News

New test may help more breast cancer patients avoid chemo

A greater number of patients with breast cancer could be spared chemotherapy to reduce their risk of the disease returning, after UK scientists developed a more accurate genetic test to determine the likelihood of recurrence.

Patents preventing access to newer HIV drugs: MSF

The price of first- and second-line antiretrovirals to treat HIV is falling because of increased generic competition, but newer drugs “continue to be priced astronomically high”.

Pfizer urges “bold” US response to Indian IP woes

India’s “protectionist and discriminatory policies, which exploit US intellectual property (IP) to benefit its own industry,” require “an equally bold response” from the US government, a spokesman for Pfizer has urged a US Congressional hearing.

AstraZeneca expands targeted oncology collaboration with SCRI

AstraZeneca has expanded its existing collaboration with the US-based Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) for the development of targeted oncology compounds to include additional product candidates and a molecular profiling initiative.

FDA approves Noven’s hot flushes drug

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Noven Pharmaceuticals’ Brisdelle, the first non-hormonal therapy to get the green light for hot flushes associated with menopause.

First mAb biosimilars backed by EMA advisors

Among the latest opinions issued by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, perhaps the most eye-catching are recommendations for two biosimilar versions of Johnson & Johnson’s monoclonal antibody blockbuster Remicade.

Pharming inks pact with China’s Sinopharm

Pharming has signed a deal to collaborate with the Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, a subsidiary of China’s Sinopharm the country’s largest drugs distributor, to develop  treatments and sell the Dutch biotech’s hereditary angioedema drug Ruconest/Rhucin.