Biden appoints veteran Woodcock as interim FDA commissioner
Agency veteran Dr Janet Woodcock is the new interim FDA commissioner appointed by president Joe Biden to replace outgoing Trump appointee Stephen Hahn. Woodcock has […]
R&D
Pfizer/BioNTech say COVID-19 vaccine works against UK variant
Laboratory studies have confirmed that antibodies stimulated by Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine can neutralise the new, more transmissible variant of SARS-CoV-2 identified in the […]
ConserV Bioscience works on mutation-proof coronavirus shots with US lab
UK biotech ConserV Bioscience has joined with California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to develop broad-spectrum coronavirus vaccines as concerns mount over potentially more infectious strains […]
J&J single-shot COVID-19 vaccine shows early promise
J&J has announced early trial results that suggest its single-shot coronavirus vaccine provides a sustained response against the virus ahead of a phase 3 trial […]
A new approach to COVID-19 treatment
While pharma has raced to develop COVID-19 vaccines, US-based company NeuroRx is taking a different approach to treating the virus. CEO Dr. Jonathan Javitt tells […]
Celltrion closes in on COVID-19 antibody market after trial success
South Korea’s Celltrion has announced encouraging top-line results for its potential antibody therapy for COVID-19, with the first part of a phase 2/3 trial showing […]
Could Lilly’s donanemab readout in Alzheimer’s boost Biogen’s prospects?
When Eli Lilly reported results for donanemab in Alzheimer’s disease earlier this week it was hailed as a rare win for the amyloid hypothesis, although […]
Study says COVID-19 infection provides immunity, but people can transmit virus
Previous COVID-19 infection provides some immunity for at least five months, but people may still carry and transmit the virus, according to a study by […]
Synairgen starts dosing inhaled COVID-19 drug in phase 3 trial
UK biotech Synairgen is pushing ahead with a phase 3 trial of SNG001 in hospitalised COVID-19 patients, after encouraging topline results from a phase 2 […]
Seqster launches new cloud version of virtual trial data tool
Healthcare technology firm Seqster has introduced a new version of its service that aims to help pharma companies work with patients’ data while on virtual […]
Coordinating and delivering research in the pandemic: The UK approach
The acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic tested the UK’s capacity and capability to rapidly deliver crucial clinical research at a time of immense pressure […]
IO Biotech raises $155m to develop breakthrough cancer vaccine
IO Biotech, an oncology specialist formed and backed by Denmark’s Novo Holdings, has raised €127 million ($155 million) to further develop its cancer vaccine technology […]
Oral COVID-19 vaccine beckons, as ImmunityBio licenses iosBio tech
ImmunityBio has licensed technology underpinning a COVID-19 vaccine that could be administered orally rather than by injection from UK biotech iosBio. Approvals for injectable vaccines […]
RNAi biotech Atalanta debuts with $110m plus Biogen and Roche CNS tie-ups
US biotech Atalanta Therapeutics has come out of stealth mode backed with $110m from Biogen and Roche, who have also signed separate partnerships to develop […]
bluebird bio to split into oncology and gene therapy specialists
US biotech bluebird bio has announced plans to split into two this year, with a separate oncology business spinning off as the company prepares to […]
Chi-Med agrees R&D partnership with Inmagene
China’s Chi-Med and Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals have agreed a strategic partnership to develop preclinical drug candidates for potential treatment of several immunological diseases. Funded by Inmagene, […]
Sanofi buys UK’s Kymab and inflammatory disease hopeful for $1.45bn
Sanofi is to acquire UK biotech Kymab in a deal worth up to $1.45 billion as the big French pharma seeks to add to its […]
Angelini and Arvelle create neurology player with $960m merger
There’s a new player in the neurology and mental health drugs market after Italy’s Angelini Pharma merged with Switzerland’s Arvelle Therapeutics in a deal worth […]
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may work against new virus mutation, scientists say
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appears to work against an important mutation in the new coronavirus variants causing havoc in the UK and South Africa, according to […]
Resourceful or risky? The UK’s controversial COVID-19 vaccine strategy
As COVID-19 vaccines are hastily deployed in the UK for priority groups, a debate rages over the government’s controversial strategy to delay time between vaccine […]
Bayer joins the COVID-19 vaccine push, backing CureVac shot
Shortly after launching large-scale trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CureVac has the partner it will need to roll the shot out at scale if […]
AbbVie scores crucial phase 3 wins with Humira follow-up Skyrizi
AbbVie is in a race against time as US patent expiry of its Humira inflammatory diseases blockbuster looms in 2023 – but it just scored […]
High hopes as Inventiva takes NASH contender into phase 3
Analysts are continuing to back Inventiva’s lanifibranor as a potential “best-in-class” drug for the fatty liver disease NASH, as the company prepares for the launch […]
UK promises ‘uplift’ in COVID-19 vaccinations as crisis deepens
The UK government has promised a “massive uplift” in the number of coronavirus vaccinations carried out this week, while conceding a target of 13.9 million […]
Novo Nordisk’s gene silencing alliance with Dicerna bears first fruit
Two years after starting to work together, Novo Nordisk and Dicerna have selected the first candidate from a joint project to find new, gene-silencing drugs […]
The Alderley Park Discovery Podcast: Life science skills, staffing and support
Episode two of the Alderley Park Discovery Podcast covers access to skills in the life sciences sector, with a focus on support for aspiring scientists […]
Clene goes public with gold-based neurology nanotechnology
Biotech Clene Nanomedicine has gone public with a mission to use nanotherapeutics that will use gold to treat devastating neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease. Over […]
Roche set to file ophthalmology drug faricimab in DME
Roche looks set to mount a challenge to Bayer’s ophthalmology drug Eylea in 2021 after its faricimab antibody showed comparable results in diabetic macular oedema […]
AI-designed serotonin tracker could help develop neurology drugs
A serotonin sensor designed using Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help scientists study sleep and mental health and potentially find new neurology drugs. The US National […]
UK prepares for decision on AZ/Oxford vaccine as COVID cases soar
The UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme could get a speed boost, with the country’s drugs regulator expected to make a decision on a shot from Oxford […]
AZ, Amgen’s asthma hope tezepelumab flunks phase 3 trial
AstraZeneca and Amgen looked on course to cruise to approval of their severe asthma drug tezepelumab with a pair of positive clinical trials, but the […]
GSK closes 2020 with multi-million deal frenzy to bolster pipeline
GlaxoSmithKline has closed the year with a flurry of deals, leaving its development pipeline bulging like Santa’s sack as chief scientific officer Hal Barron pursues […]
J&J and medical device innovation: the pharmaphorum podcast
In episode 27 of the pharmaphorum podcast I’m joined by Erin McEachren, who’s EU regional vice president at J&J Surgical Vision. She talks about her […]
‘Highly likely’ BioNTech vaccine will work against new strain, says CEO
BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin has said that it is “highly likely” the company’s COVID-19 vaccine will work against the more infectious strain circulating in the […]
Vicore builds case for C21 drug in hospitalised COVID-19 patients
Two weeks ago, Vicore reported mid-stage data showing that its lead drug C21 could boost the benefit of steroid therapy in treating COVID-19. Now, it […]
Effective Virtual Site Training Is the First Step to Decentralized Trials
There was a time, before 2020, when most of the clinical trial start-up and nearly all clinical trial training was done in person. Remember those […]
Moderna and BioNTech – who are they?
