The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is streamlining two of its committees which focus on improving the quality of care provided by doctors and supporting the NHS in commissioning better quality healthcare.
News
NICE nods for Janssen, Gilead hep C drugs
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued new draft guidelines expanding its endorsement of Janssen’s Olysio (simeprevir) and Gilead’s Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) to treat certain patients with hepatitis C on the National Health Service in England.
Roche buys France’s Trophos in 470 million euro deal
Roche has hit the acquisition trail to buy France’s Trophos in a deal that could be worth 470 million euros.
AZ gets boost from Brilinta data
AstraZeneca is celebrating after top-line results from a closely-watched trial of its potential blockbuster Brilinta demonstrated that the bloodthinner demonstrated statistically significant reductions in major cardiovascular thrombotic events in patients with a history of heart attack.
England’s cancer survival rates 10% lower than European average, says NAO
Despite the improvements made in improving cancer services since 2010, survival rates in England are about 10% lower than the European average, says the National Audit Office.
Janssen offers NHS to pay for Olysio failures
Patients with hepatitis C will now be able to access Janssen’s Olysio (simeprevir) on the National Health Service in England on the back of a novel scheme that sees the drugmaker pick up the tab if its medicine fails to work.
Pharma/academia launch ‘game-changer’ Alzheimer’s project
Some 35 partners from industry and academia have joined forces to launch the European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia initiative.
Sanofi and BI ink biologics manufacturing deal
Sanofi has signed up Boehringer Ingelheim as its partner to manufacture monoclonal antibodies.
GSK’s Incruse Ellipta gets OK for NHS Wales
GlaxoSmithKline’s chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder bronchodilator Incruse Ellipta 55mcg (umeclidinium) has been recommended for National Health Service use by the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group.
Newron puts non-oral Parkinson’s therapy into Phase II
With approval in Europe due shortly for Xadago, Newron Pharmaceuticals has begun mid-stage trials of another Parkinson’s therapy, which the Italian firm hopes could halt or even reverse disease progression.
Top therapy investment areas for 2015
Oncology, cardiovascular, autoimmune/anti-inflammatories and infectious diseases will be the top therapeutic areas for investment in 2015, says new research.
Can failed Roche drug be first personalised heart med?
Scientists in Canada are claiming a world first, saying that dalcetrapib, a cholesterol drug scrapped by Roche nearly three years ago, could in fact pave the way for a new era of personalised drugs for cardiovascular disease.
FDA approves first-of-a-kind obesity device
US regulators have issued a green light for a first-of-its-kind weight loss treatment device that targets the nerve pathway between the brain and the stomach that controls feelings of hunger and fullness.
Gilead denied Hep C drug patent in India
Pressure group Médecins Sans Frontières is applauding a decision by India’s Patent Controller to reject a key patent application for Gilead’s hepatitis C blockbuster Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), potentially opening the floodgates to a stream of cheaper copycat drugs in the country.
BI and Yale Uni link arms for immunotherapy research
Boehringer Ingelheim is delving deeper into the hot field of immunotherapy in a research deal with Yale University to discover novel therapeutic targets that harness the immune system to fight disease.
