News

AstraZeneca is shelling out £330 million to establish a new R&D hub and global headquarters in Cambridge, UK, but the news marks the end of its 40-year research stint at Alderley Park, Cheshire, as well as a cull of around 700 jobs.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published its first clinical guideline on the management of hyperphosphataemia in late-stage kidney disease, which aims to standardise treatment of the condition and achieve better outcomes for patients. 

inVentiv Health, the US-based provider of clinical development, commercialisation and consulting services, is tapping into new tools to streamline the set-up and execution of clinical trials by taking a “significant” equity stake in clinical technology and services specialist Mytrus.

Merck & Co’s bid to get approval for sugammadex in the USA will have to wait a bit longer as regulators need more time to evaluate the anaesthesia compound.

Switzerland’s Ferring Pharmaceuticals has presented data which indicate that its prostate cancer drug Firmagon may be associated with lower risk of a cardiovascular event or death compared to more commonly-prescribed  hormonal therapies.

The departure of Gregory Geba as chief of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Generic Drugs has caused alarm for drugmakers in the sector who are worried about a perceived lack of leadership.

GlaxoSmithKline and the McLaren Group have announced a new science education initiative to help young people into science and engineering careers.

Drug prices should be lower and the high cost of research is a myth – these are the frank words of GlaxoSmithKline’s boss Sir Andrew Witty.

Novartis says that regulators in the USA have agreed to fast-track a treatment developed by the Swiss major for a rare type of lung cancer.

ThromboGenics and partner Novartis have got the green light from regulators in Europe for Jetrea for an age-related progressive, sight-threatening condition.

China’s Sinovac Biotech has presented positive top-line late-stage data on its investigational vaccine for hand, foot and mouth disease.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has licensed an investigational multiple myeloma drug from Ligand Pharmaceuticals in a deal that could be worth over $50 million.

The European Medicines Agency says it has been notified by Vanda Pharmaceuticals of the USA that it wants to withdraw its application for the schizophrenia drug Fanaptum (iloperidone) intended to be used for the treatment of schizophrenia.

The final wave of clinical commissioning groups have been rolled out in England as they look to take control of £65 billion worth of NHS budget next month. 

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine has today signed up to the AllTrials campaign, joining NICE and GlaxoSmithKline as the most recent signatories.