Article Listing - Atrix' $50M Alliance With Block Drug
India's NPPA to slash prices of key drugs by up to half
17 June 2013
In India, some key cancer drugs, antibiotics and medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases and tuberculosis are set to become cheaper by up to 50% within the next 45 days. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) will shortly notify prices of as many as 150 packs of essential medicines in line with the new pharma pricing policy, according to official sources quoted by the Indian newspaper the Business Standard.
Positive Ph II results for Gilead's idelalisib in refractory indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
17 June 2013
US biotech firm Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) today (June 17) announced encouraging interim results from a single-arm, open-label Phase II study (Study 101-09) evaluating idelalisib (formerly GS-1101), an investigational, targeted, oral inhibitor of PI3K delta, for the treatment of patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (iNHL) that is refractory (non-responsive) to rituximab and to alkylating-agent-containing chemotherapy.
Elan puts up formal "for sale" notice
17 June 2013
Ireland-based Elan Corp (NYSE:ELN), which has been the subject of a hostile takeover campaign by private equity firm Royalty Pharma, announced on Friday (June 14) that it is proceeding with a formal sale process in light of the expressions of interest to acquire the firm received to date. In its brief statement, Elan did not mention the names of any companies concerned. As part of this process, Royalty Pharma will be invited to participate if they so wish. Accordingly, shareholders are urged not to tender into the current $6.7 billion ($13.00 a share, plus an up to $2.50 contingent value rights) Royalty Pharma hostile offer.
Pricing and reimbursement conditions for InterMune's Esbriet in Italy
17 June 2013
US biotech firm InterMune (Nasdaq: ITMN) says that the board of the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) has approved the pricing and reimbursement conditions for Esbriet (pirfenidone), and that the agreement has been published in the Official Gazette, the official journal of the government.
AstraZeneca unit links with NGM Biopharma on diabetes and obesity research
17 June 2013
Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca's (LSE: AZN) US biologics R&D subsidiary MedImmune has entered into an exclusive agreement with US venture capital backed NGM Biopharmaceuticals to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapeutics from NGM's enteroendocrine cell (EEC) program for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Immune Design joins forces with academia for novel immunotherapy research
17 June 2013
Privately-held US biotech firm Immune Design, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have a signed a collaboration agreement to advance cancer immunotherapy research. Specifically, the partnership will focus on clinical trials to test novel combinations of immunotherapies, including two investigational drugs from Immune Design's pipeline. Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed.
Highlights of EHA meeting: Novartis' Jakavi; Bristol-Myers and AbbVie's elotuzumab; Janssen's ibrutinib
16 June 2013
Among presentations over the weekend at the Congress of European Hematology Association (EHA) being held in Stockholm, Sweden, Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX) announced results from a Phase III three-year follow-up study that showed Jakavi (ruxolitinib) demonstrated improved overall survival and sustained reductions in spleen size compared to conventional therapy. Jakafi, an oral JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor, is licenses from USA-based Incyte (Nasdaq: INCY) and is cleared for marketing in the USA and Europe under the trade names Jakavi and Jakafi.
Global asthma market to reach 159 million lifetime cases by 2022
16 June 2013
Over 300 million people suffer from asthma, which translates to a drug market worth over $15 billion. While drugs to manage asthma have existed for several decades, pharmaceutical companies have developed faster acting and more effective products over the years, according to a new report added to the offering of companiesandmarkets.
Bristol-Myers and Simcere agree to co-develop/commercialize Orencia SC in China
14 June 2013
US pharma major Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and China-based Simcere Pharmaceutical (NYSE: SCR) have expanded their strategic relationship formed in 2010. The companies have agreed to collaborate in China on the co-development and commercialization of the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of B-MS' biologic Orencia (abatacept), for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Orencia SC is already on the market for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the USA, Europe and Japan and generated first-quarter 2013 sales of $320 million.
June meeting highlights from EMA Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee
14 June 2013
The European Medicines Agency's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) has made several recommendations on safety referrals at its June 2013 meeting, including a series of measures to address safety concerns with codeine-containing medicines when used for the management of pain in children.
- US Supreme Court says patent settlement can "sometimes" be illegal
- InSite Vision joins Merck & Co and Pfizer in patent infringement law suit against
- Highlights of EHA meeting: Novartis' Jakavi; Bristol-Myers and AbbVie's elotuzumab; Janssen's ibrutinib
- Daiichi Sankyo files for Japanese approval of Prasugrel
- Osteoporosis drug bazedoxifene stops growth of breast cancer cells, even in resistant tumors
