o Teva soars as 1st-qtr beats expectations By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 17:21:00 +0100 Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020,… Full Article Ajovy/Analgesia/Austedo/Copaxone/Financial/Generics/Israel/Musculoskeletal/Rare diseases/Teva Pharmaceutical Industries/Treanda
o BetterLife Pharma inks licensing deal for AntiCovir By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:48:00 +0100 Canada-based BetterLife Pharma, previously known as Pivot Pharmaceuticals, has entered into an agreement… Full Article Altum Pharmaceuticals/Anti-virals/AntiCovir/BetterLife Pharma/Biotechnology/Canada/Coronavirus/Deals/Focus On/Licensing/Research
o Japan grants ‘exceptional’ approval for remdesivir in COVID-19 By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 14:53:00 +0100 As had been widely expected, Gilead Sciences on Thursday announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health,… Full Article Anti-virals/Asia Pacific/Coronavirus/Focus On/Gilead Sciences/Japan/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/Remdesivir/USA/Veklury
o Recordati 1st-qtr revenues rise 12% as income leaps more than 20% By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 10:50:00 +0100 Italian drugmaker Recordati has reported consolidated revenues for the first quarter of 2020 are 429.2… Full Article Financial/Italy/Pharmaceutical/Recordati/Signifor
o FDA backs Retevmo for certain lung and thyroid cancers By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 12:27:00 +0100 The US Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval for Retevmo (selpercatinib) capsules… Full Article Biotechnology/Eli Lilly/Focus On/Immuno-oncology/Loxo Oncology/Oncology/Regulation/Retevmo/selpercatinib/US FDA/USA
o BRIEF—AbbVie finally completes acquisition of Allergan By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 14:18:00 +0100 US pharma major AbbVie has finally completed its $63 billion acquisition of Ireland-incorporated Allergan,… Full Article AbbVie/Allergan/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Ireland/Legal/Pharmaceutical/USA
o jCyte out-licenses rare vision disorder treatment for $252 million By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 14:46:00 +0100 US biotech firm jCyte Inc has entered into a licensing agreement with Japanese ophthalmology specialist… Full Article Biotechnology/Deals/Japan/jCell/jCyte Inc/Licensing/Ophthalmics/Rare diseases/Santen/USA/Vision disorder
o Gilead in talks to expand COVID-19 hopeful remdesivir supply chains with outside partner By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 14:30:25 +0000 Gilead Sciences scored a massive win earlier this week with its first positive data readout for investigational candidate remdesivir in treating patients with severe COVID-19. Gilead already has its own supply of the drug humming in anticipation of high demand, but opportunities are out there for a partner to join in. Full Article
o AbbVie CEO: Don't worry, Allergan's aesthetics clients still have money—and 'strong desire' for treatment By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 15:20:40 +0000 AbbVie may be working through COVID-19, but it's pressing ahead with its Allergan merger, too—and taking stock of products hit by pandemic lockdowns. That puts Allergan’s aesthetics business top of mind, but AbbVie CEO Rick Gonzalez figures customers are ready and able to return quickly for treatment. Full Article
o Gilead's remdesivir scores emergency FDA nod in COVID-19 days after big data reveal By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 20:01:17 +0000 Days after U.S. officials reported the first positive controlled data for Gilead's remdesivir in COVID-19, the FDA has given the drug an emergency use authorization. Full Article
o Novartis taps real-life Cosentyx patients to thank healthcare workers, pledge patient support By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Sat, 02 May 2020 21:13:54 +0000 Novartis is using familiar faces—real patients from its Cosentyx TV commercials—to thank healthcare workers and promise support for patients. It’s a shift away from product-centered TV ads as Novartis adjusts its Cosentyx DTC effort during the COVID-19 crisis to highlight resources for patients, the drugmaker said. Full Article
o With the world waiting, Roche socks $459M into COVID-19 antibody test production By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 15:05:01 +0000 Roche scored a major win with the FDA's backing for its COVID-19 antibody tests last week in a field marked by products of questionable quality. Now, to cover its booming production goals, Roche plans to infuse nearly half-a-billion dollars into its German manufacturing facility. Full Article
o Fair price for Gilead's COVID-19 med remdesivir? $4,460, cost watchdog says By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 15:09:09 +0000 While Gilead has yet to present a marketing plan for remdesivir—much less a price—ICER figures the COVID-19 drug could be cost-effective at up to $4,460 per patient. That means it could easily rake in blockbuster sales this year, at least theoretically. Full Article
