Pharma


  • A wall showing a Merck & Co. logo in Kenilworth, New Jersey
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    Courtesy of Merck & Co.

    Merck TIGIT drug misses goal in lung cancer trial, adding to doubts over approach

    The combination drug didn’t help patients any more than chemotherapy, but Merck will continue the trial to test it together with chemo.

    By March 17, 2023
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    Brian Tucker / BioPharma Dive

    In Pfizer-Seagen review, FTC has chance to set new pharma precedent

    The regulator’s review of the planned $43 billion deal could reveal how it plans to apply a new philosophy toward drugmaker mergers.

    By March 14, 2023
  • Single strand ribonucleic acid, RNA research Explore the Trendline
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    luismmolina via Getty Images
    Trendline

    The expanding world of RNA therapies

    Vaccines from BioNTech and Moderna proved the power of messenger RNA in medicine. A growing field of RNA-targeting therapies is advancing alongside them.

    By BioPharma Dive staff
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    iStock via Getty Images

    VA to cover Leqembi for veterans with early Alzheimer’s

    The agency’s decision on Eisai and Biogen’s new drug contrasts with a stringent Medicare policy that limits coverage to patients in clinical trials.

    By March 14, 2023
  • A photo of Sanofi headquarters in Paris, France.
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    Courtesy of Sanofi

    Sanofi acquires diabetes drug via Provention buyout

    The deal builds on a licensing agreement between Sanofi and Provention to market the first-of-its-kind treatment, called Tzield and approved to slow the disease’s progression.

    By March 13, 2023
  • A Pfizer sign on a building.
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    Jeenah Moon via Getty Images

    Pfizer to buy Seagen in $43B cancer drug deal

    The acquisition would give Pfizer control of a top-selling lymphoma drug and a pipeline of medicines that have made the Seattle-based company one of the sector’s most valuable biotechs.

    By Updated March 13, 2023
  • Roche Pharmaceutical Group's office building in Shanghai, China
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    iStock via Getty Images

    FDA advisers back earlier use of Roche lymphoma drug

    The positive vote comes despite doubts from FDA scientists and increases the chance that Polivy could soon be approved as a first-line treatment alongside a drug regimen called R-CHOP.    

    By March 10, 2023
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images

    Pfizer’s Biohaven deal pays dividends with new drug approval

    The medicine, a nasal spray for migraines to be sold as Zavzpret, was a key part of Pfizer’s roughly $12 billion buyout of Biohaven last year. 

    By March 10, 2023
  • Beta-Amyloid Plaques and Tau in the Brain
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    National Institute on Aging. (2017). "Beta-Amyloid Plaques and Tau in the Brain" [Image]. Retrieved from Flickr.

    Lilly reaches end of the road with long-studied Alzheimer’s drug

    Prior trial failures hadn’t halted testing of solanezumab, once Lilly’s top Alzheimer’s drug candidate. But its final study defeat may help scientists better understand how to target the brain disease.

    By March 9, 2023
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    Novartis 

    Sandoz, betting on biosimilar sales, to build new production plant

    The Novartis division will invest at least $400 million in a new manufacturing facility in Slovenia amid expectations that demand for copycat biologics will surge in the coming years.

    By March 9, 2023
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    Novartis

    Novartis takes step toward expanding supply of in-demand cancer drug

    The company has struggled to maintain supply of its prostate cancer drug Pluvicto, hampered by production issues and higher-than-expected demand.

    By March 3, 2023
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    Exelixis, Inc.

    Exelixis reports trial failure for cancer drug combination

    The setback is the second for the pairing of Cabometyx and Roche’s immunotherapy Tecentriq, dimming Exelixis’ hopes of further expanding its drug’s use before a key patent expires.

    By March 3, 2023
  • A sign for the Food And Drug Administration is seen outside of the headquarters on July 20, 2020 in White Oak, Maryland.
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    Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
    RSV vaccines

    GSK’s RSV vaccine wins FDA panel backing, matching Pfizer

    Committee members appeared more confident in their recommendation of GSK's shot, with fewer dissents in separate votes on its safety and effectiveness.

