Pharma
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News roundup
Erasca restructures; Novartis moves to complete MorphoSys deal
The cancer biotech is laying off one-fifth of its staff and scrapping three drugs. Elsewhere, Novartis secured sufficient support for its $3 billion buyout and Bristol Myers won a new CAR-T approval.
By BioPharma Dive staff • May 17, 2024 -
Obesity drugs
Roche keeps pace in obesity drug field with early study data
A drug Roche acquired in a buyout of Carmot Therapeutics and that works similarly to Zepbound helped people lose nearly 19% of their body weight in a Phase 1 trial.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 16, 2024 -
Trendline
COVID-19 vaccines
The urgency of the pandemic’s first two years is giving way to questions of how to sustain public health responses and prepare for what could come next. In the U.S., health officials are urging booster shots and preparing for private sector distribution of vaccines.
By BioPharma Dive staff -
J&J to buy Proteologix and its dual-targeting antibody drugs for $850M
The deal is part of a plan by J&J to build a portfolio of “differentiated” bispecific antibodies, an increasingly popular area of drug development.
By Kristin Jensen • May 16, 2024 -
Bayer details layoffs as company shake-up continues
The reduction of 1,500 roles in the first quarter is part of CEO Bill Anderson’s plan to shrink Bayer’s bureaucracy and “radically realign” its culture.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 14, 2024 -
Sponsored by Almac Group
Partnering for success: Choosing the right CDMO in pharma outsourcing
Explore the four most important qualities for choosing a dependable outsourcing partner in pharma.
May 13, 2024 -
News roundup
iTeos shares jump on TIGIT update; Acelyrin swaps CEOs
Interim data surpassed expectations, iTeos said. Bluebird bio, meanwhile, gave a fuller accounting of launch progress for its gene therapies Lygenia, Zynteglo and Skysona.
By BioPharma Dive staff • May 10, 2024 -
RSV vaccines
FDA delays decision on Moderna RSV vaccine
The regulator cited “administrative constraints,” rather than any issue with Moderna’s trial data, for missing a May 12 deadline, the company said.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 10, 2024 -
Novavax gets a lifeline with Sanofi vaccine pact
Sanofi will ally with the under-pressure biotech, paying $500 million upfront for rights to co-commercialize Novavax’s COVID shot and develop combination influenza vaccines.
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 10, 2024 -
Takeda targets ‘efficiency’ in restructuring, pipeline cuts
Among the pipeline changes is a decision by Takeda to terminate studies in blood cancer of TAK-007, a CAR-NK therapy, and to pivot instead to autoimmune conditions.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated May 10, 2024 -
Deep Dive // Patent thickets
Drug patents protect pharma profits. Track when they’ll expire here.
Intellectual property is the foundation of the drug industry’s business model. This database will track key patent expiry dates for 30 top-selling medicines.
By Jonathan Gardner • Updated May 13, 2024 -
AstraZeneca withdraws COVID-19 vaccine, citing declining demand
The move ends a turbulent saga for AstraZeneca, which successfully developed a coronavirus shot but struggled to sell it amid competition and the emergence of rare but serious side effects.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 8, 2024 -
New Alzheimer's drugs
FDA sets date for advisory meeting on Lilly’s closely watched Alzheimer’s drug
After delaying an approval decision for Lilly’s donanemab, the agency now intends to hold an advisory committee meeting on June 10.
By Jacob Bell • May 7, 2024 -
AstraZeneca ups stake in Cellectis in latest cell therapy bet
The British drugmaker, which has made genetic medicine a larger priority of late, added $140 million to a deal to develop up to 10 gene and cell therapies.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 6, 2024 -
Sponsored by Worldwide Clinical Trials
Maximizing efficiency in translational medicine with an on-site pharmacy
The ability to modify drug formulations in real time and dosage strengths is crucial, while adhering to all regulatory standards and maintaining cGMP standards.
May 6, 2024 -
Obesity drugs
Amgen shares soar as executives outline obesity drug push
The company said data for its Wegovy competitor was promising enough to move the drug into late-stage testing, triggering a stock jump that added billions to Amgen’s market value.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 3, 2024 -
Why selling to Novartis made sense for Mariana
Conversations at this year's J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference led to a $1 billion buyout that Mariana's CEO described as a "perfect marriage."
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 3, 2024 -
Obesity drugs
Novo sees Wegovy sales dip on lower price, tight supply
First quarter sales of the in-demand obesity drug were down slightly compared to the fourth quarter last year, as the company tries to meet demand.
By Jonathan Gardner • May 2, 2024 -
Novartis to buy Mariana Oncology in radiopharmaceutical expansion
The $1 billion dollar acquisition will add to Novartis’ pipeline of the targeted radiation drugs, giving it a potential lung cancer treatment.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 2, 2024 -
GSK raises forecasts on strong vaccine, HIV drug sales
Sales of the shingles vaccine Shingrix and the RSV shot Arexvy helped fuel quarterly revenue totals that surpassed analyst expectations, though the company warned momentum could slow in the months ahead.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 1, 2024 -
Pfizer’s strong Vyndaqel sales draw attention to rare disease drug’s patent life
Sales of the transthyretin amyloidosis treatment widely beat Wall Street forecasts in the first quarter. The company aims to extend its patent exclusivity.
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 1, 2024 -
Obesity drugs
Lilly counts on manufacturing scale-up to unstick obesity drug supply
Increasing the production capacity for Zepbound and Mounjaro is “the most ambitious expansion plan in our company’s history,” said CEO David Ricks.
By Jonathan Gardner • April 30, 2024 -
Obesity drugs
Lilly hikes revenue forecast by $2B as GLP-1 drug sales climb
Supply continues to be tight, however, and the company anticipates further sales growth will be limited by how quickly it can add production capacity.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated April 30, 2024 -
AbbVie tries to reassure investors on Humira biosimilar threat
Prescription volume erosion is tracking with company forecasts, executives claimed, even as more insurers could exclude the branded drug.
By Jonathan Gardner • April 26, 2024 -
AstraZeneca’s earnings surprise investors as cancer drugs fuel growth
The British drugmaker has bolstered its business with nearly $5 billion in acquisitions as attention turns to its pipeline of experimental medicines.
By Jonathan Gardner • April 25, 2024 -
Bristol Myers to cut 6% of workforce, trim drug pipeline
The layoffs will impact some 2,200 employees, the company said, as it repositions ahead of looming patent expirations for top-selling products.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated April 25, 2024