b

UK contact-tracing app being tested on the Isle of Wight

The NHS’s coronavirus contract tracing app has been published to Apple and Google’s app stores with council staff and healthcare workers being invited to download it on the Isle of Wight today.




b

Scientists in Kenya discover microbe that could stop transmission of malaria

Researchers studying malaria in Kenya have discovered a microbe that blocks transmission of malaria from mosquitoes which could pave the way to eradicating the disease.




b

First French case of COVID-19 occurred in December, a month earlier than previously thought

A French patient who suffered from pneumonia in December actually had COVID-19, it has been revealed.




b

Ousted chief of BARDA says Trump administration ignored COVID-19 warnings

Ousted Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Dr Rick Bright, alleges the Trump administration ignored warnings about the severity of the coronavirus.




b

Portola Pharmaceuticals to merge with Alexion in $1.41bn cash deal

Alexion has announced it is to acquire Boston-based blood disorder specialist Portola Pharmaceuticals in a transaction to the value of $1.41 billion in cash.




b

AZ's Farxiga becomes first FDA-approved SGLT2 inhibitor for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

The FDA has moved to approve an oral tablet formulation of AstraZeneca’s Farxiga (dapagliflozin) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation in adult patients with New York Heart Association’s functional class II-IV heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.




b

South Korea says Ebola drug remdesivir may not be suitable for all coronavirus patients

South Korea says that remdesivir, traditionally used in treating Ebola, may not be effective enough in treating COVID-19 patients.




b

UK becomes first European country to pass 30,000 deaths from COVID-19

Britain has become the first European nation to pass 30,000 deaths from the coronavirus, putting it only behind the US as the worst hit country in the world in terms of fatalities.




b

FDA approval for Tabrecta in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with METex14

The FDA has awarded marketing authorisation to Novartis for the Oral MET inhibitor Tabrecta for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in patients whose tumors have a mutation that leads to MET exon 14 skipping (METex14), regardless of whether they have previously received any type of treatment.




b

Black people are four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white in England and Wales, ONS report shows

A recent report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has shown that black people in Britain are four times more likely to die from the COVID-19 coronavirus than white Britons.




b

NICE gives thumbs-up to Roche's Kadcyla in HER2+ breast cancer sub-population

NICE has revealed that it has recommended the NHS use of Roche’s Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) for HER2+ breast cancer in patients who have residual invasive disease in the breast or lymph nodes after receiving neoadjuvant treatment including a HER2-targeted agent.




b

Roche’s COVID-19 antibody test approved for emergency use in the US

Ramps up capacity for testing across the country




b

Sanofi, Regeneron set up another niche use for PD-1 drug Libtayo

Drug has shown “clinically meaningful responses” for basal cell carcinoma




b

Coronavirus contact-tracing app trial to begin on the Isle of Wight

Initial roll-out will see key workers utilise the app




b

US trials of Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine start

It is hoped that the drug may prevent COVID-19




b

FTC clears AbbVie’s $63bn Allergan takeover

US regulator satisfied that antitrust concerns are remediated




b

Regeneron says antibody for COVID-19 could be ready this year

Two antibody cocktails for COVID-19 could be available as early as this autumn




b

NAD+ Sublingual Gel

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted a photo:

This product is promoted with unapproved claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, or cure COVID-19. FDA warns consumers to avoid unproven and potentially unsafe products. See the Warning Letter for more information:

www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-crimin...

More information is available at www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/fraudulent-coron...

Photo by FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch

This photo is free of all copyright restrictions and available for use and redistribution without permission. Credit to FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch is appreciated but not required.




b

NMN Sublingual Gel

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted a photo:

This product is promoted with unapproved claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, or cure COVID-19. FDA warns consumers to avoid unproven and potentially unsafe products. See the Warning Letter for more information:

www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-crimin...

More information is available at www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/fraudulent-coron...

Photo by FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch

This photo is free of all copyright restrictions and available for use and redistribution without permission. Credit to FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch is appreciated but not required.




b

CBD Product - Patriot Hemp Company

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted a photo:

This product is promoted with unapproved claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, or cure COVID-19. FDA warns consumers to avoid unproven and potentially unsafe products. See the Warning Letter for more information:

CBD Product – Patriot Hemp Company: www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-crimin...

More information is available at www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/fraudulent-coron...

