Pharma

Novavax slashes revenue forecasts amid slow demand for COVID-19 vaccine

The biotech now expects about $2 billion in revenue in 2022, less than half its previous estimates, after sales fell sharply in the second quarter.

By Christopher Newman • Aug. 9, 2022

J&J’s head of R&D departs as pharma’s leadership turns over

Mathai Mammen is leaving to “pursue other opportunities,” J&J said in an abrupt announcement. William Hait, currently head of external innovation, will take Mammen’s place in the interim.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 9, 2022

Explore the 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

Lilly criticizes Indiana abortion law, indicating it may look elsewhere to hire

After Indiana’s governor signed a near-total abortion ban into law, the drugmaker said it will rethink future hiring in the state.

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 8, 2022

Pfizer buys sickle cell drugmaker Global Blood for $5.4B

The acquisition gives Pfizer access to Oxbryta, an approved drug for the blood condition, as well as two experimental medicines.

By Delilah Alvarado , Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Aug. 8, 2022

How a small UK biotech ended up in Gilead’s hands

MiroBio, which was spun out of the University of Oxford three years ago, drew Gilead’s interest with its autoimmune disease research.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Aug. 5, 2022

Novo shares tumble after latest setbacks for closely watched obesity drug

The Danish drugmaker lost tens of billions in market value after revealing a key clinical study for Wegovy won't be stopped early and production issues are still being ironed out.

By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 4, 2022

With new data, Roche takes step toward more convenient cancer immunotherapy

The pharma claimed Phase 3 study success for a subcutaneous version of its drug Tecentriq, a strategy it and rivals Merck and Bristol Myers could use to extend the market life of their lucrative drugs.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 2, 2022

The cost of purpose: Finding personal fulfillment in a pharmaceutical career

Wa’el Hashad, President and CEO of Avanir Pharmaceuticals, discusses purpose and fulfillment in a pharmaceutical career.

By Wa’el Hashad, President and CEO, Avanir Pharmaceuticals • Aug. 1, 2022

AbbVie cancer drug sales fall as AstraZeneca competitor gains ground

Imbruvica, long one of AbbVie’s top-selling medicines, has ceded market share in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia to AstraZeneca’s Calquence.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 29, 2022

Pfizer sales of COVID-19 vaccine, pill beat forecasts as company prepares for future waves

The company plans to ready a booster shot by the fall that targets the BA.4 and BA.5 strains that are currently most prevalent in the U.S. and other countries.

By Christopher Newman • Updated July 28, 2022

Novartis asks FDA to approve biosimilar for Biogen’s top-selling MS drug

Biogen will try to enforce patents protecting Tysabri, but an executive last week acknowledged that copycat drugs could launch when approved in the U.S.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 25, 2022

EU speeds approval of monkeypox vaccine as WHO declares public health emergency

Vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic said it is meeting demand for its shot with production capacity of 30 million doses a year.

By Christopher Newman • July 25, 2022

European regulator recommends Bavarian Nordic's vaccine for monkeypox

The positive decision comes as governments aim to expand supply and quicken distribution of the vaccine to combat a widening global outbreak. Separately, the EMA backed approvals of 11 other medicines.

By Christopher Newman • July 22, 2022

Roche CEO Schwan, who guided company as cancer drug powerhouse, to step down next year

The drugmaker’s current diagnostics chief Thomas Schinecker will take over as CEO in March, while Schwan will seek election as chair of Roche’s board.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 21, 2022

Roche digs deeper into gene therapy for the eye

The Swiss drugmaker, which already owns rights to a marketed gene therapy for inherited vision loss, will work with startup Avista Therapeutics to develop better delivery tools for the complex treatments. 

By Jonathan Gardner • July 20, 2022

Merck terminates Lynparza trial in colorectal cancer

The setback slows plans to broaden use of a drug that analysts expect to generate nearly $10 billion in annual sales later this decade.  

By Jonathan Gardner • July 19, 2022

Novartis forecasts improving generic drug business as it weighs unit's future

The pharmaceutical company is considering selling or splitting off its struggling Sandoz division and expects to give an update by the end of the year.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 19, 2022

Drug deals, launches in focus as pharma earnings begin

Second quarter reports could bring questions on a reportedly forthcoming $40 billion takeover, GSK’s new slimmed-down look and market uptake for expected blockbusters from Lilly and Bristol Myers.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Jonathan Gardner • July 18, 2022

EMA adds allergic reaction warning to Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine

The regulator said there have been “a few” spontaneous severe allergic reactions following administration of the vaccine, which was this week authorized in the U.S.

By Christopher Newman • July 15, 2022

Novartis, BeiGene cancer drug faces delay as FDA puts off approval decision

The deferral puts the drug in regulatory limbo, setting back the Swiss pharma's efforts to catch up to top immunotherapy developers Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and Roche.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 14, 2022

FDA clears Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine as 4th option in US

The shot is the first of its type authorized for COVID-19 by the FDA, but faces an uncertain future due to questions about its ability to fight omicron as well as the biotech’s ability to manufacture large quantities. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated July 13, 2022

Merck wagers $290M on a cancer treatment from Finnish drugmaker

The treatment, developed by Orion Corporation, is in Phase 2 testing for advanced prostate cancer, and adds to Merck’s oncology pipeline

By Kristin Jensen • July 13, 2022

Healthcare asset manager Innoviva buys another biotech at a bargain price

Two months after acquiring Entasis Therapeutics, the firm reached a deal to buy La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co. at a fraction of what La Jolla was worth just a few years ago.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 11, 2022

De-risking oncology trials with medical monitoring

Phase three oncology studies have approximately a 35% likelihood of leading to regulatory approval.

July 11, 2022

AbbVie dials back partnership on experimental Alzheimer's drug

While AbbVie is bailing on one of the two programs it paid Alector $205 million to acquire five years ago, work will continue on the second project. That drug, however, has shown safety signals.  

By Jonathan Gardner • July 8, 2022