Sanofi has decided to take up its option to license and develop an experimental immunotherapy owned by Selecta Biosciences for the treatment of Coeliac disease.
News
Takeda dumps late-stage lymphoma drug on trial failure
Takeda has killed off a late stage programme assessing the potential of alisertib in lymphoma after interim analysis failed to show any benefit in progression-free survival.
UK project launched to reign in over-treatment of patients
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is leading a new initiative in the UK seeking to tackle the underlying issues causing doctors to over-treat patients with unnecessary medical interventions.
Stroke rate in young is surging, warns UK charity
Research by UK charity the Stroke Association has revealed that the number of strokes occurring in men and women of working age is rising at an alarming rate, jumping 25% in the last 15 years, challenging the notion that it is a condition of older people.
US Fast Track for Merck/Threshold pancreatic cancer drug
US regulators have granted Fast Track status to Merck KgaA and Threshold Pharmaceuticals’ experimental pancreatic cancer drug evofosfamide (previously TH-302).
Baxter buys Sigma-Tau cancer drugs in $900m deal
Baxter International is shelling out $900 million on Sigma-Tau’s Oncaspar (pegaspargase) product portfolio, in a move designed to strengthen its commercial foothold in the global oncology market.
Pfizer takes stake in AM-Pharma with takeover option
Pfizer has picked up a minority equity interest in AM-Pharma alongside an exclusive option to buy up the remaining equity in the firm, in a deal potentially worth up to $600 million.
Aspen sheds products to Endo for $130m
Endo International has picked up “a broad portfolio of branded and generic injectable and established products” from South African drugs giant Aspen Pharmacare for around $130 million.
FDA review questions Vertex’ CF combo
US regulators have questioned the clinical validity of Vertex’ cystic fibrosis combo Orkambi, which targets the most common form of the genetic condition, ahead of an advisory committee meeting this Tuesday (May 12).
GSK sets up new HIV firm with North Carolina Uni
GlaxoSmithKline and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have formed a multi-faceted HIV partnership that sees the creation of a new company and an HIV Cure centre.
GW kicks off PhIII trial of cannabinoid in rare epilepsy
GW Pharmaceuticals has kicked off a Phase III clinical trial of its cannabinoid Epidiolex for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a rare and severe form of childhood-onset epilepsy.
Lilly and BioNTech partner on immunotherapies
Eli Lilly and BioNTech AG have signed a research pact to discover novel cancer immunotherapies, seeking to use the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells and create possible new treatment options.
Scottish cost regulators OK NHS use of 7 new drugs
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has approved seven new medicines for use on NHS Scotland, including the first biologic treatment for ulcerative colitis, which affects around 12,400 people across the country.
US OK for Roche’s KRAS mutations test
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Roche’s diagnostic test for KRAS mutations to help physicians select the most effective treatment pathway for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
EU approves Novartis’ lung cancer drug Zykadia
Novartis’ lung cancer therapy Zykadia has bagged European approval for certain patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) forms of the disease, just over a year after US regulators issued a green light.
