Pharma: Page 2

Lilly doubles down on Innovent cancer drug in immunotherapy push

The Indianapolis pharma paid $200 million to gain most of the rights to Tyvyt, a checkpoint blocker that could help it compete with Merck, Roche and others.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 18, 2020

Gilead expands Tango alliance, continuing a busy year of cancer deals

A $145 million payment to broaden a partnership with Tango Therapeutics is the latest in a series of deals Gilead has made to grow its oncology business.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 18, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Inside the global race for a coronavirus vaccine

Some 29 vaccine candidates are now in clinical studies. Early results from five leading efforts are encouraging, suggesting researchers are on the right track despite rapid acceleration of testing.

By BioPharma Dive staff

Sanofi, seeking control of key drug, to buy Principia for $3.7B

The acquisition significantly increases Sanofi's bet on Principia's chief asset, an experimental drug for multiple sclerosis now in late-stage testing.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 17, 2020

Roche wins FDA approval for first self-administered biologic for rare eye disease

Enspryng is the second drug OK'd in three months for an autoimmune disorder that causes blindness and impaired mobility, but it's the only one that patients can take at home.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 17, 2020

Europe, trailing US, UK, reaches first coronavirus vaccine deal

Both the U.S. and U.K. have aggressively signed preorder deals with vaccine developers. An agreement with AstraZeneca is the EU's first. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 14, 2020

Bristol Myers pledges to spend $300M on addressing racial, health disparities

The drugmaker aims to double Black and Latinx representation in its executive ranks, among other commitments.

By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 12, 2020

Moderna gets $1.5B from US for coronavirus vaccine supply

The U.S. has already invested heavily in Moderna's shot, having previously committed $1 billion to fund clinical trials and manufacturing scale-up. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 11, 2020

First oral drug for spinal muscular atrophy approved by FDA

Roche priced Evrysdi below the cost of competing treatments from Novartis and Biogen, but the drug's list price still tops $100,000 for many patients.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 07, 2020

Pfizer to help Gilead produce COVID-19 drug remdesivir

With supplies of the in-demand drug tight, Gilead has enlisted Pfizer, along with companies across the globe, to churn out millions of treatment courses.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 07, 2020

GSK wins US approval for first-of-its-kind blood cancer drug

Blenrep is the first multiple myeloma therapy cleared by the FDA that targets BCMA, a protein that's the focus of high-profile drug development efforts.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 06, 2020

Bristol Myers, Pfizer fend off a key challenge to their top-selling heart drug

A district court ruling likely ensures that the companies' blood thinner Eliquis won't face generic competition until at least 2026.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 06, 2020

Big pharma alliance recruits first patients for unusual COVID-19 study

The trial is testing whether drugs from Amgen, Takeda and AbbVie can combat the life-threatening immune overreaction some COVID-19 patients experience.

By Jacob Bell • Aug. 03, 2020

Bausch Health to pay $45M to settle US charges over Valeant-era accounting

The agreement comes four years after an accounting scandal led to the unraveling of then-Valeant's image as a new breed of drugmaker.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 03, 2020

Lilly to test COVID-19 antibody drug in unorthodox nursing home study

Seeking fast answers in a pandemic, Lilly will use mobile RVs to set up infusion clinics at assisted living facilities, which have become COVID-19 hot spots. 

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 03, 2020

Vaccine sales driven down by pandemic's effects on doctor visits

Pfizer, Sanofi, GSK and Merck each reported lower vaccine sales as stay-at-home orders kept people from their regular vaccinations.

By Jacob Bell • July 31, 2020

US promises $2.1B to Sanofi, GSK in latest coronavirus vaccine deal

The contract is the largest yet from the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed, although Sanofi and GSK have yet to begin clinical testing of their shot.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 31, 2020

AstraZeneca signals it won't wait for US data to seek clearance of coronavirus vaccine

The British drugmaker indicated on a conference call that data from trials already underway in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa will be sufficient to ask regulators to approve the vaccine.  

By Jonathan Gardner • July 30, 2020

J&J, beginning first human trial, aims for a 1-shot coronavirus vaccine

Preclinical data published Thursday suggest one dose of J&J's vaccine could protect against coronavirus disease, but that goal has proved difficult for drugmakers so far.

By Ben Fidler • July 30, 2020

Bristol Myers resubmits cancer cell therapy, lifting investors' chance at payout

A surprise refusal by the FDA in May to review Bristol Myers' application put at risk a conditional payment promised as part of the pharma's Celgene deal.

By Ben Fidler • July 29, 2020

Can Sanofi's top drug carry it through a pandemic?

While Dupixent sales are booming, the French firm's heavy reliance on the drug could leave it exposed if pricing reforms occur in the U.S. 

By Jacob Bell • July 29, 2020

A Roche arthritis drug fails in COVID-19, casting doubt on a strained hypothesis

Negative results for Actemra follow setbacks for Kevzara, which works similarly, and further weaken the case that the drugs could help treat severe COVID-19.

By Ben Fidler • July 29, 2020

Trump invites high-stakes showdown with big pharma as election looms

Industry officials refused to attend a White House meeting called after Trump announced executive orders meant to revive several drug pricing proposals

By Jonathan Gardner • UPDATED: July 28, 2020 at 11:22 a.m.

AstraZeneca turns again to Daiichi Sankyo for a major cancer drug deal

The British pharma will pay Daiichi $1 billion to split rights to an experimental antibody-drug conjugate in a deal similar to the 2019 agreement that bought it the breast cancer drug Enhertu.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 27, 2020

On eve of first big coronavirus vaccine study, trial leaders brace for 'unprecedented' task

Researchers will need millions of volunteers to find the roughly 150,000 required for the five Phase 3 trials expected this year. Here's what lies ahead for them.

By Ben Fidler • July 24, 2020

Coronavirus vaccines speed ahead, but experts fear not everyone will take them

Gaining trust will be a tough task as public health officials gear up for one of the biggest immunization campaigns in decades. 

By Jonathan Gardner • July 23, 2020