News

Shares in Sarepta Therapeutics surged more than 30% in after-hours trading yesterday on news that it can finally set in motion filing its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug in the US.

Real-world data on Astellas’ Dificlir has shown that the narrow-spectrum antibiotic significantly reduces recurrence and all-cause mortality when used first-line in all patients with Clostridium difficile infection.

Women with advanced ovarian cancer who have chemotherapy before surgery suffered fewer side effects and tended to have a better quality of life than those following the traditional strategy of surgery first, a Cancer Research UK study has found.

Johnson & Johnson says it plans to file 10 new molecular entities – each with the potential of pulling in sales in excess of $1 billion – and 40 line extensions of existing and new medicines by 2019.

Johnson & Johnson group Janssen Biotech has inked deal with Novo Nordisk acquiring an undisclosed development program focused on autoimmune diseases.

Merck KGaA says it has kicked off the year with a solid first quarter, posting a near 16% rise in group net sales to 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion), and a 2.5% increase in earnings before interest and tax to 480 million euros.

US regulators have issued a green light for the first schizophrenia medicine dosed just four times a year, which could potentially help patients better stick to treatment and thus improve symptom control.

More than 55 million patients across England can now book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view summary care records online.

Sanofi and Regeneron have put their experimental antibody dupilumab into a Phase III trial assessing its potential in uncontrolled persistent asthma, which the firms hope will serve as one of the pivotal efficacy studies required for a US submission.

Boehringer Ingelheim has exercised an option to acquire Pharmaxis’ PXS4728A to develop it for the treatment of a type of liver disease called NASH, in a move potentially worth more than $A750 million (around $600 million). 

In his first speech since re-election, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has again pledged to increase funding for the National Health Service and secure seven-day access to improve services and save lives.

Endo International is buying privately-held Par Pharmaceuticals for $8.05 billion, in a transformative move that significantly expands its generics presence.

Sales Management and Teams entry deadline is 5 June 2015 – don’t miss out!

Sanofi group Genzyme and Belgian biotech Ablynx have formed a pact to investigate the latter’s nanobodies against a target that plays an important role in multiple sclerosis, in the hope of targeting the neurodegeneration linked with the condition.

The Scottish Government has again promised to double the amount of money to fund treatments for rare or end-of-life conditions, increasing that available through its New Medicines Fund from £40 million to £80 million in 2015/16.