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

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

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

Pfizer begins plan to challenge Shingrix with an mRNA vaccine

The pharma and partner BioNTech have kicked off the first human trial of a messenger RNA shot for shingles, believing there’s room to clear the high bar set by GSK’s rival vaccine.

By Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 10, 2023

AstraZeneca sees run of growth continuing in 2023

While 2022 revenue came in slightly below analyst expectations, the pharma’s forecast puts within reach a sales target set nearly a decade ago by CEO Pascal Soriot.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 9, 2023

Bayer names former Roche executive Bill Anderson as new CEO

Anderson, who stepped down as Roche's pharmaceuticals chief in December, will replace Bayer's current head Werner Baumann on June 1.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Feb. 8, 2023

Arrowhead confirms J&J’s plan to dial back hepatitis B drug research

The reported reorganization of J&J’s infectious disease division leaves the fate of Arrowhead's multibillion-dollar partnership with the big drugmaker unclear.

By Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 7, 2023

Astellas switches CEOs amid plans to pursue ‘aggressive’ growth

Naoki Okamura, currently Astellas’ chief strategy officer, will replace current CEO Kenji Yasukawa as the company continues a strategic reboot that’s seen it invest more heavily in gene therapy.

By Christopher Newman • Feb. 6, 2023

Roche writes off $3B on lower sales forecasts for gene therapies, cancer drugs

Among the drugs Roche recorded impairment charges on are four gene therapies acquired in the company's 2019 deal for Spark Therapeutics. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 3, 2023

Lilly reports fast sales for new diabetes drug

Still, fourth quarter sales for Mounjaro were slightly below high Wall Street forecasts and didn’t offset falling revenue from Lilly’s COVID-19 antibodies. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Feb. 2, 2023

Roche promotes from within to replace pharma head

Teresa Graham, currently head of Roche Pharmaceuticals’ global product strategy, will succeed former chief Bill Anderson. The reshuffle is one of several recent changes in the pharma’s leadership. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 2, 2023