The pharma industry briefing

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

Data:
News
in Numbers

$1.2trn

The value total prescription sales are expected to reach in 2024 according to Evaluate Pharma’s World Preview 2018, Outlook to 2024

52%

The percentage of the top 100 product sales biotechnology products are forecast to contribute by 2024

9th

If Takeda completes its acquisition of Shire it could be on track to become the ninth largest pharmaceutical company based on 2024 sales

$262bn

The forecast value the orphan drug market is expected to reach in 2024

20%

The percentage of the total prescription drug market forecast to be held by the orphan drug market in 2024

Data:
News
in Numbers

$1.2trn

The value total prescription sales are expected to reach in 2024 according to Evaluate Pharma’s World Preview 2018, Outlook to 2024

9th

If Takeda completes its acquisition of Shire it could be on track to become the ninth largest pharmaceutical company based on 2024 sales

52%

The percentage of the top 100 product sales biotechnology products are forecast to contribute by 2024

20%

The percentage of the total prescription drug market forecast to be held by the orphan drug market in 2024

$262bn

The forecast value the orphan drug market is expected to reach in 2024

Orion acquires sales & distribution rights for certain EC countries for Stalevo

Orion Corporation and Novartis Pharma AG have agreed that Novartis will return the sales and distribution rights in certain European countries for Parkinson’s disease drug Stalevo® to Orion.

The sales and distribution rights in certain European countries for the proprietary product Stalevo (active pharmaceutical ingredients: levodopa, carbidopa, entacapone), which has been patented and developed by Orion for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, transferred from Novartis to Orion as of 3 December 2018.

Source: Pharmafield

CarThera raises €9m to tackle the blood-brain barrier

French company CarThera has raised €9m in its Series B funding round to help it develop ultrasound-based medical devices to treat brain disorders and overcome the challenges of the blood-brain barrier.

The funding, equivalent to $10.3m, was raised with three institutional investors, Panakès Partners, Sham Innovation Santé (advised by Turenne Capital) and Supernova Invest via its fund Supernova 2, as well as Group Arnault and historical investors.

The proceeds will be used to further advance the company’s SonoCloud technology and develop its clinical pipeline.

Source: Pharmaphorum

UTI test often fails to detect infection, say researchers

The “gold standard” test for urinary tract infections (UTIs) is not fit for purpose, according to research which suggests that it fails to diagnose most chronic sufferers.

UTIs afflict an estimated 150-200 million people around the world every year. While many, particularly young women, suffer acute attacks of cystitis, which is quickly resolved with a few days of antibiotics, chronic infection can stay with people for many years and wreak havoc with their lives.

Source: The Guardian

NIH to scrutinise private donations to scientific research projects

After halting a discredited alcohol study, officials will enforce new policies to ensure that private support does not compromise scientific integrity.

In a report, National Institutes of Health (NIH) officials said its 27 institutes must evaluate all current research projects that receive private donor support for conflicts of interest of the kind that compromised the alcohol trial. The institute directors are to report their findings to Dr Francis Collins, director of NIH, early next year.

Source: New York Times

Approvals

Juluca (dolutegravir/rilpivirine)

GSK’s single pill, two-drug regimen, for the maintenance treatment of HIV, has been granted marketing approval by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ministry approved Juluca Combination Tablets (containing dolutegravir 50mg/rilpivirine 25mg) for the maintenance treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection

Source: GSK

Tecentriq

Swiss group Roche announced its Tecentriq immunotherapy mixed with chemotherapy has won priority review from the US FDA for treating a type of lung cancer, a potential boost to the drug that has been trailing rivals’ revenues.

The announcement comes after Roche in September said patients with untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lived a median 12.3 months after getting the Tecentriq cocktail, compared to 10.3 months for those getting chemotherapy alone.

Source: Reuters

Tolsura (SUBA-itraconazole)

The US FDA has approved Mayne Pharma’s Tolsura 65mg capsules for the treatment of certain systemic fungal infections in adult patients.

Tolsura is indicated for the treatment of blastomycosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary), histoplasmosis (including chronic cavitary pulmonary disease and disseminated, non-meningeal histoplasmosis) and aspergillosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary, in patients who are intolerant of or who are refractory to amphotericin B therapy).

Source: Cision