic scoring system (IPSS-R). 21 July 2021
The US Food & Drug Administration approval of Bylvay (odevixibat), the first drug approved for the treatment of pruritus in all subtypes of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), developed by Boston, USA-based Albireo Pharma. 21 July 2021
The European Commission (EC) has approved the marketing authorization application for Ryeqo (relugolix 40mg, estradiol 1.0mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5mg) for the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age, with no limitation for duration of use. 21 July 2021
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved fexinidazole as the first all-oral treatment for both stages of the Trypanosoma brucei gambiense form of sleeping sickness (Human African trypanosomiasis) in patients six years of age and older and weighing at least 20 kg. 21 July 2021
The European Medicines Agency’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has started a rolling review of Vidprevtyn, a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sanofi Pasteur. 20 July 2021
Swiss pharma giant Roche today announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Ronapreve (casirivimab and imdevimab), for the indication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 via intravenous infusion. 20 July 2021
Shares of California, USA-based cardiorenal specialist Ardelyx plunged more than 70% to $2.28 in after-hours trading on Monday, as the company revealed the US regulator is not ready to approve its tenapanor for dialysis patients. 20 July 2021
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Priority Review designation for the Biologics License Application (BLA) for the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. 19 July 2021
The European Medicines agency announced today that it has started evaluating an application to extend the use of Kineret (anakinra) to include treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adult patients with pneumonia who are at risk of developing severe respiratory failure (inability of the lungs to work properly). 19 July 2021
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Johnson & Johnson has taken legal action to defend a contentious rebate initiative, filing a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. 15 November 2024
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved an updated version of Novavax’s Nuvaxovid jab targeting the latest subvariant. 15 November 2024