The European Commission has approved Mylan and Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics’ Humira biosimiar Hulio.
News
Astellas’ kidney disease drug shows promise in PhIII
A Phase III study assessing Astellas’ roxadustat in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anaemia who are not receiving dialysis has met its key endpoints.
Addex joins UK drug and brain research initiative
Swiss group Addex Therapeutics has joined a UK-based initiative established to study the role of the D1 receptor, the main dopamine receptor, in human brain function.
Norgine buys rights to sell Shield’s iron deficiency therapy
Norgine has signed a deal with Shield Therapeutics allowing it to commercialise iron deficiency therapy Feraccru in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
NICE rejects Novartis’ CAR-T Kymriah for adult lymphoma
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has turned down NHS funding for use of Novartis’ CAR-T therapy Kymriah in adults with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
AI drug discovery platform gets £1m innovation boost
Innovate UK is streaming funds into a £1-million artificial intelligence (AI) research project to be delivered by the Medicines Discovery Catapult and two Cambridge-based firms with expertise in software/machine learning.
The number of children being vaccinated in England falls again
A new report from NHS Digital shows that a decreasing number of children are being vaccinated against potentially deadly or life-altering diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria and polio
Almirall steps into psoriasis market with Ilumetri approval
The European Commission has approved Almirall’s Ilumetri for moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
Actelion’s Opsumit shows promise in portopulmonary hypertension
Actelion has unveiled new data showing that the first ever randomised, controlled clinical trial investigating Opsumit as potential treatment for portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) hit its primary target.
Allergan, Sosei suspend clinical development of dementia drug
Allergan and Sosei are voluntarily suspending clinical development activities with HTL0018318 pending investigation of an unexpected toxicology finding in an animal study involving non-human primates.
AZ’ Fasenra shows long-term efficacy in eosinophilic asthma
AstraZeneca has unveiled data from a Phase III extension trial highlighting the efficacy of biologic Fasenra as an add-on maintenance treatment in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.
CR UK invests £14m in London cancer biotherapeutics hub
Cancer Research UK is investing some £14 million into transforming the city of London into a “world-leading hub for cancer biotherapeutics”.
New study to explore genetic links to depression and anxiety
Researchers are calling for 40,000 people with depression or anxiety in England to join an online study hoping to explore any genetic links to these conditions.
Allergan snaps up Bonti
Irish pharma Allergan is buying privately-held, clinical-stage US biotech Bonti for access to its novel, fast-acting neurotoxin programmes for aesthetic and therapeutic applications.
NICE nod for Novartis’ targeted skin cancer combo
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has backed NHS funding for Novartis’ oral targeted adjuvant combination therapy Tafinlar and Mekinist, offering new hope to patients with a specific type of skin cancer.
