The pharma industry briefing

The latest news, approvals and clinical trials you need to know about this month

Data:
News
in Numbers

200,000  

Gilead has agreed to donate HIV medication for up to 200,000 people each year for up to 11 years

$2bn

The value of unproven cellular therapies according to a recent ProPublica and New Yorker report

$2m

The potential price tag of Novartis’ new gene therapy drug, Zolgensma

2030

Indian officials have vowed to eliminate malaria by 2030

100

Human lifespan could soon pass 100 years thanks to medical tech, according to Bank of America analysts

Data:
News
in Numbers

200,000  

Gilead has agreed to donate HIV medication for up to 200,000 people each year for up to 11 years

$2bn 

The value of unproven cellular therapies according to a recent ProPublica and New Yorker report

2030

Indian officials have vowed to eliminate malaria by 2030

$2m

The potential price tag of Novartis’ new gene therapy drug, Zolgensma

100 

Human lifespan could soon pass 100 years thanks to medical tech, according to Bank of America analysts

 UK Government funds plans for 'pay as you go' drug development AI

In the UK, a government initiative has funnelled a small amount of cash into two organisations—Chief.AI and the Medicines Discovery Catapult—in an effort to make AI accessible to all drug discovery researchers and help nudge the UK bioscience sector into the future.

Source: Fierce Biotech

Cannabinoid-based drug discovery and development is about to get an upgrade

Tetra Bio-Pharma, engaged in cannabinoid-based drug discovery & development, recently acquired Panag Pharma, creating a new strategic partnership delving further into the cannabis industry.

Source: Health Europa

 Pfizer acquires Therachon and its dwarfism drug

Pfizer has announced it will pay $340m upfront to snap up rare disease biotech Therachon, which is developing treatments for a form of dwarfism and short bowel syndrome (SBS).

Source: Pharmaphorum

Erectile dysfunction drug 'effective' as heart failure treatment

A drug used to treat erectile dysfunction has been found to slow or even reverse the progression of heart failure in sheep. The study is a breakthrough in the treatment for the disease in which five year survival rates are lower than most common cancers.

Source: Science Daily

AstraZeneca blood cancer drug hits study goal early

A Phase III trial testing AstraZeneca's Calquence in previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia will be stopped early, after an interim analysis found patients on the blood cancer therapy were doing significantly better than those receiving one of two combination regimens containing the commonly used drug Rituxan.

Source: Bio Pharma Dive

Approvals

Ruzurgi (amifampridine)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ruzurgi tablets for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in patients 6 to less than 17 years of age.

Source: FDA

Vyndaqel (tafamidis meglumine) and Vyndamax (tafamidis)

On May 3, the (FDA) approved Vyndaqel and Vyndamax capsules for the treatment of the heart disease (cardiomyopathy) caused by transthyretin mediated amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) in adults.

Source: FDA

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)

Patients with a severe progressive form of multiple sclerosis will get access to the first licensed treatment for the condition after NICE recommended regular NHS funding for Roche’s Ocrevus, although there are still restrictions on who will receive it.

Source: Pharmaphorum

Dengvaxia

The FDA has approved the first vaccine for dengue, Dengvaxia, but placed significant restrictions on its use because the vaccine has been shown to put some people at heightened risk for a severe form of the disease.

Source: New York Times

Go to top

Share this article