Moderna and BioNTech, two rising stars in biotech, were in the limelight this year with their pioneering mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Just who are these […]
FDA aims for fast approval of Moderna’s COVID-19 shot after panel vote
The FDA is looking to quickly approve Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine after it was unanimously backed by a panel of experts. Yesterday’s advisory panel meeting voted […]
Trials of Valneva COVID-19 vaccine begin in UK
Trials of a fifth COVID-19 vaccine have begun in the UK, as IT issues threaten to delay the roll-out of the shot from Pfizer/BioNTech. France’s […]
Novartis buys neurology biotech Cadent for up to $770m
Novartis is to buy neuroscience drugs firm Cadent Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $770 million. The big Swiss pharma already has a presence […]
EUSA Pharma hopes IL-6 drug will succeed in COVID-19 where rivals failed
UK-based EUSA Pharma has begun a late-stage trial of its antibody siltuximab in COVID-19, hoping that the IL-6 inhibitor will succeed where class rivals from […]
VC fund dedicated to psychedelic meds launches in UK
In the last few years, biopharma companies focusing on psychedelic medicines have been springing up like mushrooms – magic or otherwise – and venture capital […]
Tay-Sachs and rare disease registries – the Health Heroes podcast
Episode four of Kantar Health’s Health Heroes podcast tackles pharma’s rare disease challenges, the role of patient registries and hears a moving story about the […]
9th Annual Neurodegenerative Drug Development Summit
The 9th Neurodegenerative Drug Development Summit is the industry’s definitive and unrivalled forum focused on revealing hot and promising pockets of innovation in drug discovery for neurodegenerative […]
AbbVie begins trials of COVID-19 antibody therapy
AbbVie is to begin clinical development of an antibody designed to neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus after licensing the therapy in from Harbour BioMed and Utrecht […]
Lilly pays up to $1.04bn for neurology gene therapy biotech Prevail
Eli Lilly has acquired Prevail, a biotech focusing on gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, in a deal potentially worth more than $1 billion. […]
Minervax raises €47.4m in Series B funding round for GBS shot
Denmark’s MinervaX has raised €47.4 million (around $56 million) in a Series B funding round to take its novel group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccine into […]
Clinical trial conduct just got better
What happens when you combine the power of industry-leading evidence generation with cutting edge tele-research capabilities? Meet VirTrial, a Signant Health company. https://bit.ly/virtrial Discover an […]
5th Microbiome Movement – Drug Development Summit Europe 2021
As the first microbiome-based therapeutic steps closer to market approval, the scientific community continue to demonstrate the functional role of the human microbiome as a […]
Novartis/Incyte draw blank with Jakafi in COVID-19
Novartis/Incyte’s Jakafi (ruxolitinib) looks unlikely to be added to the list of therapies that can be used against COVID-19, after it failed to cut complications […]
ERT to merge with clinical imaging firm Bioclinica
ERT, a clinical services firm with expertise in digital technology is to merge with clinical imaging firm Bioclinica. The companies said that the combination will […]
Sanofi/GSK trial woes delay a billion COVID-19 shots by nine months
Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline have said their COVID-19 vaccine has hit a snag in clinical development, prompting analysts to note this could delay delivery of potentially […]
FDA advisers vote in favour of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 shot
Advisers to the FDA have voted in favour of approving Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, with a near-unanimous backing from an expert committee. While the […]
Coronavirus vaccine may have allergy warning in US, says expert
The US government’s coronavirus vaccine chief has said that Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine could carry a warning that it should be avoided by people who are prone […]
Lilly surges on positive phase 3 readout from diabetes contender
Eli Lilly’s decision to throw large amounts of research dollars at its next-generation diabetes drug tirzepatide could be vindicated, according to its first phase 3 […]
An introduction to the new NIHR National Patient Recruitment Centres
A new network of patient recruitment centres is set to shape the future of commercial clinical trials in the UK by offering new approaches to […]
Rocket Pharmaceuticals in orbit after gene therapy read-out
Shares in Rocket Pharmaceuticals have been living up to their name, shooting up following encouraging early-stage clinical trial results from a gene therapy for a […]
FDA reviewers back Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ahead of panel
Reviewers from the FDA have given their blessing to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ahead of a key meeting tomorrow – but the regulator noted that […]
FDA puts Bellicum’s cancer cell therapy trial on hold
The FDA has placed a clinical hold on a phase 1/2 trial of Bellicum’s cancer cell therapy BPX-601, following a patient death. Houston, Texas-based Bellicum […]
Sinovac raises $515m to boost production of potential COVID-19 vaccine
China’s Sinovac has raised $515 million to increase its distribution and production capacity as clinical development of its potential coronavirus vaccine nears conclusion. According to […]
ASH: CRISPR, Vertex’ CTX001 hits the mark in red cell disorders
A gene-editing drug developed by CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharma has achieved “remarkable” improvements in patients with beta thalassaemia and sickle cell disease in an […]
Valneva accelerates Lyme disease vaccine R&D project with Pfizer
Valneva has said it plans to accelerate research into its Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15, bringing forward a trial including children into the first quarter […]
Pfizer cut vaccine production targets because of raw material shortage – reports
Pfizer slashed its production targets for its COVID-19 vaccine because of a lack of raw materials for its supply chain, according to press reports. The […]
PureTech begins trial of potential ‘Long COVID’ drug as cases mount
As the pandemic drags on there are increasing concerns about “Long COVID” – where symptoms persist long after the initial infection has been fought off. […]
Janssen adds Hemera’s AMD gene therapy to pipeline
Johnson & Johnson’s pharma unit Janssen has bought rights to an investigational gene therapy for a severe form age-related macular degeneration from specialist biotech Hemera […]
