PharmaFocus Today – Page 358 – media

Pfizer Acquires COVID-Flu Test Developer Lucira Health for USD 36.4 Million

By LabMedica International staff writers Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY, USA) has acquired Lucira Health, Inc. (Emeryville, CA, USA) for USD 36.4 million in a bankruptcy auction. Lucira filed for bankruptcy in February 2023, just two days before receiving FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the first over-the-counter (OTC) at-home diagnostic test capable of differentiating and detecting influenza A and B. The COVID-19 & Flu Home Test is a single-use at-home test kit that delivers results from self-collected nasal swab samples in about 30 minutes. Lucira had previously received the first FDA EUA for an at-home rapid self-test, the Lucira COVID-19 All-in-One Test Kit, in November 2020, and the company announced in April 2021 that it had secured OTC EUA for its Lucira Check It test kit for SARS-CoV-2. The company’s tests use a handheld battery-powered real-time testing instrument with nasal swab samples and loop-mediated isothermal amplification to provide ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 5, 2023
Study shows link between obesity and adverse postoperative outcomes

In the United States, almost 74% of adults age 20 and older have overweight or obesity, and of that number almost 42% have obesity. Not only are overweight and obesity complex and serious diseases, but clinicians and researchers are continuing to learn how they can impact health outcomes – from heart and musculoskeletal health to risk for disease, including cancer. New research published in the journal SURGERY shows that obesity is also associated with increased risk of complications following surgery, including infection, blood clots, and kidney complications. “We need to continue to recognize that overweight and obesity can have medical impacts that aren’t limited to heart disease and diabetes and liver failure. They can also make recovery from surgery harder, and these data can inform the conversation happening at a broader public health level addressing obesity.” Robert Meguid, MD, MPH, researcher, professor of cardiothoracic surgery in the ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 5, 2023
Fingerpaint, spying growing vaccine market, buys MYND to expand market access capabilities

Fingerpaint Group has a mind to draw biopharma companies a clearer picture of their market access options—and now it has MYND to help it do so. By acquiring MYND Group, Fingerpaint has continued its takeover spree and added to the capabilities of its recently rebranded market access group. Healthcare marketing agency Fingerpaint moved into market access early in 2020 with the acquisition of 1798, a California-based developer of market access and commercialization support programs. Late last year, Fingerpaint dropped the 1798 name. Rebranded as Fingerpaint Market Access, the unit, which had been involved in 30 launches in the previous three years, pitched itself as an end-to-end consultancy. Now, Fingerpaint has added to its market access capabilities. MYND is a Pennsylvania-based provider of a range of market access services, spanning from market research through to the training of sales teams. The services overlap with Fingerpaint’s existing capabilities. In a statement, Bill McEllen, global president ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 5, 2023
WHO and global partners launch new effort to address falling childhood vaccination rates Over 25 million children missed at least one vaccination in 2021 alone

WHO The World Health Organization (WHO), along with other global and national health partners, has launched a global effort to boost vaccination among children following declines driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others announced ‘The Big Catch-Up’ to reverse the declines and protect populations from vaccine-preventable outbreaks such as measles, polio and yellow fever. Over 25 million children missed at least one vaccination in 2021, and the effort will focus on the 20 countries where 75% of these children live. WHO director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “Millions of children and adolescents, particularly in lower-income countries, have missed out on life-saving vaccinations, while outbreaks of these deadly diseases have risen. “WHO is supporting dozens of countries to restore immunisation and other essential health services. Catching up is a top priority. ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 5, 2023
A high proportion of adults in Europe do not have protective antibody concentrations against diphtheria

In a recent study published in the Eurosurveillance Journal, researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of seroprotection against tetanus and diphtheria among residents in Austria following an increase in diphtheria cases since 2022 in Europe. Background Diphtheria is an infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae resulting in the inflammation of mucous membranes in the throat and nose. While an increase in the incidence of diphtheria among migrants in Europe was observed beginning in August 2022, recent studies also found that the concentrations of antibodies against diphtheria in adults in approximately 18 countries in the European Union were negligible. Although no diphtheria outbreaks have been reported among the general population of European Union countries, the low seroprotection increases the risk of disease outbreaks. Estimating the seroprevalence among the population could help determine the risk of a diphtheria outbreak and increase awareness about the importance of vaccines to ensure ...
- Source: drugdu
- 149
- May 3, 2023
Johnson & Johnson consumer health unit valued at $40 billion ahead of IPO, report says

Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health business is valued at $40 billion ahead of its initial public offering later this year, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The soon-to-be spinoff Kenvue aims to raise $3.5 billion or more in the offering, people familiar with the matter told the Journal. The newspaper noted that “the share sale would be by far the biggest of what so far has been a quiet year for IPOs.” Kenvue plans to meet with prospective investors as early as Monday, the sources told the Journal. When asked about the Journal’s report, J&J spokesperson Tesia Williams told CNBC, “Unfortunately, I do not have any information to provide.” J&J previously said it expects to complete the separation from Kenvue by mid- to late 2023. The consumer staples giant has also said it will retain majority ownership of Kenvue, with ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 3, 2023
Excessive digital technology use is associated with reduced sleep quality regardless of environmental and genetic factors, study finds

In a recent study published in the SLEEP Journal, researchers explored the association between poor sleep and the excessive use of digital technology among adolescents after adjusting for familial factors and examining the influence of environmental and genetic factors on the association. Background Although many studies have reported that excessive use of digital technology among adolescents and young adults is linked to lower sleep quality, recent research indicates that in studies that used relevant control groups, the association was weaker or non-significant. This implied that a third unexplored factor, such as environmental or genetic influences, could be the underlying reason for these observed associations. Factors related to parental control and lack of boundaries resulting in inconsistent bedtimes and excessive use of technology could be impacting the quality of sleep. Digital technology is thought to impact sleep quality in various ways. Hyperarousal and the requirement to constantly ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 3, 2023
Jenny Craig tells staffers it’s winding down its weight-loss centers and warns of mass layoffs

Jenny Craig has alerted employees to potential mass layoffs as it begins “winding down physical operations” and hunts for a buyer, according to communications the weight-loss company sent some staffers this week. The company said it “has been going through a sales process for the last couple of months,” according to a document titled “Jenny Craig Company Transition FAQs” that was dated Tuesday and provided to NBC News. Several Jenny Craig staffers said the company alerted them in recent days about potential layoffs. The FAQ document said: “While we had to issue Warn Notices specifically for sites where we had more than 50 people potentially impacted, this will likely impact all employees in some manner. “We do not know the exact employees/groups whom will be impacted, and if any employees may be retained. As a result, we would suggest that you anticipate that your employment may ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 3, 2023
Amgen faces patent infringement claims on big-selling osteoporosis drug Evenity

In developing its osteoporosis drug Evenity more than a decade ago, it is alleged in court documents that Amgen discussed forming a potential partnership with a small company from Kansas. Those discussions never amounted to a deal. Now, 11 years later, the Kansas company is suing Amgen for patent infringement. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, claims Amgen’s Evenity infringes on three of patents owned by OssiFi-Mab, including one that was granted last month. The first patent was awarded in 2012, the same year that Amgen and the Kansas company talked of a potential collaboration, according to the suit. The patents refer to the “discovery of methods of increasing bone density via administration of a sclerostin antagonist together with an antiresorptive,” the complaint says. Evenity works in part by decreasing bone resorption by inhibiting the action of sclerostin, which helps regulate bone metabolism. ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 3, 2023
Johnson & Johnson’s PARP combo nabs first global nod but faces tough fight against AZ, Merck’s Lynparza

Johnson & Johnson’s idea to carve out the prostate cancer indication from GSK’s PARP inhibitor Zejula has yielded its first global approval. Following a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency, the European Commission has officially approved J&J’s Akeega in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), J&J said Friday. The drug is a fixed-dose combo of Zejula and J&J’s androgen-directed Zytiga, and it’s used alongside a corticosteroid. Under a 2016 deal with Zejula’s developer Tesaro, J&J specifically carved out rights to the drug in prostate cancer. GSK then bought out Tesaro in 2019. Not all patients can get Akeega under the drug’s European label. To be eligible, a patient’s tumor must test positive for BRCA1/2 mutations, which account for 10% to 15% of all cases, J&J said. Akeega’s label in Europe is narrower than that of rival PARP inhibitor Lynparza from AstraZeneca and Merck. The European Commission in December cleared Lynparza and Zytiga for mCRPC ...
- Source: drugdu
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- May 3, 2023

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