Photo by FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch

This photo is free of all copyright restrictions and available for use and redistribution without permission. Credit to FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch is appreciated but not required.




b

Immunity Blend

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted a photo:

This product is promoted with unapproved claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, or cure COVID-19. FDA warns consumers to avoid unproven and potentially unsafe products. See the Warning Letter for more information:

www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-crimin...

More information is available at www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/fraudulent-coron...

Photo by FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch

This photo is free of all copyright restrictions and available for use and redistribution without permission. Credit to FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch is appreciated but not required.




b

Protection Blend

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted a photo:

This product is promoted with unapproved claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, or cure COVID-19. FDA warns consumers to avoid unproven and potentially unsafe products. See the Warning Letter for more information:

www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-crimin...

More information is available at www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/fraudulent-coron...

Photo by FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch

This photo is free of all copyright restrictions and available for use and redistribution without permission. Credit to FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, Health Fraud Branch is appreciated but not required.




b

Elanco to Buy Bayer's Animal Health Business for $7.6 Billion

Click to view a price quote on ELAN.




b

Lannett to Be U.S. Distributor of Posaconazole Delayed-Release Tablets

Click to view a price quote on LCI.




b

Rick Simpson Oil (RSO): Benefits, Effects and Research

Click to view a price quote on TLRY.




b

Novartis announces plan to initiate clinical trial of canakinumab for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Novartis announced plans to initiate a Phase III clinical trial to study canakinumab in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The CAN-COVID trial will examine the efficacy of utilizing canakinumab, an interleukin (IL)-1β blocker, to treat a type of severe immune overreaction called cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in people with COVID-19 pneumonia.




b

Antibodies from llamas could help in fight against COVID-19

The hunt for an effective treatment for COVID-19 has led one team of researchers to find an improbable ally for their work: a llama named Winter. The team - from The University of Texas at Austin, the National Institutes of Health and Ghent University in Belgium - reports their findings about a potential avenue for a coronavirus treatment involving llamas on May 5 in the journal Cell.




b

Researchers identify four possible treatments for COVID-19

While COVID-19 has infected millions of people worldwide and killed hundreds of thousands, there is currently no vaccine. In response, researchers have been evaluating the effectiveness of various antiviral drugs as possible COVID-19 treatments.




b

Supercomputer simulations present potential active substances against coronavirus

Several drugs approved for treating hepatitis C viral infection were identified as potential candidates against COVID-19, a new disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This is the result of research based on extensive calculations using the MOGON II supercomputer at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). One of the most powerful computers in the world,




b

India remains on USTR list of IP problem countries

India continues to be on the 'Priority Watch List' of the US Trade Representative (USTR) for lack of…



  • Focus On/Generics/India/Intellectual property law/Legal/Patents & Trademarks/USA

b

Menarini nabs hematologic malignancy drug along with buy of Stemline

Privately-held pharma and diagnostics firm Menarini Group has announced a definitive agreement to acquire…



  • Biotechnology/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Elzonris/Hematology/Italy/Menarini Group/Oncology/One to Watch Companies/Rare diseases/Stemline Therapeutics/USA

b

Clinical tests imminent for Junshi's COVID-19 antibody

A new collaboration between Shanghai’s Junshi Biosciences and Eli Lilly will seek to develop novel…



  • Anti-virals/Biotechnology/China/Coronavirus/Drug Trial/Eli Lilly & Company/Focus On/JS016/Junshi Biosciences/Research/USA

b

EU brings production home amid supply chain worries

Specialty chemicals company Evonik has kicked off a major expansion project at two German facilities,…



  • Europe/Evonik/Generics/Germany/Production

b

BRIEF—US court upholds Amgen Kyprolis patent

The US District Court in Delaware issued a decision upholding the validity of patent claims from three…



  • Amgen/Biotechnology/Cipla/Focus On/Kyprolis/Legal/Oncology/Patents & Trademarks/USA

b

EU-led coronavirus fundraiser targets initial 7.5 billion euros

A pledging conference led by the European Union (EU) has set an initial target of 7.5 billion euros ($8.1…



  • Anti-virals/Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Coronavirus/EIB Group/Europe/Focus On/Government Affairs/Health Medical Pharma/Pharmaceutical/Public health

b

China and COVID-19 offer test case for blockchain

The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop China from launching its national blockchain-based service network…



