o Novartis announces plan to initiate clinical trial of canakinumab for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0200 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. Full Article Featured Novartis Business
o AstraZeneca and Oxford University announce landmark agreement for COVID-19 vaccine By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0200 AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford announced an agreement for the global development and distribution of the University’s potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection from SARS-CoV-2. The collaboration aims to bring to patients the potential vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, being developed by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, at the University of Oxford. Full Article Featured AstraZeneca Business
o Antibodies from llamas could help in fight against COVID-19 By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 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. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
o Researchers identify four possible treatments for COVID-19 By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 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. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
o Supercomputer simulations present potential active substances against coronavirus By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 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, Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
o Pre-filled Syringes San Francisco Conference 2020 By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 12:00:00 +0200 14 - 15 September 2020, San Francisco, USA. The global pre-filled syringes market was valued at $4.9 billion in 2018 and with the rapid growth of the industry, is expected to exceed $9.7 billion by 2025. With that in mind, this event will bring together specialists within the industry to provide an exclusive insight into the sphere of regulation, new digital technology trends, human studies and innovative design and delivery systems within the prefilled syringe industry. Full Article Featured Events
o Study reveals most critically ill patients with COVID-19 survive with standard treatment By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Clinicians from two hospitals in Boston report that the majority of even the sickest patients with COVID-19 - those who require ventilators in intensive care units - get better when they receive existing guideline-supported treatment for respiratory failure. The clinicians, who are from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, published their findings in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
o Repurposing existing drugs for COVID-19 offers a more rapid alternative to a vaccine By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Repurposing existing medicines focused on known drug targets is likely to offer a more rapid hope of tackling COVID-19 than developing and manufacturing a vaccine, argue an international team of scientists in the British Journal of Pharmacology today. Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in late 2019, more than 3.5 million people are known to have been infected, leading to over 240,000 deaths worldwide from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
o Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries. The research, led by Dr Lee Smith of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Mr Petre Cristian Ilie, lead urologist of Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, is published in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
o India remains on USTR list of IP problem countries By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 16:58:00 +0100 India continues to be on the 'Priority Watch List' of the US Trade Representative (USTR) for lack of… Full Article Focus On/Generics/India/Intellectual property law/Legal/Patents & Trademarks/USA
o US-Swiss partnership takes aim at rare heart condition By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 17:15:00 +0100 A new collaboration targeting rare heart diseases has been formed between California’s BioMarin Pharmaceutical… Full Article BioMarin Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology/Cardio-vascular/Deals/DiNA-001/DiNAQOR/Licensing/Rare diseases/Research/Switzerland/USA
o Mallinckrodt’s INOmax successful in trial of neonates with pulmonary hypertension By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 17:20:00 +0100 UK-based Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals has ended a trial of INOmax (nitric oxide) gas early due to positive… Full Article Drug Trial/Inomax/Mallinckrodt/Nitric Oxide/Pharmaceutical/Research/Respiratory and Pulmonary/UK