o Remdesivir, check. Now, analysts are looking ahead to 'several' COVID-19 drugs to come By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 15:22:41 +0000 Gilead made waves on Friday with its emergency FDA approval for remdesivir quickly on the heels of a controlled trial data release. But while it’s an important first step, other COVID-19 medicines will likely be coming down the line, analysts wrote. Full Article
o Seattle Genetics, Astellas' bladder cancer med Padcev blows early expectations out of the water By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 15:21:47 +0000 Even a pandemic can’t slow down Seattle Genetics and Astellas' new bladder cancer treatment Padcev, which "blew out sales expectations" for the first quarter, analysts said. And now, they're jacking up their long-term sales estimates for the drug as a result. Full Article
o AbbVie, Allergan score FTC approval for $63B merger with one final hurdle left to go By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 17:50:19 +0000 AbbVie and Allergan have waited for nearly a year for their much-discussed merger to pass muster. Finally, after pushback from consumer groups and tight scrutiny from regulators, the FTC has granted its green light. The partners face just one final hurdle to consummating their deal. Full Article
o Ousted BARDA director pushed back on chloroquine claims and faced whistleblower retaliation, complaint says By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 19:56:27 +0000 After his surprise removal from HHS’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority—a key agency partnered with pharma companies on COVID-19 drugs, vaccines and diagnostics—former Director Rick Bright is alleging whistleblower retaliation by HHS leadership. Full Article
o AstraZeneca's Farxiga scores landmark FDA nod in heart failure patients with or without diabetes By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 14:42:58 +0000 AstraZeneca has watched superstar SGLT2 diabetes med Farxiga nail trial after trial in highly coveted kidney and heart failure indications, with the FDA expediting reviews to back them up. The one thing AstraZeneca was missing? The agency taking Farxiga across the finish line. Full Article
o Fresenius Kabi recalls anti-inflammation drug Ketorolac after finding particles in vials By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 15:25:53 +0000 German drugmaker Fresenius Kabi has made major investments in its U.S. manufacturing operations in recent years with some mixed quality results along the way. Now, one of the drugmaker's products faces a recall for more manufacturing woes. Full Article
o Amgen ramps up Otezla expansion effort with positive data in mild psoriasis By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 18:22:16 +0000 Amgen is planning to file for FDA approval of Otezla in mild to moderate plaque psoriasis based on new data showing patients on the drug experienced significant improvements in their symptoms. The label expansion will be key to Amgen's ability to recoup the $13.4 billion it paid to acquire the drug from Celgene last year. Full Article
o Pfizer tags 3 U.S. manufacturing sites for possible COVID-19 vaccine launch By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:38:33 +0000 Global coronavirus vaccine makers have been rolling out details about their manufacturing and launch plans—even ahead of any clinical data. Now, Pfizer says it will draw on three sites in the U.S., plus one in Belgium, for the early stages of a launch, provided its BioNTech-partnered shot wins a green light. Full Article
o Teva generics benefit from COVID-19 bump––but the boom may not last By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:57:22 +0000 With its multibillion-dollar restructuring plan in the rearview mirror, Teva is pinning its future growth on two of its branded meds with high hopes. But generics are still central to the Israeli drugmaker's business, and increased demand due to COVID-19 gave Teva a welcome gift in the first three months of the year. Full Article
o Can the price be right? With the world watching, Gilead faces a no-win decision on remdesivir By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:40:24 +0000 The world is waiting for Gilead Sciences to set a price tag for remdesivir, the first brand-new med authorized to treat COVID-19. Its choice will affect Gilead's reputation and bottom line, set a tone for follow-up meds—and either help polish up the pharma industry's image or create a new flashpoint for criticism. Full Article