Merck KGaA signs DNA damage response cancer deal with Artios Pharma
Germany’s Merck KGaA has joined with UK-based Artios Pharma in a potential multi-billion dollar deal to investigate novel DNA damage response targets in cancer. The […]
Swiss start-up Noema raises $59m to develop neurology drugs offloaded by Roche
Swiss biotech Noema has raised 54 million Swiss francs ($59m) to develop four neurological disorder drugs licensed in from Roche. The company is developing four […]
A history of Pfizer
Few companies embody the term ‘pharma giant’ as much as Pfizer. Here we take a look at the colourful history of one of the biggest […]
First results of the DiabetRisk study
First results of the DiabetRisk study – Over 8% of patients identified with undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes at dental practices The DiabetRisk study could contribute […]
Pfizer/BioNTech say COVID-19 vaccine could be approved in Europe by year-end
Pfizer and BioNTech have filed their COVID-19 vaccine with the European medicines regulator, paving the way for a potential approval before the end of the […]
Eisai forges CNS alliance with UK’s Wren Therapeutics
Japanese drugmaker Eisai has teamed up with UK biotech Wren Therapeutics on an R&D programme seeking drugs for neurodegenerative disorders. The two companies will focus […]
‘Knowledge is power’ for rare diseases and NAbs
Cure Rare Disease’s Rich Horgan discusses the importance of preclinical NAbs screening and helping rare disease patients better understand their eligibility for gene therapies. Neutralising […]
Genmab axes development of AXL-targeting cancer drug enapotamab vedotin
Genmab has axed development of its pipeline cancer drug enapotamab vedotin after it failed to show enough activity in a proof-of-concept trial. The drug is […]
Biogen bulks up pipeline with Sage drugs in $3bn deal
With the prospects for its Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab still up in the air, Biogen has moved to shore up its late-stage pipeline with a $3 […]
AI Driven Repositioning and Repurposing Summit 2021
Despite advances in science and technology, denovo drug development has been a costly and time-consuming process over the past decades. Given these circumstances, drug repositioning […]
Cheap gout drug colchicine added to UK’s RECOVERY COVID-19 trial
Colchicine, a cheap and readily available anti-inflammatory drug used to treat diseases such as gout, is to be investigated as a potential therapy for COVID-19 […]
AZ mulls trial of new COVID-19 vaccine dose as UK regulator begins review
AstraZeneca is to run an additional global trial to test its COVID-19 vaccine at a lower dosage, as the UK regulator begins to review trial […]
Concerns emerge after AZ’s lucky vaccine trial ‘mistake’
AstraZeneca may have tried a positive spin on the trial mistake that led to the accidental discovery of the low dose COVID-19 vaccine regime with […]
The calm after the storm: How COVID-19 is making pharma more resilient
COVID-19 is proving to be the perfect storm in terms of the supply of pharmaceutical products. But learning how to overcome the challenges of 2020 […]
Novartis set to overcome $14 billion patent cliff say analysts
Novartis’ pipeline is strong enough to overcome a $14 billion patent cliff as blockbuster drugs face generic competition in the coming years, analysts have said. […]
‘Mistake’ led to AZ’s more effective lower-dose COVID-19 shot
AstraZeneca’s research chief has said that the more effective dosing regimen of its coronavirus vaccine was discovered by accident. According to Reuters, the AstraZeneca development […]
Merck & Co adds COVID-19 drug to pipeline with OncoImmune buy
Merck & Co is to buy US biotech OncoImmune for at least $425m, adding a potential new therapy for COVID-19 to its pipeline. The pharma […]
AZ preps filings for COVID-19 jab, UK nears decision on Pfizer rival
AstraZeneca is preparing to file its COVID-19 vaccine with regulators after phase 3 trial results showed it is up to 90% effective. AZ made the […]
2nd Gene Therapy for Blood Disorders
2020 has been an exciting year for gene therapies targeting blood disorders. Despite FDA’s recent rejection of BioMarin’s hemophilia gene therapy program, the clinical landscape […]
Gene Therapy Medical Affairs
The inaugural Gene Therapy Medical Affairs Summit is dedicated to exploring the pivotal internal and external role that Medical Affairs plays in delivering gene therapies to patients. Industry pioneers […]
Helixmith starts new trial of diabetic neuropathy gene therapy
Just over a year after its first phase 3 trial of its Engensis gene therapy for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) bombed, Helixmith has started […]
VC firm SR One completes GSK spin-out, raising $500m
Trans-Atlantic biotech venture capital firm SR One has completed its spin-out from GlaxoSmithKline and closed its first fund with $500m in its coffers. The VC […]
FDA to expedite development of two Sanofi rare disease drugs
The FDA has agreed to expedite development of two rare disease drugs from Sanofi. The most significant of the two announcements is the Priority Review […]
Encouraging data from AZ/Oxford coronavirus shot
The coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca produces a strong immune response in higher risk older patients, a study has found. The […]
Data sets up 2021 filings for Gilead’s twice-a-year HIV drug lenacapavir
Gilead Sciences has the data it was hoping for in a pivotal trial of lenacapavir, an HIV drug that only needs to be dosed by […]
ViiV could challenge Gilead with long-acting HIV PrEP shot
GlaxoSmithKline’s HIV joint venture ViiV Healthcare could mount a challenge to Gilead’s HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicines after the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for […]
Pfizer prepares to file COVID-19 shot after reaching safety milestone
Pfizer is preparing to file its COVID-19 vaccine after a trial reached the safety milestone required by US regulators for emergency use, according to press […]
COVID-19: Helping to support momentum on antimicrobial innovation
To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week NovaBiotics’s Deborah O’Neil tells us why 2021 might be the year anti-infective drugs finally demonstrate their economic value. COVID-19 […]
Lead Pharma signs $308m deal to develop small molecule drugs with Roche
Lead Pharma has signed a potential 260 million euro ($308 million) deal with Roche to develop small molecule drugs for immune diseases. The deal will […]
Increasing patient engagement with UK clinical trials
Pharmaceutical companies often struggle to actively involve patients in the design phase of clinical trials but doing so can have huge benefits for the sustainability […]
Could an antidepressant be used to treat COVID-19?
