Pfizer has started a Phase III trial assessing orphan drug rivipansel as a treatment for sickle cell disease patients hospitalised with vaso-occlusive crisis, a common and very painful complication of the condition.
News
ASCO unveils tool to calculate value of cancer drugs
The American Society of Clinical Oncology has designed a new conceptual framework to help doctors and patients better assess the value of new cancer treatment options based on clinical benefit, side effects, and cost.
Google’s wristband tracker to be fit for clinical research
Google has unveiled a new health-tracking wristband which it plans to position as a medical device for use by patients or clinical researchers, thus side-stepping the smartwatch-based consumer market.
NICE updates GP cancer guidelines to accelerate diagnoses
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has updated and redesigned its guideline to help GPs better recognise the signs and symptoms of 37 different cancers, in the hope of accelerating diagnoses and saving lives.
Ancient Chinese medicine attracts drug firm’s interest
Allied-Bristol Life Sciences has snapped up intellectual property from Harvard University linked to blue evergreen hydrangea, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
England first country to offer Meningitis B vacc programme
England will be the first country in the world to offer all newborn babies a meningitis B vaccine as part of its national immunisation programme.
FDA finally approves Medicines Co’s bloodthinner Kengreal
US regulators have green-lighted the use of The Medicines Company’s bloodthinner Kengreal in patients undergoing a certain heart procedure, just over a year after its rejection and request for further analysis and information.
FDA OKs Eisai’s Fycompa for severe epileptic seizures
US regulators have expanded the scope of Eisai’s first-in-class epilepsy drug Fycompa to include the treatment of patients with a severe form of epileptic seizures.
GSK sells meningitis vaccines to Pfizer
GlaxoSmithKline will sell its meningitis vaccines Nimenrix and Mencevax to Pfizer to satisfy regulatory conditions for its asset-swap deal with Novartis.
Hunt unveils ‘new deal’ for GPs
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has promised GPs a new deal to alleviate pressure on over-stretched services, through increased investment, reduction in bureaucracy, and the drafting in of more healthcare professionals to areas in most need.
Portola’s anticoagulant antidote hits PhIII targets
Portola Pharmaceuticals’ andexanet alfa significantly reversed the blood-thinning effects of a Factor Xa inhibitor in a late-stage trial, which hit all of primary and secondary targets.
Tekmira’s Ebola jab unlikely to show benefit
Shares in Tekmira have taken a downturn after it emerged that its experimental Ebola vaccine was unlikely to hit efficacy goals in a mid-stage trial.
Teva buys more Mylan shares as takeover fight continues
Teva has raised its stake in Mylan to 4.61%, which will allow it to take its acquisition bid to court “should it become necessary”.
BMS’ Opdivo first EU approved PD-1 inhibitor
European regulators have issued a green light for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo as a treatment for advanced skin cancer, making it the first PD-1 inhibitor to win approval in the region.
MHRA seizes record £16m-batch of fake, unlicensed drugs
A record load of fake drugs and devices has been seized by UK watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency estimated to be worth just shy of £16 million.