o European progress in long path for Lokelma By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:08:00 +0100 The European medicines regulator has OK’d a label update for AstraZeneca’s Lokelma (sodium zirconium… Full Article AstraZeneca/Biotechnology/Cardio-vascular/Drug Trial/Europe/European Medicines Agency/Focus On/Lokelma/Regulation/Research/UK
o COVID-19 leading to shortage of orphan drugs in Russia By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:09:00 +0100 The ongoing spread of COVID-19 in Russia is leading to shortages of drugs against orphan diseases in… Full Article Anti-virals/Coronavirus/Focus On/From our correspondent/Hydroxychloroquine/In Depth/Pharmaceutical/Public health/Rare diseases/Russia/Russian market
o Firms ready RNAi candidate for COVID-19 development By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:27:00 +0100 A collaboration in COVID-19 between immunology specialist Vir Biotechnology and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals… Full Article Alnylam Pharmaceuticals/Anti-virals/Biotechnology/Cell and Gene Therapy/Coronavirus/Focus On/Public health/Research/USA/Vir Biotechnology/VIR-2703
o Positive Phase III data for Lupin’s trichomoniasis candidate By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 11:03:00 +0100 India’s Lupin has announced positive top-line results from its pivotal Phase III clinical trial to… Full Article Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Drug Trial/India/Lupin/Pharmaceutical/Research/Solosec/Symbiomix Therapeutics/Women's health
o Menarini nabs hematologic malignancy drug along with buy of Stemline By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 12:32:00 +0100 Privately-held pharma and diagnostics firm Menarini Group has announced a definitive agreement to acquire… Full Article Biotechnology/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Elzonris/Hematology/Italy/Menarini Group/Oncology/One to Watch Companies/Rare diseases/Stemline Therapeutics/USA
o Clinical tests imminent for Junshi's COVID-19 antibody By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 13:11:00 +0100 A new collaboration between Shanghai’s Junshi Biosciences and Eli Lilly will seek to develop novel… Full Article Anti-virals/Biotechnology/China/Coronavirus/Drug Trial/Eli Lilly & Company/Focus On/JS016/Junshi Biosciences/Research/USA
o EU brings production home amid supply chain worries By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 14:37:00 +0100 Specialty chemicals company Evonik has kicked off a major expansion project at two German facilities,… Full Article Europe/Evonik/Generics/Germany/Production
o BRIEF—US court upholds Amgen Kyprolis patent By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 14:43:00 +0100 The US District Court in Delaware issued a decision upholding the validity of patent claims from three… Full Article Amgen/Biotechnology/Cipla/Focus On/Kyprolis/Legal/Oncology/Patents & Trademarks/USA
o EU-led coronavirus fundraiser targets initial 7.5 billion euros By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 15:20:00 +0100 A pledging conference led by the European Union (EU) has set an initial target of 7.5 billion euros ($8.1… Full Article Anti-virals/Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Coronavirus/EIB Group/Europe/Focus On/Government Affairs/Health Medical Pharma/Pharmaceutical/Public health
o China and COVID-19 offer test case for blockchain By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 15:25:00 +0100 The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop China from launching its national blockchain-based service network… Full Article China/Coronavirus/Digital Pharma/Focus On/GlobalData/Pharmaceutical
o Latest data show Libtayo beneficial in BCC trial By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 16:32:00 +0100 Positive top-line data for a pivotal, single-arm, open-label trial of PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo (cemiplimab)… Full Article Biotechnology/Drug Trial/France/Immuno-oncology/Libtayo/Oncology/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals/Research/Sanofi/USA
o Pfizer and BioNTech move on COVID-19 vaccine work apace By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 16:43:00 +0100 As with other companies, US drug giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are moving forward their… Full Article BioNTech/BNT162/Coronavirus/Drug Trial/Focus On/Pfizer/Pharmaceutical/Research/USA/Vaccines
o Regeneron rockets as financial results provide perfect picture of growth By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 17:29:00 +0100 Investors in Regeneron could afford a rare smile in these difficult times, as the company’s first quarter… Full Article Anti-virals/Biotechnology/Dermatologicals/Dupixent/Eylea/Financial/Immuno-oncology/Inflammatory diseases/Libtayo/Management/Oncology/Ophthalmics/Regeneron/REGN-COV2/USA