o Biogen gears up Swiss manufacturing facility for potential aducanumab rollout By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:51:06 +0000 Biogen has had a rocky road with its controversial Alzheimer's disease candidate aducanumab, resurrected late last year. But despite postponing the drug's FDA filing half a year, Biogen is still moving forward with plans to scale up production if aducanumab eventually passes muster. Full Article
o Bristol Myers Squibb's blood thinner Eliquis soars on COVID-19 demand, but Opdivo could suffer: execs By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:53:18 +0000 Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Giovanni Caforio credited COVID-19-related stocking for high sales of some products in the first quarter, including Eliquis, a blood thinner that's being snapped up to reduce clotting risk in patients with the virus. But the pandemic has limited access to oncology clinics and other non-COVID-19 services, raising challenges that could impact sales later this year. Full Article
o GBT chief blames COVID-19 for 'clear' slowdown in Oxbryta launch, but analysts are still impressed By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 18:11:22 +0000 Global Blood Therapeutics' sickle cell disease medicine Oxbryta got off to a hot start after a November FDA approval. But early in its launch, execs now say they're seeing a "clear headwind" from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lately, new patient starts have tanked by 60%, CEO Ted Love said. Full Article
o FiercePharmaAsia—Gilead's Japanese remdesivir nod, licensing talks; Lilly-Junshi COVID-19 antibody pact By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 10:10:53 +0000 Gilead Sciences' remdesivir, now called Veklury, has won a fast Japanese nod in SARS-CoV-2. The Big Biotech's scouting licensing partners to ramp up supply around the world. Eli Lilly has signed on China's Junshi Biosciences to develop neutralizing antibodies against the novel coronavirus. And more. Full Article
o Cadila shutters Indian ingredients plant after 26 workers test positive for COVID-19: report By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:40:29 +0000 Global drugmakers are working overtime to keep supplies coming amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. But in manufacturing facilities packed with workers, COVID-19 presents a particularly difficult challenge—and now one Indian plant has been forced to shutter due to a rash of infections. Full Article
o Early missteps, transparency questions dog U.S. government's remdesivir rollout: reports By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:50:52 +0000 When Gilead Sciences scored a groundbreaking FDA emergency use authorization for COVID-19 therapy remdesivir, the company made the unusual move of handing distribution rights to the U.S. government. But the federal rollout has gotten off to a rocky start. Full Article
o Roche's Kadcyla wins NICE backing in early breast cancer use By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 14:47:29 +0000 Unlike its first U.K. reimbursement negotiations, Roche’s HER2 antibody-drug conjugate has won quick National Institute for Health and Care Excellence backing for routine NHS coverage to prevent HER2-positive breast cancer from returning after surgery in the so-called adjuvant setting. Full Article
o Gilead hit with Iranian cyberattack for role in COVID-19 response: report By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 19:43:17 +0000 Gilead Sciences has captured worldwide attention with its COVID-19 antiviral, remdesivir, cleared late last week by the FDA—not all of it welcome. With bad actors targeting companies at the head of the spear in the pandemic response, Gilead may have found itself in their sights. Full Article
o Federal agency finds 'reasonable grounds to believe' Rick Bright's whistleblower claims: NYT By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 19:45:56 +0000 Only days after former BARDA chief Rick Bright filed a whistleblower complaint alleging retaliation by the Trump administration, the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel has recommended his temporary reinstatement, the New York Times reports. Full Article
o U.S. CDC reports 1,248,040 coronavirus cases, 75,477 deaths By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 21:46:52 -0400 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday reported 1,248,040 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 28,974 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 2,180 to 75,477. Full Article healthNews
o Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 1,251 to 168,551: RKI By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 22:09:29 -0400 The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,251 to 168,551, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. Full Article healthNews
o China reports one new coronavirus case, 15 asymptomatic cases By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 23:09:58 -0400 China reported one new coronavirus case for Friday, unchanged from the day before, data from the national health authority showed on Saturday. Full Article healthNews
