News

A US court has confirmed that a key patent on AstraZeneca’s Pulmicort Repsules is invalid and Actavis has immediately launched its version of the asthma drug.

Takeda has been boosted by data showing that its chronic obstructive pulmonary disease therapy Daxas significantly reduced exacerbations and hospitalisations in the severest sufferers.

Eisai has presented more positive data on its potential blockbuster lenvatinib in a late-stage thyroid cancer trial.

Johnson & Johnson has unveiled three new research platforms focused on “redefining healthcare”, looking at disease prevention and interception, plus the role of the microbiome.

Shire has posted very healthy revenues for the fourth quarter, up 19% to $1.58 billion and highlighted its strongest-ever pipeline. Operating income jumped 28% to $655 million, driven by the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), sales of which climbed 16% to $383 million. Its off-patent predecessor Adderall XR (mixed amphetamine salts) was up 26% to $103 million, although another ADHD drug, Intuniv (guanfacine), sank 44% to $48 million (+20%) ahead of patent expiries in December.

A meta-analysis carried out by Oxford University claims that hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

Patients with multiple myeloma will not be able to access Celgene’s Imnovid (pomalidomide) on the National Health Service in England after cost-regulators issued a final draft ‘no’ for funding as a third-line treatment.

AbbVie has submitted a New Drug Application in Japan seeking approval to market its investigational, oral treatment for patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.

There is only a fortnight to go before the winners of 2015’s PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year – The Americas awards are revealed.

Novavax has begun enrolling healthy human volunteers in a Phase I clinical trial of its Ebola vaccine.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has won the day with its bid of $400 million to buy bankrupt Dendreon Corp and its prostate cancer vaccine Provenge.

HIV/AIDS specialist ViiV Healthcare has again come out as having the best corporate reputation out of 37 pharmaceutical companies, according to a poll of 1,150 patient groups.

Advisors to the US Food and Drug Administration will meet at the end of April to review Amgen’s closely-watched oncolytic immunotherapy T-Vec for melanoma.

GSK has acquired GlycoVaxyn, the Swiss vaccine-maker it has held a minority stake in since 2012, paying $190 million in cash to take full ownership.

Sanofi group Genzyme has signed a major deal with gene therapy start-up Voyager Therapeutics, which will see the groups embark on a journey to discover new treatments for serious central nervous system conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.