o Akebia soars on positive Ph III trial results for vadadustat By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 19:20:00 +0100 Shares of US biotech Akebia Therapeutics were up more than 35% at $11.72 by early afternoon today, after… Full Article Akebia Therapeutics/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Nephrology and Hepatology/Research/USA/vadadustat
o US FTC clears AbbVie’s buy of Allergan, but with divestments By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:05:00 +0100 Almost a year after the original announcement, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted the… Full Article AbbVie/Allergan/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Endocrinology/Federal Trade Commission/Ireland/Legal/Management/Pancrelipase/Pharmaceutical/USA/Viokace/Zenpep
o Gilead plans to meet rising tide of remdesivir demand By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:21:00 +0100 California’s Gilead Sciences has outlined a plan to ramp up production of newly USA-approved COVID-19… Full Article Anti-virals/Coronavirus/Focus On/Gilead Sciences/Pharmaceutical/Production/Public health/Remdesivir/USA
o ALK Abello outperforms expectations in strong 1st-qtr By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 11:08:00 +0100 Shares of Danish allergy immunotherapy specialist ALK Abello were up almost 10% at 1,788.00 Danish kroner… Full Article Acarizax/ALK Abello/Denmark/Financial/Immunologicals/Itulazax/Pharmaceutical
o Portola agrees to takeover bid from Alexion By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 12:26:00 +0100 Following a couple of active M&A years, USA-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals has now reached a definitive… Full Article Alexion Pharmaceuticals/AndexXa/Anticoagulants/Biotechnology/Cardio-vascular/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Hematology/Ondexxya/Portola Pharmaceuticals/USA
o Ferring in sight of finish line with first microbiome-based drug By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 13:17:00 +0100 Swiss drugmaker Ferring and its Rebiotix subsidiary have announced a world first with a microbiome-based… Full Article Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Ferring Pharmaceuticals/Microbiomes/RBX2660/Rebiotix/Research/Switzerland
o BRIEF—Key appointments at Denmark’s Acesion Pharma By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 13:57:00 +0100 Danish drugmaker Acesion Pharma, which is focused on novel treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF), has… Full Article Acesion Pharma/Boardroom/Cardio-vascular/Denmark/Management/Pharmaceutical
o FDA approval for Farxiga in new indication in heart failure patients By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 14:59:00 +0100 Farxiga (dapagliflozin) has been approved in the US to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death and… Full Article AstraZeneca/Cardio-vascular/Diabetes/Farxiga/Focus On/Glucosides/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/SGLT2 inhibitors/UK/US FDA/USA
o Stockpiling spurs sales at Novo Nordisk in first quarter By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 15:14:00 +0100 Pandemic-based stockpiling among people with diabetes helped lift revenues beyond analysts’ expectations… Full Article Biotechnology/Denmark/Diabetes/Financial/Management/Novo Nordisk/Ozempic/Research/Rybelsus/Tresiba/USA/Victoza
o Alexion exceeds earnings estimates but drops guidance By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 15:22:00 +0100 US drugmaker Alexion Pharmaceuticals fared better in its revenue and adjusted earnings figures in the… Full Article Alexion Pharmaceuticals/Autoimmune Disorders/Biotechnology/Financial/Immunologicals/Management/Rare diseases/Soliris/Strensiq/Ultomiris/USA
o Bristol-Myers' CAR-T cell therapy meets with FDA delay By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 15:23:00 +0100 The submission of additional information, upon the request of the US regulator, has delayed the action… Full Article Biotechnology/Bristol-Myers Squibb/Focus On/Immuno-oncology/lisocabtagene maraleucel/Regulation/Research/US FDA/USA
o Otezla’s impact shown in milder psoriasis By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 16:46:00 +0100 Amgen’s Otezla (apremilast), a drug divested by Celgene ahead of its acquisition by Bristol-Myers Squibb,… Full Article Amgen/Biotechnology/Dermatologicals/Drug Trial/Inflammatory diseases/Otezla/Research/USA
o Bausch + Lomb licenses Stada and Xbrane’s Lucentis biosimilar By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 16:52:00 +0100 Eye health specialist Bausch + Lomb, part Bausch Health Companies, has entered into an exclusive licensing… Full Article Bausch & Lomb/Bausch Health Companies/Biosimilars/Canada/Deals/Germany/Licensing/Lucentis/Ophthalmics/STADA Arzneimittel/Sweden/USA/Xbrane Biopharma AB/Xlucane
