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 Jonathan Gardner • March 9, 2023

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 Delilah Alvarado • March 9, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from BioPharma Dive

Looming patent expiries this decade and intensifying competition from China are forcing drugmakers to adapt, while new opportunities open up in oncology and in neuroscience.

By BioPharma Dive staff

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 Delilah Alvarado • March 3, 2023

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 Jonathan Gardner • March 3, 2023

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 Delilah Alvarado • March 2, 2023

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 Jonathan Gardner • March 2, 2023

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 Jacob Bell • 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 Jonathan Gardner • March 1, 2023

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 Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 28, 2023

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 Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 27, 2023

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

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

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 Christopher Newman • Feb. 24, 2023

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 Jacob Bell • Feb. 24, 2023

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 Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 22, 2023

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 Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 21, 2023

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

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 Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 17, 2023

Pfizer makes case for PARP-blocking drug in prostate cancer

Full study results, revealed Thursday, could help Pfizer’s Talzenna win approval in the tumor type and compete with AstraZeneca’s rival medicine Lynparza.

By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 17, 2023

Gilead’s Shaw to step down from role running cell therapy unit

Shaw, who joined Gilead in 2019 from Eli Lilly, helped build Kite into a leading producer of cell therapies, convincing Wall Street skeptics in the process.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 17, 2023

Moderna CEO to testify in Senate as Sanders ups pressure on shot prices

Stéphane Bancel will testify before the Senate’s HELP committee to defend the company’s pricing plans for its COVID-19 vaccine, which Sen. Sanders has described as “unacceptable corporate greed.”

By Kristin Jensen • Feb. 16, 2023

Brent Saunders appointed Bausch + Lomb CEO in return to pharma C-suite

Saunders, who led Allergan until its sale to AbbVie, will replace turnaround CEO Joseph Papa as head of the contact lens and eye drug manufacturer.

By Kristin Jensen • Feb. 15, 2023

US agrees to buy more doses of Novavax’s COVID shot

The company said its modified contract with the federal government, which comes ahead of a planned transition to private market sales, will help it develop an updated version of its vaccine.

By Christopher Newman • Updated Feb. 13, 2023

Sanofi R&D head John Reed leaves to take similar role at J&J

Reed, who oversaw the recent transformation of Sanofi’s drug pipeline, will lead pharmaceuticals R&D at J&J, replacing the departed Mathai Mammen.

By Jacob Bell • Updated Feb. 14, 2023

Changing the trajectory of blood cancers with transformational and potentially curative therapies at ASH

Janssen Oncology reflects on advancements in hematology after attending the 2022 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.

By Yusri Elsayed, M.D., M.HSc., Ph.D., Vice President, Global Head, Hematologic Malignancies, Janssen Research & Development, LLC • Feb. 13, 2023