French drugmaker Sanofi has teamed up with Alphabet’s US-based life sciences company Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences) to launch of a joint-venture – Onduo – with the aim of improving the management of diabetes.
News
US/EU orphan status for BI’s Ofev in systemic sclerosis
US and EU regulators have granted Orphan Drug Designation to Boehringer Ingelheim’s Ofev for the treatment of systemic sclerosis, including the associated interstitial lung disease.
NICE green light for Merck’s hepatitis C drug Zepatier
Cost regulators for the NHS in England and Wales are backing use of Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s hepatitis C therapy Zepatier, potentially giving patients with certain types of the condition ‘routine’ access to another treatment option.
Statin harms exaggerated, finds major review
A comprehensive review of the efficacy and safety of statins, based on 30 years’ research and published in The Lancet, has concluded that the therapy’s benefits have been underestimated and harms exaggerated.
SBRI Healthcare scheme expected to save NHS £1bn
The Small Business Research Initiative for Healthcare (SBRI Healthcare) says it has helped foster a pipeline of innovative ideas and products that have the potential to save the NHS £1 billion.
Most unaware of cancer-obesity link, says CR UK
Seventy-five percent of people in the UK are unaware that there is a link between obesity and cancer, according to a new report by Cancer Research UK.
CF Trust launches trial accelerator programme
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is overseeing a £3-million, UK-wide initiative striving to accelerate access to better treatments living with the genetic condition.
Priority review for Merck’s Keytruda in first-line NSCLC
US regulators have agreed to undertake a priority review of Merck’s application to market its immunotherapy Keytruda for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours express PD-L1.
Survey shows age divide in attitudes to health technology
Teva UK has unveiled findings of a survey showing a generational divide in attitudes to health and use of digital technologies.
GW prepares for acquisition approaches
GW Pharmaceuticals is reportedly preparing itself for takeover approaches as its attractiveness continues to grow with the increasing potential of its cannabinoid portfolio.
Chiesi’s triple combo inhaler shows benefit in COPD
Chiesi has unveiled results of a late-stage study showing the superior efficacy of its triple combination inhaler for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with standard dual therapy.
UK launch for Biogen’s biosimilar infliximab
Biogen has launched Flixabi – a biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster infliximab – across the UK for use in a range of chronic inflammatory conditions.
Gov’t unveils plans for online triage service
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has unveiled plans for a new one-stop-shop NHS website that will allow patients to seek help for less serious health problems online, as part of a package of measures designed to improve digital services.
EU clears BMS’ Orencia for methotrexate-naive RA patients
The European Commission has expanded the approved indications for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s biologic Orencia, now allowing its use in patients with highly active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis who have not been previously treated with methotrexate.
GSK/Innoviva’s triple therapy hits targets in COPD trial
GlaxoSmithKline and Innoviva’s three-drug inhaler fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) has come out on top in a trial assessing its effectiveness against the dual therapy Symbicort Turbohaler in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
