Eli Lilly’s experimental breast cancer drug abemaciclib has been granted a priority review by US regulators for two indications, and is now on track to be filed in Europe later this year.
News
Sanofi snaps up Protein Sciences for $650 million
Sanofi is to buy private US vaccines biotech Protein Sciences in a deal valued at up to $750 million, in a move to bolster its vaccines portfolio.
SMC bars access to Actelion’s Uptravi on NHS Scotland
Actelion says it is disappointed with a decision by Scottish cost regulators to refuse NHS funding for pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Uptravi.
ABPI seeks to challenge NICE reforms in court
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is seeking to challenge in court new rules on appraising medicines for NHS use, insisting that the changes will hinder patient access to the latest medical innovations.
UK launch for Pfizer’s MenB jab Trumenba
Pfizer’s new meningitis B vaccine Trumenba is now available in the UK for teens and young adults providing an additional option for vaccination against the disease.
Owlstone Medical, CR UK test potential of breath test for cancer
UK diagnostics group Owlstone Medical and Cancer Research UK have kicked off a study aiming to identify breath biomarkers to improve the early detection and diagnosis of multiple cancer types.
Price cut secures a place for Ipsen’s Cabomeytx on the NHS
Ipsen has cut the price of its kidney cancer Cabometyx to secure its place within the NHS’ routine commissioning stream, helping to over-turn a previous decision that it did not represent value for money.
Lilly victorious in Alimta patent case
Eli Lilly has welcomed a decision by the UK Supreme Court that alternative salt forms of its cancer drug Alimta, marketed by Teva’s Actavis, directly infringe on its vitamin regimen patents in the UK, France, Spain and Italy, overturning previous High Court and Court of Appeal judgements.
Oxford BioMedica signs major supply deal with Novartis
Oxford BioMedica has sealed a major deal with Novartis to supply the Swiss drug giant with lentiviral vectors used to create cell therapy products, including CTL019 and other undisclosed Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CART) products.
Shire applies to test haemophilia A gene therapy in humans
Shire has submitted a request to the US Food and Drug Administration to test its investigational factor VIII (FVIII) gene therapy SHP654 in patients with the bleeding disorder haemophilia A.
Eight out of 10 patients positive about GP care
The majority of people in England are positive about their GP care but the number unable to get an appointment has risen, according to findings of the GP Patient Survey 2017.
Pressure rising on mental health services, says NHS Providers
Pressure on daily core mental health services provided by the NHS is rapidly rising as trusts struggle to cope with lack of funding and increased demand, warns a coalition of organisations including NHS providers.
NICE widens access to Alexion’s Strensiq
Alexion Pharma and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have come to a new arrangement that widens NHS access to Strensiq for people with paediatric-onset hypophosphatasia.
FDA puts on hold Keytruda studies
US regulators have placed on clinical hold three studies testing the immunotherapy Keytruda in combination with other therapies for multiple myeloma because of patient deaths.
STP relationships strengthening but plans lack funding, finds survey
Working relationships within controversial sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) has strengthened significantly in the last five months, but NHS finance leads believe the capital being streamed into projects is simply not enough to reduce funding issues across the Service.
