After Novartis reportedly backed out of late-stage talks to acquire Cytokinetics earlier this year, the company appears to still be on the M&A prowl.Novartis is in advanced talks to acquire German cancer drug maker MorphoSys, Reuters reports, citing two people familiar with the matter. The anonymous sources stayed mum on details about the bid and a potential acquisition price, according to the news service. Also involved in the MorphoSys M&A talks is Incyte, according to Reuters.As a “matter of policy,” Novartis does not comment on “market rumors/speculations,” a company spokesperson said over email. Incyte and MorphoSys did not immediately respond to Fierce Pharma’s requests for comment. Both known bidders have preexisting ties to the company, with Novartis taking over a MorphoSys preclinical cancer program in 2022 and Incyte partnering on MorphoSys’ sole commercial product, the lymphoma med Monjuvi.Monjuvi garnered $92 million in U.S. sales last year, and MorphoSys expects 2024 sales of between $80 million and $95 million. The Novartis ...
After leading Novartis and Roche through pivotal years in 2023, the CEOs of the Swiss drug giants each netted multimillion-dollar compensation packages. Novartis handed its CEO Vas Narasimhan 13.3 million Swiss francs ($15.3 million) in total compensation for 2023, according to the company’s annual report (PDF). At grant value, the pay is 21% more than what he earned the year before.By comparison, Roche paid (PDF) its helmsman, Thomas Schinecker, a total of 9.6 million Swiss francs ($11 million). The former Roche Diagnostics chief took over from current Chairman Severin Schwan to become the group’s CEO last year. At Roche, the CEO transition—and the loss of its pharma division leader Bill Anderson to Bayer—marked the dawn of a new era. As for Novartis, the company recently became a pure-play innovative medicines company after spinning off the generic maker Sandoz in October.In his sixth year as Novartis’ CEO, Narasimhan saw his base salary climb 2% year over year to 1.82 million Swiss francs. The largest ...
In a move to enhance patient access to complex generic drugs, the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs (OGD) and the EMA have joined forces in a new pilot programme. This initiative, an extension of the original parallel scientific advice (PSA) programme, homes in on complex generics, also known as ‘hybrid medicines’ as per EMA terminology.Launched in 2005, the original programme offers a means for sponsors of new medicines to seek guidance from regulatory agencies in both the US and EU, regarding scientific matters related to product development. The new voluntary programme aims to facilitate concurrent discussions between generic drug manufacturers and regulatory bodies, with the ultimate goal of improving patient access to harder-to-develop generic drugs. To participate in the PSA programme, applicants must submit requests to the EMA and FDA. Examples of suitable candidates for this programme include proposals for single bioequivalence studies, approaches with common comparators, and the use ...
Pfizer announced a partnership with the American Cancer Society aimed at reducing disparities in cancer treatment. As part of the initiative, Pfizer is providing $15 million in funding. This money will go towards improving the health outcomes of cancer patients from underrepresented communities in the United States. This will include working to improve access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities, and patient care. In a press release, Pfizer’s chief oncology officer and executive vice president Chris Boshoff said, “Cancer doesn’t discriminate–and neither should cancer care. Everyone should have the same opportunity to access the latest advances in care, regardless of their background or where they live. We’re proud to partner with the American Cancer Society on a broad, community-focused initiative to reach people living with cancer where they are, with urgency, and connect them to resources to receive the care they deserve.” The partnership will work under the banner of ...
Australia-based global biopharmaceutical company Telix Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire US-based QSAM Biosciences for $123.1m.The deal comes after the companies signed a conditional non-binding term sheet for the prospective acquisition.Telix will also acquire QSAM’s lead investigational drug, Samarium-153-DOTMP (153Sm-DOTMP), a new kit-based bone-seeking targeted radiopharmaceutical candidate. The acquisition terms include an upfront payment of $33.1m (A$50.8m), payable as 4,369,914 ordinary shares of Telix.The deal also comprises contingent value rights that could see additional payments of $90m on meeting clinical and commercial milestones. These payments may be made in cash and/or shares.QSAM focuses on the development of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for primary and metastatic bone cancer. Its 153Sm-DOTMP for bone cancer has applications in pain management and therapy for bone metastases and osteosarcoma, including for paediatric patients.It complements Telix’s focus on oncology therapies and has shown promising safety, efficacy and commercial potential in early trials. The drug also has an improved safety ...