The antidepressant fluvoxamine merits further investigation as a potential treatment for COVID-19 according to findings of a preliminary trial. Findings of the trial involving 152 […]
UK eyes access deal as Moderna’s COVID-19 shot hits the mark
Moderna is the third group in a week to report encouraging phase 3 data with a coronavirus vaccine, saying today that its mRNA-1273 shot had […]
Gilead and Novo Nordisk plot next steps after encouraging data from NASH combo
Gilead and Novo Nordisk have announced drug combinations for the fatty liver disease known as NASH involving the GLP-1 class drug semaglutide have checked out […]
J&J begins trial of two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimen
Johnson & Johnson has begun a second phase 3 trial of its potential COVID-19 vaccine, including sites in the UK, testing whether it works as […]
Towards a new understanding of cardiovascular risk in diabetes
A new post-hoc analysis from Novo Nordisk of their SUSTAIN 6 and PIONEER 6 studies into semaglutide is looking to help ‘individualise’ treatment for diabetes […]
University of Exeter and Medicines Discovery Catapult in strategic partnership
Today, the University of Exeter and Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) announce their strategic partnership to accelerate medicines Research & Development (R&D), creating value for the […]
UCB revs up its gene therapy drive with Handl acquisition
UCB has made a new foray into the gene therapy space, buying fellow Belgium-based company Handl to get control of its adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid […]
Switzerland’s Synendos raises CHF 20m for CNS drug development
Swiss startup Synendos Therapeutics has raised CHF 20 million (almost $22 million) in first-round financing that will be used to develop its endocannabinoid drugs for […]
Boehringer axes IPF deal with South Korea’s Bridge Therapeutics over toxicity concerns
Boehringer Ingelheim and South Korea’s Bridge Therapeutics have decided to axe their collaboration over a potential new drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), BBT-877. The […]
Russia claims 92% efficacy for Sputnik COVID-19 shot
In the second positive piece of COVID-19 vaccine news in a week, Russia’s Sputnik V candidate has been shown to be 92% effective at the […]
Pharma’s response to COVID: Lilly and diabetes care
As part of our series looking at how pharma companies have adapted to the pandemic, Shannon Rush, leader of Eli Lilly & Co’s diabetes business […]
Transformation of Clinical Trial Design and Operations: Interviews with Science 37, Medable and Takeda
Recently, Brittany Erana, MPM, Vice President of PPD® Digital; and Niklas Morton, MSc, Senior Vice President of PPD® Digital, spoke with leaders of Science 37, […]
Pfizer/BioNTech say vaccine works in 90% of COVID-19 patients
As the death toll from COVID19 inexorably mounts, Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that their COVID-19 vaccine candidate is more than 90% effective at countering […]
Sanofi/Alnylan’s haemophilia drug hits another safety speed-bump
Sanofi’s attempt to take on Roche with a ground-breaking approach to treating haemophilia has hit a setback after the company voluntarily placed its late-stage trials […]
Are rapid progress and patient engagement mutually exclusive in a COVID-19 world?
COVID-19 has sparked a flurry of research and discoveries are being made at an unprecedented rate – but patient participation cannot and should not be […]
Calliditas plans to file rare kidney disease drug Nefecon after phase 3 success
Swedish biotech Calliditas has announced plans to file its rare disease drug Nefecon with the FDA early next year following positive results from a phase […]
Novo Nordisk to buy Emisphere and diabetes pill tech for $1.8bn
Novo Nordisk has agreed to buy Emisphere Technologies for $1.8 billion, as it continues its quest to develop diabetes medicines that can be taken as […]
Novartis’ Ilaris fails in late-stage COVID-19 trial
Novartis’ Ilaris (canakinumab) has failed to produce results in a phase 3 trial, which tested whether it could improve COVID-19 patients’ survival chances without need […]
Enabling innovation by connecting an ecosystem of partners
COVID-19 has been a shock to the system for every industry, not least pharma, but the sector is already looking at new ways to build […]
Welcome to the CAR-TCR Summit Europe 2021
Accelerate the Bench to Bedside Development of Novel CAR Immunotherapies for Safe, Effective & Affordable Advanced Therapies With CAR-TCR therapies on the cusp of achieving […]
AZ’s Q3 results disappoint – but COVID19 vaccine trial is still on track
AstraZeneca has posted an uninspiring set of quarterly results as it gears up for results from its closely watched coronavirus vaccine trial. AZ said in […]
Clinical Research, We’ve Got a Problem
Provided by Elligo Health Research Clinical research faces a dilemma that has historically plagued the industry: the lack of diversity in research. The underrepresentation of […]
China’s Green Valley prepares US trial of Alzheimer’s drug inspired by algae
As an influential panel of FDA-appointed experts prepares its verdict on Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug, a little known China-based pharma is hoping to succeed where big […]
Novartis’ Aimovig tops topiramate in migraine face-off
Novartis’ injectable migraine prevention antibody Aimovig has been shown to be more effective than topiramate – a go-to oral therapy for people with chronic migraine […]
The ‘failure’ of clinical trials in the search for COVID-19 treatments
Professor Jean-Pierre Boissel outlines the urgent need for disruptive R&D approaches that can tackle the search for COVID-19 treatments more effectively. It may not be […]
Kyowa Kirin backs €125m life science fund closed by Fountain Healthcare
Ireland-based Fountain Healthcare Partners has raised another €125 million ($131 million) for its third life sciences fund – 25% ahead of its target – and […]
BMS’ deucravacitinib psoriasis pill outperforms Amgen’s Otezla in phase 3
Bristol-Myers Squibb could be on the verge of a major coup in psoriasis after its deucravacitinib pill outperformed Amgen’s rival Otezla. BMS had to sell […]
Drugs and vaccines may not swiftly end pandemic, says Merck & Co’s CEO
Merck & Co’s CEO Kenneth Frazier has warned that the drugs and vaccines in the pipeline to combat COVID-19 may not be enough to swiftly […]
UK could get COVID-19 vaccines early next year, ahead of European countries
COVID-19 vaccines could be approved and available early next year in the UK ahead of European countries, after its national regulator began its own rolling […]
Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody cocktail therapy hits safety problem
Regeneron’s coronavirus antibody cocktail therapy against COVID-19, famously used to treat president Donald Trump, has hit a safety issue after independent safety experts recommended it […]
GSK and eosinophil research: the pharmaphorum podcast
GlaxoSmithKline’s Nucala (mepolizumab) last month became the first and only biologic treatment approved in the US for Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES). It’s part of the company’s […]
Novartis keeps a close eye on gene therapy with Vedere Bio buy
Already a major player in gene therapy, Novartis has swooped on US startup Vedere Bio in a $280 million deal that builds its position in […]
NICE talking to you: Trends in early HTA engagement
With exclusive data from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to the National Institute for Health and are Excellence (NICE), Leela Barham takes a look […]
US buys Lilly COVID antibody, as effectiveness questions remain
The US government said it will buy 300,000 doses of Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 therapy bamlanivimab for $375 million if the drug gets Emergency Use Authorisation […]
Catabasis craters after giving up on muscular dystrophy lead
Catabasis has conceded defeat with its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug edasalonexent, pulling the plug on the drug after a phase 3 trial echoed the results […]
NIAID drops Lilly antibody from ACTIV-3 COVID-19 trial
Eli Lilly says no more patients will be treated with its COVID-19 therapy bamlanivimab in a trial run by the US National Institute of Allergy […]
What can we learn from women’s health data?