  • China/Coronavirus/Digital Pharma/Focus On/GlobalData/Pharmaceutical

b

Latest data show Libtayo beneficial in BCC trial

Positive top-line data for a pivotal, single-arm, open-label trial of PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo (cemiplimab)…



  • Biotechnology/Drug Trial/France/Immuno-oncology/Libtayo/Oncology/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals/Research/Sanofi/USA

b

Pfizer and BioNTech move on COVID-19 vaccine work apace

As with other companies, US drug giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are moving forward their…



  • BioNTech/BNT162/Coronavirus/Drug Trial/Focus On/Pfizer/Pharmaceutical/Research/USA/Vaccines

b

Akebia soars on positive Ph III trial results for vadadustat

Shares of US biotech Akebia Therapeutics were up more than 35% at $11.72 by early afternoon today, after…



  • Akebia Therapeutics/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Nephrology and Hepatology/Research/USA/vadadustat

b

US FTC clears AbbVie’s buy of Allergan, but with divestments

Almost a year after the original announcement, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted the…



  • AbbVie/Allergan/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Endocrinology/Federal Trade Commission/Ireland/Legal/Management/Pancrelipase/Pharmaceutical/USA/Viokace/Zenpep

b

ALK Abello outperforms expectations in strong 1st-qtr

Shares of Danish allergy immunotherapy specialist ALK Abello were up almost 10% at 1,788.00 Danish kroner…



  • Acarizax/ALK Abello/Denmark/Financial/Immunologicals/Itulazax/Pharmaceutical

b

Portola agrees to takeover bid from Alexion

Following a couple of active M&A years, USA-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals has now reached a definitive…



  • Alexion Pharmaceuticals/AndexXa/Anticoagulants/Biotechnology/Cardio-vascular/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Hematology/Ondexxya/Portola Pharmaceuticals/USA

b

Ferring in sight of finish line with first microbiome-based drug

Swiss drugmaker Ferring and its Rebiotix subsidiary have announced a world first with a microbiome-based…



  • Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Ferring Pharmaceuticals/Microbiomes/RBX2660/Rebiotix/Research/Switzerland

b

BRIEF—Key appointments at Denmark’s Acesion Pharma

Danish drugmaker Acesion Pharma, which is focused on novel treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF), has…



  • Acesion Pharma/Boardroom/Cardio-vascular/Denmark/Management/Pharmaceutical

b

Alexion exceeds earnings estimates but drops guidance

US drugmaker Alexion Pharmaceuticals fared better in its revenue and adjusted earnings figures in the…



  • Alexion Pharmaceuticals/Autoimmune Disorders/Biotechnology/Financial/Immunologicals/Management/Rare diseases/Soliris/Strensiq/Ultomiris/USA

b

Bristol-Myers' CAR-T cell therapy meets with FDA delay

The submission of additional information, upon the request of the US regulator, has delayed the action…



  • Biotechnology/Bristol-Myers Squibb/Focus On/Immuno-oncology/lisocabtagene maraleucel/Regulation/Research/US FDA/USA

b

BRIEF—Merck invests in AI chip start-up SynSense

Germany’s science and technology company Merck KGaA today announced its investment in SynSense (formerly…



  • China/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Digital Pharma/Germany/Merck KGaA/Pharmaceutical/Switzerland/SynSense

b

Bausch + Lomb licenses Stada and Xbrane’s Lucentis biosimilar

Eye health specialist Bausch + Lomb, part Bausch Health Companies, has entered into an exclusive licensing…



  • Bausch & Lomb/Bausch Health Companies/Biosimilars/Canada/Deals/Germany/Licensing/Lucentis/Ophthalmics/STADA Arzneimittel/Sweden/USA/Xbrane Biopharma AB/Xlucane

b

Bausch Health and partners settle Xifaxan IP litigation

Canada-based Bausch Health Companies, along with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Salix Pharmaceuticals and…



  • Alfasigma/Bausch Health Companies Inc./Canada/Deals/Legal/Licensing/Nephrology and Hepatology/Patents & Trademarks/Pharmaceutical/Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd/Sandoz/Switzerland/USA/Xifaxan

b

An important option in the fight against antimicrobial resistance

Positive Phase III data for Recarbrio (imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam) have been announced by New Jersey,…



  • Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Merck & Co/Recarbrio/Regulation/Research/US FDA/USA