o FDA commissioner in self-quarantine after exposure to person with COVID-19 By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:38:14 -0400 U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn is in self-quarantine for a couple of weeks after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, an FDA spokesman told Reuters late on Friday. Full Article healthNews
o Thailand reports four new coronavirus cases, one new death By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 01:23:35 -0400 Thailand reported four new coronavirus cases and one more death on Saturday, bringing the total to 3,004 cases and 56 deaths since the outbreak started in January. Full Article healthNews
o China to reform disease prevention system By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 03:10:46 -0400 China will reform its disease prevention and control system to address weaknesses exposed by the coronavirus outbreak, a senior health official said on Saturday. Full Article healthNews
o Singapore reports 753 new coronavirus cases, taking total to 22,460 By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 03:27:35 -0400 Singapore registered 753 new coronavirus infections, its health ministry said on Saturday, taking the city-state's total to 22,460 cases. Full Article healthNews
o China approves Novartis' multiple sclerosis treatment Mayzent By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 03:29:42 -0400 Chinese regulators have approved Novartis' Mayzent to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis in adults, the Swiss drug maker said in a statement on Saturday. Full Article healthNews
o Russia records more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases in past day By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 04:07:00 -0400 Russian authorities said on Saturday they had recorded 10,817 new cases of the coronavirus in the last day, pushing the nationwide tally to 198,676. Full Article healthNews
o Philippines' coronavirus deaths breach 700 By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 04:50:24 -0400 The Philippines' health ministry reported on Saturday that coronavirus deaths have reached more than 700. Full Article healthNews
o Tokyo reports 36 new cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday: TV Asahi By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 05:18:54 -0400 Tokyo reported 36 new cases of coronavirus infections on Saturday, TV Asahi said, three less than a day earlier and the seventh consecutive day that new infections have remained below 100. Full Article healthNews
o Indonesia reports 533 new COVID-19 cases, biggest in a day By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 05:33:43 -0400 Indonesia reported on Saturday 533 new coronavirus infections, the biggest daily increase, taking the total number to 13,645, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said. Full Article healthNews
o Malaysia reports 54 new coronavirus cases and one new death By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 05:37:14 -0400 Malaysia health authorities on Saturday reported 54 new coronavirus cases for a total of 6,589. Full Article healthNews
o Slovakia records no new coronavirus cases for first time since March 10 By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 05:43:33 -0400 Slovakia on Friday recorded no new cases of coronavirus for the first time since March 10, government figures showed. Full Article healthNews
o Tijuana coronavirus death rate soars after hospital outbreaks By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 07:16:27 -0400 The number of deaths from the coronavirus in Mexico's best-known border city, Tijuana, has soared and the COVID-19 mortality rate is twice the national average, the health ministry says, after medical staff quickly fell ill as the outbreak rampaged through hospital wards. Full Article healthNews
o New York governor says 5-year old died from rare COVID-related complications By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 07:36:14 -0400 A 5-year old boy has died in New York from a rare inflammatory syndrome believed to be linked to the novel coronavirus, highlighting a potential new risk for children in the pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday. Full Article healthNews
o Portugal's low-income households struggle to survive pandemic By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 08:02:25 -0400 One in four Portuguese with a monthly household income of 650 euros ($705) or less have lost all their income because of the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, a study by the National School of Public Health showed on Saturday. Full Article healthNews
o Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 09:28:30 -0400 More than 3.95 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 273,805 have died, according to a Reuters tally, as of 0214 GMT on Saturday. Full Article healthNews