A new immunotherapy can greatly extend the lives of a proportion of people with advanced head and neck cancer, with some living for three years or more, reports a major new clinical trial.
News
Pilot scheme trialing electronic GP prescriptions
NHS Digital has launched a pilot scheme that could see more than 95% of GP prescriptions processed electronically, which it says will save the NHS time and money.
NHS to trial low calorie diets to combat type II diabetes
Hundreds of thousands of people will receive NHS help to battle obesity and type II diabetes under radical action set out by Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England.
Shire receives EU approval for Takhzyro
Shire has announced that the European Commission has approved its hereditary angioedema (HAE) drug Takhzyro.
NICE u-turn on Opdivo for skin cancer recurrence
NHS use of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo to cut the risk of early stage skin cancer recurrence after surgery has now been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
C4XD forms discovery partnership with AI company GTN
C4X Discovery has entered into a drug discovery partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) company GTN.
EU approves Gilenya for paediatric MS
European regulators have approved Novartis’ Gilenya for the treatment of children and adolescents from 10 to 17 years old with relapsing-remitting forms of multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Cultural shift needed to keep trust in health tech’s use of patient data
A new report from the Academy of Medical Sciences has claimed that a radical culture change is needed to ensure that the NHS can deliver the benefits of new health technologies that use patient data for care, whilst retaining public trust.
Kalydeco approved by EU for CF in 12-24 month olds
Vertex Pharmaceuticals says the European Commission has granted approval of the label extension for Kalydeco, to include the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged 12 to 24 months.
Bayer’s Stivarga wins NICE backing for advanced liver cancer
Bayer’s Stivarga has been recommended for use on the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) following a rapid review of guidance published earlier in the year.
Genentech acquires Jecure Therapeutics
Roche group Genentech is acquiring San Diego-based biotech Jecure Therapeutics.
EU gives Bayer’s Jivi the green light
Bayer has received EU approval for its hemophilia A treatment, Jivi.
Novartis to move UK headquarters to London
Novartis is moving its UK headquarters to London, in a multi-million pound investment in UK life sciences, which will be complete by January 2020.
NHS cracks down on low-priority prescriptions
Officials are proposing to end the routine prescription of eight items on the NHS under plans that could generate savings of £68 million a year.
Novo Nordisk launches type II diabetes awareness campaign
Novo Nordisk UK is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people living with type II diabetes.