Analysing real-world health data could help overcome the bias towards men in traditional medical research, says Sensyne Health’s Dr Lucy Mackillop. Collecting and analysing anonymised […]
Evidera launches OffTheShelf ™ for historic patient data
Learn more about the detailed patient points and associated physician data available from OffTheShelf. View our infographic. http://bit.ly/evidera-offtheshelf Highlights about OffTheShelf™: Understanding the market trends, […]
Bayer buys cell & gene therapy firm AskBio for $4 billion
Bayer is making clear its ambitions in cell and gene therapy with a $4 billion acquisition of US biotech Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, also known as AskBio. […]
Bayer data for kidney disease hope finerenone sets up filings
Bayer’s blockbuster ambitions for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) drug candidate finerenone look a lot firmer with the publication of data from the phase 3 FIDELIO-DKD […]
Moderna nears COVID-19 vaccine finish line as it wraps up study enrolment
Moderna is close to completing its phase 3 trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate mRNA-1273 after completing recruitment of the 30,000 subjects in the trial. It’s […]
Convalescent plasma misses the mark in phase 2 trial
Hopes that antibody-laden plasma taken from recovered COVID-19 patients could lessen the severity of the disease in others have taken a knock. The 464-subject PLACID […]
Data hackathon analyses truth behind TB vaccine and COVID-19
Is a century-old vaccine a ‘game-changer’ for COVID-19? Anita de Waard from Elsevier and Radoslav Kirkov from Estafet tells us how a hackathon is harnessing […]
Sarepta helps bankroll new gene therapy startup AavantiBio
Sarepta chief commercial officer Bo Cumbo has left to head up gene therapy venture – AavantiBio – with $107 million in backing from his former […]
Roche to co-develop remdesivir rival in partnership with Atea
Roche may not be the first company that comes to mind for a COVID-19 treatment, but the Swiss firm is taking a big swing at […]
SparingVision raises €44.5m for retinitis pigmentosa gene therapy
French biotech SparingVision has raised 44.5 million euros ($52.7 million) to develop its gene therapy for a rare ocular disease. The round was led by […]
Adult data back Merck’s challenger to Pfizer’s blockbuster Prevnar 13
Merck & Co has built more momentum behind its attempt to depose Pfizer’s blockbuster pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevnar 13, with two new phase 3 trials […]
AZ’s COVID-19 vaccine trial ready to resume – reports
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial could be ready to resume this week in the US after a seven-week hiatus while the FDA completed its review of […]
Trump launches tirade against NIAID chief Fauci as COVID-19 crisis escalates
The war of words between Donald Trump and his top infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci has intensified as the president’s handling of the coronavirus […]
UK government signs contract for COVID-19 challenge trial
The UK government has signed a contract to develop a controversial COVID-19 human challenge trial, where participants will be deliberately infected in a controlled environment […]
Pfizer to wait until after election to file COVID-19 vaccine in US
Pfizer said it will wait until after the US election to file its COVID-19 vaccine with the US regulator, as it waits for important safety […]
Rare diseases, repurposing and the role of AI
In the age of artificial intelligence, no trial data should be going to waste. Findacure’s Rick Thompson looks at how these technologies could bring us […]
Gilead’s COVID-19 drug Veklury falls short in WHO’s global trial
Gilead’s Veklury (remdesivir) has failed to produce an effect on hospital stay and mortality in COVID-19 patients in a large global trial, casting doubt on […]
Sanofi preps trials of second COVID-19 shot, as Russia approves another
Sanofi will shortly start human trials of a second coronavirus vaccine, developed with US biotech Translate Bio, after reporting that it stimulated antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 […]
Coronavirus re-infection case confirmed in the US
There is growing evidence that the coronavirus may be able to re-infect patients, and a new instance of a second infection has been confirmed in […]
Real-World Evidence & Data Solutions
Evidera’s multidisciplinary team of data scientists, epidemiologists, and statisticians offer a host of fit-for-purpose solutions to address your most challenging research questions. Learn more: http://bit.ly/RWEsolutions […]
Eli Lilly and Gilead’s combination cuts COVID-19 recovery time
Eli Lilly’s Olumiant (baricitinib) has a significant effect on recovery from COVID-19 when combined with Gilead Veklury (remdesivir), according to a large trial backed by […]
Flying the flag for research in Aarskog syndrome
Delayed diagnosis, lack of awareness, and a limited evidence base – Aarskog syndrome faces all the challenges of rare diseases everywhere. But a new study […]
Amgen shares down as heart failure drug disappoints in phase 3 trial
Shares in Amgen were down nearly 7% after close of trading yesterday after the company’s heart failure drug omecamtiv mecarbil disappointed in a large phase […]
Lilly asks FDA for emergency clearance for COVID-19 antibody therapy
Eli Lilly has asked the FDA for an Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID-19 antibody therapy, after announcing new efficacy data from an ongoing trial. […]
Pharma’s response to COVID: GSK
A few months into the pandemic, the world is now moving beyond managing the crisis, with more focus on addressing the collateral damages and shaping […]
Biogen teams up with gene-editing startup Scribe on ALS programme
Scribe Therapeutics, a start-up focusing on gene-editing using CRISPR/Cas9, has burst onto the biotech scene with a $415 million deal with Biogen. Jennifer Doudna Scribe […]
Government needs strategy to kick-start R&D after COVID, says pharma body
The UK has been leading research into the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the country’s pharma trade body, but there needs to be a strategy to […]
J+D FORECASTING LAUNCHES INTELLIGENT DATA
J+D Forecasting, known as the experts in pharmaceutical forecasting, has today announced the launch of EpiCube; the latest addition to its comprehensive suite of pharmaceutical […]
CRISPR pioneers Doudna and Charpentier claim Nobel chemistry prize
Drs Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna have won this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry in recognition of their work on the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9. Charpentier […]
GSK and Vir expand COVID-19 antibody trial after Trump’s treatment with Regeneron’s rival
GlaxoSmithKline and partner Vir Biotechnology are to expand a trial of an experimental antibody to treat COVID-19, putting heat on Regeneron’s rival that has been […]
