GW Pharma’s cannabidiol (CBD) has been granted orphan drug designation by European regulators for the treatment of tuberous sclerosis (TS).
News
Speedy EU review for Shire’s lanadelumab
European regulators will undertake an accelerated assessment of Shire’s hereditary angioedema (HAE) drug lanadelumab.
Roche/Chugai’s Hemlibra wins green light for bleeding disorder
The European Commission has licensed Roche/Chugai’s Hemlibra for the routine prevention of bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors.
AstraZeneca spins out new firm Viela Bio
AstraZeneca’s biologics research and development arm MedImmune has spun out six molecules from its early-stage inflammation and autoimmunity programmes into new independent biotech Viela Bio.
Record number benefitting from NHS talking therapies
A record number of people are recovering from mental ill health after accessing talking therapies on the NHS, new figures show.
Twenty percent of antibiotics prescribed inappropriately
At least 20 percent of all antibiotic prescriptions written in primary care in England are inappropriate, estimates research published by Public Health England (PHE) in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
Prokarium raises $10m for thermostable vaccines
UK-based synthetic biology firm Prokarium has secured $10 million from Saudi, Swedish and Korean investors to help drive clinical development of thermostable vaccines.
Prescription charge in England to rise
The government is aiming to increase the prescription charge by 20 pence per item to help it deliver its promise of streaming £10 billion into frontline NHS services by 2020/21, but campaigners say the system is “unfair”.
Lilly’s Verzenio bags third breast cancer nod
Eli Lilly’s Verzenio has been given another green light in the US for breast cancer, significantly expanding the drug’s treatment scope.
EU clears rare musculoskeletal disorder drug
Doctors can now treat children living in the EU with the rare, chronic progressive musculoskeletal disorder X–Linked Hypophosphataemia with Kyowa Kirin/Ultragenyx’ Crysvita following its conditional approval in the region.
NHS could claw back £502m if Lyrica ruling upheld, study finds
The NHS could reclaim up to £502 million in excess prescribing costs relating to Pfizer’s pregabalin if the drug giant’s last effort to uphold the drug’s legal protection is unsuccessful, a study has found.
AZ/MSD’s Lynparza wins new CHMP nod
AstraZeneca and MSD’s Lynparza is a step closer to being cleared in Europe as maintenance therapy for some patients with ovarian cancer.
Five new medicines backed for EU approval
Five therapies have been backed for approval in the European Union, including two orphan medicines addressing rare conditions.
Priority review for Shire’s HAE drug
US regulators are undertaking a speedy review of Shire’s lanadelumab (SHP643) for the prevention of angioedema attacks in patients 12 years and older with hereditary angioedema (HAE).
Novartis’ Ultibro Breezhaler reduces lung hyperinflation in COPD patients
Treatment with Novartis’ Ultibro Breezhaler significantly boosted lung and cardiac function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with lung hyperinflation, trial findings show.