Blood disorders like sickle cell anemia arise from genetic mutations. Typically, newborns are screened for sickle cell disease at birth, with any irregularities reported within 96 hours. However, a follow-up blood test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, and obtaining these results can take between two to four weeks. Often, seeking genetic analysis through specialized private laboratories can be both time-consuming and expensive. Now, a new tool can detect the presence of genetic mutations within hours instead of weeks. Researchers at the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) have created a system named One-pot DTECT. This innovation is designed for simplicity and ease of use, enabling any laboratory in the world to quickly set up its own kit for same-day genetic mutation analysis at a minimal cost per sample. One-pot DTECT comprises multiple enzymes and distinct DNA fragments that work together to identify and detect genetic signatures. The compact kit includes ...
Stalicla announced the successful closing of a $17.4m Series B funding round as deal-making interest stirs in the central nervous system disorder space. “In the current environment, we see this [financing round] as a huge success, but we’re targeting a much larger round in Q3 2024 with the involvement of large venture capital funds,” says Stalicla CEO Lynn Durham in an exclusive interview with Pharmaceutical Technology. Stalicla aims to use the extra funds to launch a Phase III substance use disorder (SUD) study for its STP7 mGluR5 Negative Allosteric Modulator (mGluR5 NAM) platform in 2025. The US National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Health are supporting Stalicla’s development of STP7.Stalicla acquired the therapy through an in-licensing agreement with Novartis in January 2023. In this deal, the Swiss company acquired the worldwide rights for studies using the STP7 platform for SUD, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other indications in ...
Barrett’s esophagus is a condition often resulting from reflux, characterized by stomach acid damaging the esophagus lining and causing cell changes. While these cells aren’t initially cancerous, there’s a risk they might transform into esophageal cancer, a type where cells in the esophagus proliferate uncontrollably, potentially spreading to other body parts. Esophageal cancer is among the deadliest cancers in adults, and early detection significantly improves survival rates compared to a diagnosis at an advanced stage. Since the symptoms of esophageal cancer can mimic heartburn and reflux, conducting early tests for cancer detection is crucial. Now, a non-endoscopic capsule sponge device has been designed to collect pan-esophageal samples which are then sent for laboratory testing to detect esophageal pre-cancer and other conditions. Cyted’s (Cambridge, UK) EndoSign cell collection device is designed to detect and monitor conditions such as chronic reflux and Barrett’s esophagus, ultimately aiming to prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma. The EndoSign ...
AnaMar has received orphan drug designations for its systemic sclerosis candidate AM1476 from the FDA and the EMA. The Swedish biotech is now eligible for several incentives in the two regions, according to the designations. Both agencies will provide regular feedback during the application process and waive certain fees. The FDA also offers seven years of market exclusivity while the EMA promises ten years of protection from competition. AnaMar’s AM1476 is an oral antagonist of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HT2B) receptor, which is also known as a serotonin receptor. The company says its candidate halts key signalling pathways associated with fibrosis in a 5 February press release. Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, is a progressive autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation and fibrosis. Not only is skin hardened in this condition, but internal organs can be affected too. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common disease consequences, occurring ...
BMS has reported its results for the 2023 financial year (FY), revealing a 2% decrease in revenues of $45bn from $46.2bn reported in 2022. The company saw a decrease in sales of Revlimid (lenalidomide) following the entry of generic versions after its patent loss in 2022. Revlimid generated $6bn in 2023, compared to $12.9bn in 2021 before the loss. BMS’ blockbuster cancer drug Opdivo generated $9bn in 2023, a 9% increase from 2022. The human IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody saw a label expansion, as well as increased demand from patients with gastric, bladder, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma. BMS’ top-seller is anti-stroke drug Eliquis (apixaban), generating $12.2bn in 2023, however, Eliquis loses its patent in 2026, with GlobalData predicting that sales will drop to $3bn by 2029.In a strategic move to counteract anticipated revenue declines from upcoming patent expirations on certain BMS drugs in the next few years, ...
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