Axovant pushes on with Parkinson’s gene therapy, despite investor cynicism
Axovant has said it plans to continue developing its Parkinson’s Disease gene therapy after reporting supportive data from a small cohort of patients from a […]
Product Complaints & Recalls Virtual Summit
By having an effective complaint management system, life science organizations have a better chance to ward off inspections by using the appropriate guidelines and regulations. […]
Race for COVID-19 vaccine hots up as EMA begins review of BioNTech/Pfizer jab
The European Medicines Agency has begun a second “rolling review” of a potential coronavirus vaccine jointly developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, setting up a race […]
BMS bulks up in cardio with $13.1bn takeover deal for MyoKardia
Bristol-Myers Squibb has said it will buy biotech MyoKardia in a $13.1 billion takeover that marks a step up in its development of cardiovascular drugs. […]
2nd RNA Editing Summit 2020
Visit our website: www.rna-editing-summit.com The only industry-led meeting showcasing the recent development of RNA editing mechanisms and dedicated to realizing the research and therapeutics opportunity […]
AI-ML Drug Discovery & Development Summit 2021
Visit our website: www.ai-drugdiscovery.com R&D & Clinical Processes for the Future: Accurate, Efficient & Cost-Effective The AI-ML: Drug Discovery and Development Summit is the industry’s […]
Understanding patient needs in a real-world setting
We’re implementing patient-centric approaches—like capturing real-world evidence from patient registries—to provide valuable information that can help you optimize your clinical research efforts. At Parexel, we’re […]
Roger Perlmutter leaves Merck after 7 years, joins board at Insitro
Roger Perlmutter has brought a seven-year stint as head of R&D at Merck & Co/MSD to a close, jumping ship to take on an advisory […]
Introducing the new NIHR National Patient Recruitment Centres
The five new NIHR National Patient Recruitment Centres (NPRCs) are set to shape the future of commercial clinical trials in the UK by offering new […]
Roche pays $200m for Vaccibody’s cancer vaccine drug
Roche’s Genentech unit has paid $200 million to develop an individualised cancer vaccine with Norwegian biotech Vaccibody, which focuses on targets known as neoantigens that […]
European regulators begin rolling review of AZ’s COVID-19 vaccine
European regulators have started a first ‘rolling review’ of a COVID-19 vaccine, which is being developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with the University of Oxford. […]
$110m financing sets up US, Asia expansion for Sophia Genetics
Swiss medical data specialist Sophia Genetics has raised $110 million in an oversubscribed funding round that will be used to boost its headcount and international […]
Supporting Clinical Trial Site Selection During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using WAVE, a Hybrid Epidemiologic Model
This recent webinar covers a new model for planning trials, which will be illustrated through several case studies. The on-demand recording is now available. Overview […]
Ionis deal delivers for GSK as HBV drug hits the mark in phase 2
An antisense drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline has been shown to suppress the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in a phase 2 trial, raising hopes of a […]
Moderna’s COVID vaccine works in older people, according to new data
Moderna has said that its coronavirus vaccine stimulated an immune response in older people in phase 1 trials, suggesting that the jab is effective in […]
COVID-19 is causing a renaissance in the UK biotech sector, we must ensure it lasts
Despite the UK’s world class research output and the many start-ups successfully spinning out from its academic institutions, in recent years UK biotech companies have […]
Phase 3 wins put Dermavant closer to filing Otezla rival tapinarof
Just two years after buying rights to psoriasis candidate tapinarof from GlaxoSmithKline, Swiss biotech Dermavant says it could be a few months away from filing […]
Alnylam, gene-silencing and biotech in 2020: the pharmaphorum podcast
Alnylam’s Brendan Martin joined the pharmaphorum podcast for episode 23 to talk about his company’s work in gene-silencing and how it could offer a route […]
Time for a health innovation pact: rethinking the design and delivery of healthcare
Janssen’s Anouk De Vroey on why we need to extend the public/private partnerships resulting from COVID-19 into more high-level dialogue on health innovation with governments. […]
Chasing Regeneron, AZ starts trials of its COVID-19 antibody cocktail
The first patients have been dosed in a trial of two AstraZeneca antibodies, collectively known as AZD7442, that are being developed to both treat and […]
Sharing oncology trial PROs to build the treatment of the future
Could collecting, understanding, and disseminating patient-reported outcomes during trials be the key to advancing oncology treatments and improving cancer outcomes? With our understanding of cancer […]
Coronavirus pharma news round-up 21/08/20
New insights into smell and taste loss symptoms, artificial intelligence and further encouraging data from a vaccine candidate hit the headlines this week as the […]
Mission successful for Novartis after FDA approves ofatumumab in MS
It’s mission accomplished for Novartis after the FDA approved ofatumumab for multiple sclerosis, completing a project where the former cancer drug has been repurposed. The […]
Pfizer/BioNTech say COVID-19 jab on track for approval by year-end
Pfizer and BioNTech have said their COVID-19 vaccine could be ready for regulators to review by October and approved by the end of the year […]
BioMarin files achondroplasia drug after rejection for haemophilia therapy
US biotech BioMarin has hit back with a filing for a rare disease drug, after suffering what was described by analysts as a “major setback” […]
J&J pays $6.5bn for Momenta and its inflammatory disease hopeful
Johnson & Johnson is to buy Momenta Pharmaceuticals for $6.5 billion, adding potential inflammatory diseases blockbuster nipocalimab to the pipeline at its Janssen pharmaceuticals unit. […]
Smell and taste loss could help identify COVID-19 at airports, say researchers
Smell and taste loss associated with COVID-19 differs from that experienced by patients with common colds or flu, according to researchers who said the symptom […]
Analysts question Gilead’s commitment to arthritis drug after FDA setback
The FDA has rejected Gilead and Galapagos’ rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pill filgotinib over concerns that it could damage male fertility, prompting speculation that the big […]
Merck & Co plans £1bn hub in London’s life sciences cluster
US pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co plans to build a £1 billion “hub” opposite London’s King’s Cross station, according to press reports. The company known […]
Could AI avert a future coronavirus pandemic?