    By March 2, 2023
  • The sign identifying the FDA headquarters in front of its building in White Oak, Maryland.
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    Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images

    FDA asks advisers to review Lynparza amid growing scrutiny of PARP drugs

    The meeting to discuss Lynparza's use as a frontline treatment for prostate cancer follows a string of withdrawals for drugs in its class, and evidence it didn’t meaningfully extend survival in late-stage testing.

    By March 2, 2023
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    Novo Nordisk

    Novo Nordisk to create Boston R&D hub

    Along with adding new jobs and lab space, the company plans to transfer or close down operations at some other research sites as it works to cement the Boston area as its main U.S. location for R&D.

    By March 2, 2023
  • Lilly to lower insulin prices by 70%

    The pharma company, along with its diabetes drug rivals Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, has long been under pressure over the high cost of insulin — scrutiny that has recently ramped up in the U.S.

    By March 1, 2023
  • A vial of Merck & Co.'s cancer drug Keytruda next to its box.
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    Courtesy of Merck & Co.

    Merck reports two Phase 3 study misses for Keytruda

    The negative results in prostate and lung cancer are rare trial failures for the immunotherapy, and could limit expanded use of the drug in treating those tumor types.

    By Feb. 28, 2023
  • A corporate building is seen with a sign for the company Viatris
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    Courtesy of Viatris

    Viatris taps new CEO to lead second phase of business revamp

    Celgene veteran Scott Smith will take over for Michael Goettler on April 1 as the generic drugmaker prepares for a return to growth after divestitures and the addition of a new eye care division.

    By Feb. 27, 2023
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    PeopleImages via Getty Images
    Sponsored by Cognizant

    How life sciences benefits from broader healthcare transformation

    Digital transformation has much to offer life sciences as well as healthcare — and the synergies between the two can further optimize the power of digital health, clinical trials and patient outcomes.

    Feb. 27, 2023
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    Permission granted by iStock- AndreyPopov
    Sponsored by Ogilvy Health

    Med EdVolution

    Medical education, or med ed, to be far less flashy, or as important as traditional healthcare advertising. 

    By Karen Campbell Senior Vice President Senior Management Supervisor, Ogilvy Health • Feb. 27, 2023
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    Marko Georgiev / Stringer via Getty Images

    European regulator signals rejection for Merck’s COVID pill

    The EMA's drug committee concluded a clinical benefit “could not be demonstrated” for the antiviral pill Lagevrio, a decision Merck and partner Ridgeback said they will appeal.

    By Feb. 24, 2023
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    Kendall Davis / BioPharma Dive

    Novartis backs away from NASH, furthering its research revamp

    The pharma is handing back rights to an experimental medicine for the liver disease that had been licensed from biotech Pliant Therapeutics. 

    By Feb. 24, 2023
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    Permission granted by Amgen

    Doctors largely comfortable with biosimilar drugs, but question economics: report

    Weeks after the first Humira copycat launched in the U.S., a survey by Cardinal Health suggests insurer mandates will drive biosimilar adoption.

    By Feb. 22, 2023
  • An AbbVie sign is seen on the outside of a building in California.
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    Courtesy of AbbVie
    Deep Dive // Patent thickets

    Big pharma’s looming threat: a patent cliff of ‘tectonic magnitude’

    Many top-selling products will lose patent protection by the end of the decade, putting pressure on companies to replace lost revenue with new medicines.

    By Feb. 21, 2023
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    Artist: Inside Creative House

    Sponsored by OM1

    Reasons matter: uncovering insights into medication discontinuation in immunology

    Real-world data and advanced analytics reveal patterns and insights into why patients stop therapies

    By Stefan C. Weiss, MD, MHSc, MBA, Managing Director, Dermatology, OM1 • Feb. 21, 2023
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images

    Moderna shares sink on mixed study results for flu vaccine

    The company’s shot sparked a strong enough immune response against only one of two groups of influenza strains it was tested against in a closely watched Phase 3 trial.

    By Feb. 17, 2023