o Bausch Health and partners settle Xifaxan IP litigation By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 17:28:00 +0100 Canada-based Bausch Health Companies, along with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Salix Pharmaceuticals and… Full Article Alfasigma/Bausch Health Companies Inc./Canada/Deals/Legal/Licensing/Nephrology and Hepatology/Patents & Trademarks/Pharmaceutical/Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd/Sandoz/Switzerland/USA/Xifaxan
o An important option in the fight against antimicrobial resistance By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 17:33:00 +0100 Positive Phase III data for Recarbrio (imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam) have been announced by New Jersey,… Full Article Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Merck & Co/Recarbrio/Regulation/Research/US FDA/USA
o Global pharma and biotech’s fight against COVID-19: an investment perspective By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 18:01:00 +0100 Mark Brewer, who heads up the life sciences team at UK broker and M&A advisory company, finnCap, gives… Full Article Actemra/Anti-virals/Avacta/Avigan/Biotechnology/Business Financing/Chloroquine/Coronavirus/Cytiva/Expert View/Faron Pharmaceuticals/favipiravir/Focus On/Fujifilm/Gilead Sciences/Hydroxychloroquine/In Depth/Medical Devices and Diagnostics/Novacyt/Remdesivir/Roche/SNG001/Synairgen/UK
o Assessing the long-term impact of COVID-19 on clinical research By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:15:00 +0100 The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many life sciences companies due to a… Full Article Anti-virals/Cell and Gene Therapy/Coronavirus/CRA/Feature/Focus On/Global/In Depth/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/Research/Vaccines
o Checkpoint blocker plus chemo shows impact in lung cancer By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:30:00 +0100 A multi-year collaboration between China’s Innovent Biologics and USA-based Eli Lilly is bearing fruit,… Full Article Biotechnology/China/Drug Trial/Eli Lilly & Company/Gemzar/Immuno-oncology/Innovent Biologics/Research/Tyvyt/USA
o BRIEF—GSK completes sale of nutrition brands for £3.4 billion By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:44:00 +0100 GlaxoSmithKline has completed divestment of its Horlicks and other Consumer Healthcare nutrition products… Full Article Companies mergers and acquisitions/Deals/Financial/GlaxoSmithKline/India/Pharmaceutical/UK
o First targeted therapy for aggressive form of lung cancer approved by FDA By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 11:10:00 +0100 Late Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration said it has granted accelerated approved for Tabrecta… Full Article Biotechnology/capmatinib/Focus On/Incyte Corp/Medical Devices and Diagnostics/Novartis/Oncology/Rare diseases/Regulation/Research/Switzerland/Tabrecta/USA
o PTC Therapeutics to acquire Censa Pharmaceutical By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:18:00 +0100 In another strategic M&A deal announced so far this month, PTC Therapeutics has entered into an agreement… Full Article Biotechnology/Censa Pharmaceuticals/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Metabolics/PTC Therapeutics/Rare diseases/sepiapterin/USA
o Mediolanum buys French I-O company By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 15:33:00 +0100 Privately-held Italian pharma group Mediolanum Farmaceutici has acquired the French immuno-oncology specialist… Full Article Biotechnology/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Elsalys Biotech/France/Immuno-oncology/Italy/Leukotac/Mediolanum/Oncology
o Novel ADC continues on path to blockbuster status By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 15:39:00 +0100 Tokyo’s Daiichi Sankyo has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for trastuzumab deruxtecan… Full Article Asia Pacific/AstraZeneca/Biotechnology/Daiichi Sankyo/Enhertu/Focus On/Japan/Oncology/Regulation/Research/trastuzumab deruxtecan/UK
o Growth forecast for drug delivery systems market By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:07:00 +0100 COVID-19 is having varying effects on different markets within healthcare, with drug delivery systems… Full Article Anti-virals/Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Asia Pacific/Biotechnology/Coronavirus/Drug delivery systems/Focus On/Healthcare/Markets & Marketing/Oncology/USA
o Dr Reddy's gets FDA nod for migraine drug Elyxyb By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:10:00 +0100 Shares of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories rose more than 2% to 3,936.35 rupees, after the Indian drugmaker… Full Article Analgesia/celecoxib/Dr Reddy's Laboratories/Elyxyb/Focus On/India/Migraine/Neurological/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/US FDA/USA