Could AI prevent future pandemics by developing an armoury of drugs that work against all coronaviruses? This is a question that a consortium of European […]
Kiadis shares yo-yo on cell therapy trial for COVID-19
Shares in Netherlands biotech Kiadis rose sharply on the news that it would start developing a natural killer (NK) cell therapy for COVID-19, but later […]
Automating Safety Case Processing: AI as Game Changer
Our first blog post in this series summarized two approaches to automating routine aspects of safety case processing. In this installment, we’ll review how various […]
Sanofi adds BTK inhibitors to pipeline with $3.68bn Principia Biopharma acquisition
Sanofi is to buy Principia Biopharma for up to $3.68 billion, adding a potential multiple sclerosis drug to its pipeline. The French pharma said it […]
Coronavirus pharma news roundup – 14/08/20
Catch up on the latest coronavirus vaccine and digital tech news in our roundup of this week’s biggest stories. Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has […]
Verona Pharma to trial lung drug ensifentrine for COVID-19
Verona Pharma is to develop its lung drug ensifentrine for patients with COVID-19, joining the legions of drug companies repurposing their medicines to fight the […]
UK signs coronavirus vaccine deals with J&J and Novavax
The UK is to buy millions more doses of potential coronavirus vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, with the latter expanding its manufacturing operation […]
Around 3.4m people infected with coronavirus in England – study
Just under 6% of England’s population – around 3.4 million people – had been infected with coronavirus by the end of June according to an […]
Celleron targets Daiichi Sankyo with Roche’s unwanted rare cancer drug
UK biotech Celleron Therapeutics has bought a licence to develop, manufacture and market emactuzumab, an unwanted drug from Roche’s pipeline that could be used in […]
Novo-backed $61m fundraising helps F2G prep for antifungal launch
Anglo-Austrian biotech F2G has raised $60.8 million in venture financing to help it bring a drug for life-threatening fungal infections through late-stage development and onto […]
Scepticism as Russia claims coronavirus vaccine breakthrough with Sputnik V
Russia has become the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine, amid scepticism from international experts who have been unable to review […]
Pieris begins gastric cancer combination trial with Lilly’s Cyramza
US biotech Pieris Pharmaceuticals has begun a collaboration and supply agreement with Eli Lilly, trialling its cancer drug PRS-343 in combination with the big pharma’s […]
Bayer adds menopause drug to pipeline with KaNDy acquisition
Bayer is to buy UK-based KaNDy Therapeutics in a deal worth more than $800 million, adding the biotech’s menopause drug to its women’s health pipeline. […]
Roche’s ulcerative colitis drug etrolizumab looks shaky after data roll-out
Roche’s late-stage trial programme for ulcerative colitis candidate etrolizumab has generated some positive and negative results, but leans firmly towards the latter. The Swiss drugmaker […]
Gilead files COVID-19 drug remdesivir with FDA
Gilead has filed its COVID-19 drug remdesivir with the FDA, to treat patients with severe disease, under the brand name Veklury. The drug is currently […]
Biogen’s shares surge again as FDA hurries Alzheimer’s drug review
Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab could be on the market in the next few months after the FDA accepted a clinical trial dossier and granted a […]
BMS’ Opdivo aces trial in asbestos-linked lung cancer
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo has improved survival in a trial involving patients with mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer, getting one up over rival checkpoint inhibitor […]
Pfizer signs deal with Gilead to manufacture COVID-19 antiviral remdesivir
Pfizer has signed a multi-year agreement with Gilead to manufacture and supply the COVID-19 antiviral remdesivir, which is also being tested in combination with other […]
Coronavirus pharma news roundup – 07/08/20
Pharma’s reputation has soared due to the COVID-19 pandemic – but coronavirus is starting to bite companies’ sales. Find out more in our roundup of […]
Roche’s Tecentriq flunks triple-negative breast cancer trial
Roche’s hopes of extending the use of its PD-L1 inhibitor Tecentriq in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have been dashed by a late-stage trial failure looking […]
Will new data make Pfizer’s Lorbrena a ‘no-brainer’ in early lung cancer?
