US regulators have expanded the scope of AstraZeneca’s breast cancer drug Faslodex to include the drug’s use in combination with Pfizer’s Ibrance.
News
GSK’s Benlysta slows organ damage in lupus patients, study finds
A long-term analysis of GlaxoSmithKline’s Benlysta has shown low rates of organ damage progression in patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) taking the drug for five years, regardless of their level of damage at the start of the trial.
BMA warns of growing crisis in general practice
The British Medical Association is warning that the current crisis in general practice – driven by soaring demand, recruitment/retention issues and funding difficulties – looks set to worsen with potentially thousands of doctors in England considering leaving the profession.
Centauri, Horizon form immuno-oncology JV
Centauri Therapeutics and Horizon Discovery have formed an immuno-oncology joint venture, Avvinity Therapeutics, that will step into a market expected to be worth some £50 billion by 2020.
NIHR links with Novartis for Xolair study
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is launching a study that aims to determine whether treatment with Novartis’ asthma drug Xolair could be better targeted towards those patients most likely to benefit from it.
Baxalta files its long-acting haemophilia A therapy in Europe
Baxalta has filed its haemophilia A therapy Adynovi with regulators in Europe in the hope of offering patients a longer-acting option to reduce bleeds.
Merck signs cancer metabolism pact with EMBL
Germany’s Merck has entered into a three-year research pact with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) focused on cancer metabolism.
NHS to help design 10 ‘healthy new towns’
NHS England is helping to design 10 ‘healthy new towns’ across the country alongside Public Health England, in the hope of developing new solutions to key healthcare challenges such as obesity and dementia.
NICE turns down Janssen’s Imbruvica for CLL
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) living in England and Wales are unlikely to get access to Janssen UK’s Imbruvica on the NHS after the drug was turned down by cost regulators.
FDA clears Gilead’s single-pill HIV therapy Odefsey
The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared Gilead’s Odefsey for the treatment of certain patients with HIV-1 infection.
Ipsen shells out up to $855m on Exelixis drug
French drugmaker Ipsen has picked up rights to Exelixis’ lead oncology drug cabozantinib in deal worth up to $855 million plus potential royalties.
AZ sells European Moventig rights to ProStrakan
AstraZeneca has sold ProStrakan European rights to its opioid-induced constipation (OIC) drug Moventig for an upfront fee of $70 million plus other payments and royalties.
EUSA Pharma files kidney cancer drug in the EU
UK-headquartered EUSA Pharma has filed a marketing application for kidney cancer drug tivozanib with the European Medicines Agency.
UK shows progress on rare disease strategy
Significant strides have been made across the country towards delivering the commitments made in 2013’s UK Strategy for Rare Diseases, but the first progress report since its launch also shows that much remains to be done to improve the care of patients.
Mixed results for Roche’s asthma drug
Roche has unveiled top-line results from two late-stage studies assessing its humanised monoclonal antibody lebrikizumab in people with severe asthma, showing a mixed performance on exacerbations.
