Pharma: Page 2

Sponsored by ZS

Repurposing pharma's field force in a time of 'business unusual'

Because the future is uncertain, companies don't have the luxury of designing structural changes in advance, and instead must focus on having the right capabilities, skillsets and talent in place.

By Jude Konzelmann. Co-authors: Chris Morgan & Mike Jakymiw • June 09, 2020

AstraZeneca reaches deals with health charities to supply coronavirus vaccine worldwide

A separate agreement with India's Serum Institute aims to provide 1 billion doses of the experimental vaccine to low- and middle-income countries.

By Jonathan Gardner • June 04, 2020

'Warp Speed' push for coronavirus vaccine accelerates as White House reportedly narrows field

The U.S. government aims to have a vaccine ready by the end of this year or early next, and appears to be counting on large drugmakers like J&J, Pfizer and Merck to deliver on that highly ambitious goal.

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 04, 2020

AstraZeneca puts $55M into Accent as pharmas continue push to drug RNA

The deal follows similar pacts involving Merck, Biogen, Roche and others, reflecting growing interest by pharmaceutical companies in the emerging field. 

By Ben Fidler • June 04, 2020

Novartis multiple sclerosis drug review delayed by FDA

The Swiss drugmaker now expects a decision on approval by September of ofatumumab, an important drug in its plans to compete with rival Roche. 

By Kristin Jensen • June 03, 2020

Q&A

Pfizer business head details new $500M project for investing in public biotechs

The Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative plans to back about seven to 10 biotechs. Its success will be judged by the number of drugs it helps get to market, the project's leader, Doug Giordano, told BioPharma Dive.

By Jacob Bell • June 03, 2020

Bristol Myers follows Zeposia launch with positive data from key study

The drugmaker's new pill would be the only drug in its class to treat ulcerative colitis, but could face competition from Pfizer, AbbVie and Gilead.

By Jonathan Gardner • June 02, 2020

Eli Lilly starts first-ever trial of a COVID-19 antibody drug, speeding past rivals

The Indianapolis pharma has quickly moved into human tests of an antibody it's developing with private biotech AbCellera. Initial data are expected before July.

By Ben Fidler • June 01, 2020

Regeneron expands Intellia gene editing deal as its post-Sanofi future emerges

Regeneron and Intellia will grow their alliance and work on hemophilia, an already competitive space that includes several experimental gene therapies. 

By Jonathan Gardner • June 01, 2020

Q&A

How Merck seeks to catch up in the coronavirus drug race

The pharmaceutical giant just became a major player in the global push to develop medicines against COVID-19. Daria Hazuda, vice president of infectious disease discovery, spoke with BioPharma Dive about its plans. 

By Ben Fidler • June 01, 2020

AstraZeneca bid to expand lung cancer drug's use boosted by trial data

The ADAURA trial — stopped two years ahead of schedule — showed Tagrisso kept early-stage lung cancer patients from relapsing longer than did placebo.

By Jonathan Gardner • UPDATED: May 29, 2020 at 1:11 p.m.

Facing vial shortage, pharmas explore workarounds for coronavirus vaccines

"There's not enough vials in the world," said AstraZeneca's CEO on Thursday. Procuring enough to hold the billions of vaccine doses needed is yet another headache for coronavirus drugmakers to solve.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 28, 2020

Coronavirus vaccine developers plan to enroll tens of thousands in late-stage tests

As initial studies get underway in small groups of volunteers, companies like Pfizer, AstraZeneca and J&J are preparing for large Phase 3 trials.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 28, 2020

Novartis teams with Mass. Eye & Ear to join coronavirus vaccine chase

The Swiss pharma has become the latest large drugmaker to enter the worldwide race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, tapping a project developed by gene therapy experts at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 28, 2020

Sponsored by West Monroe Partners & rMark Bio

How AI meets medical affairs teams' evolving need for KPIs

Deploying real-time analytics can help pharmaceutical companies define targeted engagement plans and develop insights from field interactions.  

With $11B stock sale, Sanofi loosens ties with Regeneron

The French pharma will get a cash windfall by selling most of its 20% stake in Regeneron, spurring speculation as to how it'll spend the money. 

By Jonathan Gardner • UPDATED: May 27, 2020 at 7 p.m.

Merck makes COVID-19 drug plans clear with flurry of deals

The drugmaker, which for months appeared to be watching the pandemic from the sidelines, will advance two coronavirus vaccine candidates, as well as an oral antiviral drug. 

By Ned Pagliarulo , Ben Fidler • May 26, 2020

Intercept shares fall as FDA again delays closely watched NASH drug

The FDA has asked for more data on obeticholic acid, which could be the first-ever marketed medicine for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The latest delay means the drug likely won’t be approved by the agency's June 26 deadline.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 22, 2020

Bangladesh pharma claims to be first to launch generic remdesivir

Beximco, which wasn't one of five drugmakers to license the coronavirus treatment from Gilead, says it can make a copycat version under World Trade Organization rules.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 21, 2020

US secures supply of AstraZeneca, Oxford coronavirus vaccine, pledging more than $1B

The deal, brokered through BARDA, will make available to the U.S. "at least" 300 million doses of the vaccine, should testing prove it safe and effective.

By Ben Fidler • May 21, 2020

Novartis gene therapy Zolgensma cleared for use in Europe

The Swiss pharma estimates 550 to 600 infants are born in Europe each year with spinal muscular atrophy, the hereditary disease Zolgensma treats.

By Kristin Jensen • May 20, 2020

AstraZeneca, Merck race past Clovis as PARPs break into prostate cancer

The approvals of Lynparza and Rubraca within days of one another mark the arrival of PARP inhibitors as treatments for prostate cancer — a role that could grow in the coming years.

By Ben Fidler • May 20, 2020

Bristol Myers, trailing Merck in lung cancer, finally wins FDA OK for immunotherapy combo

The long-sought approval of Opdivo and Yervoy gives Bristol Myers an entry into the competitive first-line lung cancer drug market after years of setbacks.

By Ben Fidler • May 18, 2020

'Operation Warp Speed,' unveiled by Trump, aims for coronavirus vaccine by year's end

Speeding the development and production of vaccines will be the project's principal aim, but it will also involve readying cold chain storage as well as supplies of needed vials and syringes. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 15, 2020

Safety questions linger as Pfizer preps Duchenne gene therapy for final test

New data presented at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy's yearly meeting show promise, but also side effects that haven't been seen with a rival treatment from Sarepta.

By Ben Fidler • May 15, 2020