Pfizer has taken a big step towards positioning Lorbrena as a worthy heir to its big-selling Xalkori drug in lung cancer, after beating its parent […]
Lundbeck gets cold feet, axes schizophrenia drug trial
Lundbeck has axed a phase 2 trial of a schizophrenia drug, saying that the study was unlikely to meet its efficacy target. The company said […]
Novavax says COVID-19 vaccine could be approved by year-end
Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine produced higher levels of neutralising antibodies than produced by recovered patients in an early trial, paving the way for a phase 3 […]
Outsourced resourcing: cultural alignment is key to success
Sponsored by Parexel A successful FSP outsourcing model provides flexibility, control & access to a workforce with highly specialized skills & knowledge. It’s essential to […]
Pharma’s rep soars on back of COVID-19, says FutureBrand
The perception of pharma and medical product companies has surged forward since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they still lie mostly outside the […]
Merck & Co to repurpose failed obesity drug for NASH
Merck & Co is to pay $10 million to Hanmi to repurpose an obesity drug discarded by Johnson & Johnson, into a therapy for the […]
Redx shares soar after IPF drug licence deal with AstraZeneca
Shares in Redx Pharma were soaring this morning after it licensed its preclinical fibrotic disease drug RXC006 to AstraZeneca. The company’s shares were valued as […]
Lilly’s antibody for COVID-19 protection starts nursing home trial
While the world waits an effective coronavirus vaccine, Eli Lilly has started late-stage human testing an antibody drug as an alternative way to prevent viral […]
Regeneron pairs with BioNTech on melanoma immunotherapy
Regeneron and Sanofi’s PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo will be tested in tandem with a cancer vaccine developed by BioNTech in melanoma in people who have failed […]
US pays $2.1bn to Sanofi/GSK for 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine
The US government has selected a potential vaccine from Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline for its Operation Warp Speed COVID-19 vaccine development initiative, committing up to $2.1 […]
Coronavirus pharma news roundup – 31/07/20
Vaccines, AI-driven drug discovery and llamas all hit the headlines this week as the search for a way to end the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Here […]
Gilead loses $3.3bn in Q2, blaming COVID-19 and cancer drugs firm acquisition
Gilead has blamed a $3.3 billion loss in Q2 on its acquisition of immune-oncology company Forty Seven – but revenues are declining as the pandemic […]
Study puts Jardiance in hot pursuit of AZ’s Farxiga in heart failure
The FDA’s approval of AstraZeneca’s SGLT2 inhibitor Farxiga in heart failure was a first for the class, but Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly are closing […]
Roche doubles down on tau for Alzheimer’s, licensing UCB drug for $120m
Roche already has one Alzheimer’s candidate in its pipeline targeting tau, but has added a second via a deal with Belgian drugmaker UCB worth up […]
Trump reiterates hydroxychloroquine defense after son is banned from Twitter
Donald Trump has launched another defence of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 which goes against prevailing medical advice. The President’s comments came after Twitter […]
Pfizer ups guidance as it prepares to sell off generics division
Pfizer has cautiously upped its guidance despite second quarter figures showing a slip in sales and profitability compared with the same period last year. Revenues […]
Setback in COVID-19 effort as Roche’s Actemra fails in key trial
Roche’s anti-inflammatory drug Actemra has failed in a phase 3 clinical trial that was testing to see if it improved the condition of patients with […]
UK places order for 60m doses of Sanofi/GSK’s COVID-19 vaccine
The UK government has signed its fourth coronavirus vaccine deal, snapping up 60 million doses of an experimental shot being developed by Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline. […]
Can llama antibodies beat COVID-19? Belgium’s ExeVir raises 23m euros to find out
Belgium’s ExeVir Bio is to accelerate development of a new treatment for COVID-19 based on llama antibodies, after a 23 million euro ($27 million) financing […]
Trial shows AZ’s Farxiga slows onset of chronic kidney disease and cuts mortality
AstraZeneca’s Farxiga could be on course for another use, after trial results showed it slowed the worsening of renal function and cut the risk of […]
Trump’s tweets advocate hydroxychloroquine as big COVID-19 vaccine trials start
Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug controversially used to fight COVID-19, was trending again after a string of retweets from president Donald Trump in favour of the […]
Brits more comfortable sharing data with pharma since COVID-19 – survey
New research from MHP Health and ComRes looks at what impacts COVID-19 has had on the public’s health data sharing concerns, and asks how the […]
Moderna gets further $472m as expanded phase 3 COVID-19 trial begins
A US government agency is to give a further $472 million to biotech Moderna, after it announced plans to expand a phase 3 trial for […]
UCB’s IL-17 latecomer bimekizumab beats Cosentyx in psoriasis trial
Belgian biopharma company UCB is bringing up the rear of the IL-17 inhibitor category with its bimekizumab drug, so is celebrating new late-stage data showing […]
Coronavirus pharma news roundup – 24/07/20
With coronavirus vaccine trials finally showing positive results, analysts are starting to wonder what access challenges might lie ahead. We highlight the top R&D, digital […]
Genfit abandons late-stage trial of NASH drug elafibranor
France’s Genfit has said its elafibranor drug as a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was unable to improve patient outcomes in a phase 3 study, […]
Novartis takes $485m hit after axing eczema drug from pipeline
Novartis has axed development of its mid-stage eczema drug ZPL389, taking a $485 million hit in the process. Buried deep in the Swiss company’s Q2 […]
Gilead eyes takeover of cancer biotech Tizona, despite its ties to AbbVie
Gilead Sciences’ run of oncology-focused deals has continued with an option to buy cancer immunotherapy specialist Tizona – even though the biotech’s lead drug candidate […]
Biogen plans trial of Spinraza in patients not responding to SMA gene therapy
Biogen is planning to trial its Spinraza spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) drug in patients who have not responded properly to Novartis’ gene therapy Zolgensma, combining […]
Moderna’s $37B market cap is too high, despite COVID-19 vaccine; analyst
JP Morgan has downgraded its valuation of Moderna, saying its $37 billion market cap is way too high even if its COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1273 succeeds […]
‘Promising’ data on Oxford/AZ, CanSino coronavirus vaccines
Data from more than 1,000 healthy volunteers dosed with a coronavirus vaccine developed at Oxford University and AstraZeneca suggest the shot is safe and stimulates […]
UK announces COVID-19 vaccine deals with BioNTech/Pfizer and Valneva
The UK has secured 90 million doses of two different COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech/Pfizer and Valneva, with an option of 40 million doses if they check out in trials. There […]
Alnylam’s Anant Murthy on making it as a US biotech in Europe
Alnylam’s European head of market access and GM of mid-size markets, Anant Murthy, shares his perspective on how a US biotech can adapt to the […]
Lilly’s mirikizumab tops Novartis’ blockbuster Cosentyx in psoriasis
Eli Lilly is a latecomer in the new generation of biologic therapies for psoriasis with its mirikizumab candidate, but a win in a head-to-head trial […]
Synairgen’s inhaled drug cuts chances of COVID-19 progressing
An inhaled drug developed by the UK firm Synairgen greatly reduces the chances of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 from progressing to more serious stages of the disease. Southampton-based Synairgen said in […]
Call for COVID-19 ‘challenge trial’ ahead of AstraZeneca vaccine readout
Press reports suggest that there is good news about AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine due from an early stage trial in the coming days […]
Chasing Brilinta payoff, AZ details THALES data in ischemic stroke
AstraZeneca has lifted the veil on the large-scale THALES trial of its antiplatelet drug Brilinta in stroke, the company’s last big hope for recouping its […]
Merck KGaA takes second option from cancer immunotherapy pact with F-Star
Germany’s Merck KGaA has taken an option on a second cancer immunotherapy drug from its development deal with Anglo-American biotech F-star Therapeutics. The companies signed a deal to develop cancer immunotherapies […]
Coronavirus pharma news roundup – 17/07/20
Coronavirus vaccine trials continue – but experts warn that it’s too early to get hopes up. Meanwhile, the rise in digital health looks like it’s […]
FDA grants fast review for Bayer/Merck & Co’s heart failure drug
The FDA has granted a faster Priority Review for Bayer and Merck & Co’s filing for vericiguat, which is being developed for chronic heart failure with reduced ejection […]
