AstraZeneca’s Fusion Pharmaceuticals acquisition is the latest in a wave of M&A activity that includes recent deals by Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb. The lead Fusion program is in mid-stage clinical development for treating advanced prostate cancer. By FRANK VINLUAN AstraZeneca is following in the footsteps of some of its big pharmaceutical company peers, plunking down $2 billion to acquire its radiopharmaceuticals partner Fusion Pharmaceuticals. More than adding a pipeline of targeted radiation therapies, AstraZeneca gains the crucial supply chain and manufacturing infrastructure to support them. The sum is an upfront payment. According to the deal terms announced Tuesday, AstraZeneca will pay $21 cash for each Fusion share, representing a 97% premium to Fusion’s closing stock price on Monday. Shareholders of the radiopharmaceutical company could get even more. The deal includes a contingent value right that will pay an additional $3 per share upon achievement of a regulatory milestone. ...
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that causes the brain to deteriorate over time, marked by the buildup of certain harmful proteins that eventually lead to a decline in brain function and cell death. These changes can happen long before any symptoms show up. Scientists have found certain proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid that are good indicators of AD. One of the most promising markers for early and more precise detection of AD in the blood is phosphorylated tau at position 217 (pTau217). It’s seen as a game-changer for diagnosing AD sooner, categorizing patients for research studies, and improving how patients are cared for and treated. Now, an innovative and novel blood test can be used in the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of AD based on the circulating level of this promising biomarker pTau217. ALZpath Dx (Carlsbad, CA, USA) has developed a robust and scalable plasma-based ultra-sensitive assay, branded ...
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with non-small cell lung cancers making up the majority of cases, which are often linked to smoking. When detected early, these cancers are usually confined to the lung, making surgery the preferred initial treatment. However, about 30% of these early-stage patients see their cancer advance to more critical areas, like the lymph nodes and organs, frequently affecting the brain first. This progression necessitates additional treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted drugs, radiation, or immunotherapy. Unfortunately, despite 70% of patients not developing brain metastasis, doctors have lacked the means to predict whose cancer will progress and often opt for aggressive treatments as a precautionary measure. Now, a new study offers hope in improving the approach to treating early-stage lung cancer by achieving the correct balance between proactive intervention and cautious monitoring. In the study, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in ...
Davy James Expanded indication for Edurant in combination with other antiretroviral therapies includes treatment-naïve children with HIV-1 RNA <100,000 copies/mL aged at least 2 years and weighing between 14 kg and 25 kg. The FDA has approved an expanded indication for Johnson & Johnson’s Edurant PED (rilpivirine) in combination with other antiretroviral therapies (ART) to treat HIV-1 in treatment-naïve children (with HIV-1 RNA <100,000 copies/mL) aged at least 2 years and weighing between 14 kg and 25 kg.1 Edurant is an HIV-1 specific, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor previously approved in combination with ART in treatment-naïve patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 35 kg with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL. “Decades of experience with the global HIV epidemic have made it clear that new and improved treatment options are needed to support the diverse population of people living with HIV on their ...
Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections, including neutropenic sepsis—a potentially fatal reaction to infection and a severe complication of chemotherapy. Identifying the signs of neutropenic sepsis can be challenging, leading to a stressful and expensive treatment process. Consequently, all chemotherapy patients feeling ill are advised to seek emergency care to check for neutropenic sepsis. Unfortunately, half of these patients do not receive antibiotics quickly enough, while the other half, not at risk of neutropenic sepsis, unnecessarily visit the emergency department. 52North Health Ltd. (Cambridge UK) has developed NeutroCheck, a groundbreaking approach aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of cancer patients. This innovation combines a finger-prick blood test with an AI-powered digital platform, allowing patients to evaluate their neutropenic sepsis risk at home. This affordable, ...
Detecting kidney disease late can lead to severe and even life-threatening issues. Now, new research has found that the genes expressed in human cells harvested from urine closely match those in the kidney, suggesting that these cells could offer a non-invasive approach to better understanding kidney health. This discovery could allow the diagnosis of kidney problems without doing biopsies, making it possible to detect kidney disease earlier and more easily. A team of scientists led by the University of Manchester (Manchester, UK) used a method called transcriptomics to measure the levels of about 20,000 genes in each cellular sediment sample of urine. Transcriptomics helps scientists see which genes are active or inactive, providing insights into how cells adapt to changes in their environment. This molecular-level understanding can lead to more accurate diagnoses and better patient outcomes. The team also had access to the world’s largest collection of human kidney samples ...
Davy James Tryvio (aprocitentan) approved in combination with other antihypertensive drugs to lower hypertension in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled by other therapies. The FDA has approved Idorsia Ltd’s Tryvio (aprocitentan) to reduce hypertension in combination with other antihypertensive drugs in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled by other therapies. Tryvio is an endothelin receptor antagonist that interferes with the binding of endothelin (ET)-1 to ETA and ETB receptors.1 “Today, there are millions of Americans whose blood pressure is not well-controlled despite existing therapies. This is a major public health issue leading to a high incidence of cardio- and cerebrovascular events,” Jean-Paul Clozel, MD, CEO of Idorsia said in a press release. “In order to help address this issue, Idorsia developed aprocitentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist suited to the treatment of these patients. Idorsia conducted an ambitious clinical program in patients remaining hypertensive despite a ...
Clasp Therapeutics’ novel T cell engagers could offer advantages over others in this class of cancer immunotherapies. The startup is based on the research of Johns Hopkins University scientist Bert Vogelstein. By FRANK VINLUANCancer immunotherapy comes in several forms, and one area of growing research interest is a type of drug called a T cell engager. These drugs bind to a cancer cell and a T cell simultaneously, bringing both of them together to spark a therapeutic effect. Robert Ross, CEO of Clasp Therapeutics, likens T cell engagers to the chaperone at a middle school dance who grabs a boy and a girl in each hand, getting them to dance together. But in cancer drugs, just as in school dances, sometimes the pairing just isn’t right. The wrong pairing in cancer happens when a drug that’s targeted to a tumor also hits healthy cells, causing toxic effects. Clasp is developing ...
Recently, HANQUYOU (trastuzumab, trade name in Europe: Zercepac®), independently developed and manufactured by Henlius, has been approved to be marketed in Brazil for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer and gastric cancer. To date, the product has been approved for marketing in more than 40 countries and regions worldwide. Following the commercialization of HANQUYOU in Argentina, the approval of HANQUYOU in Brazil, the largest economy and the most populous country in Latin America, has become another anchor point for Henlius’ continuous global commercial expansion. Latin America and the Caribbean comprises 33 countries and regions with a total population of close to 660 million as of 2022 and a per capita GDP of close to $10,000 per capita [1]. In Latin America, breast and gastric cancers are the most and fifth most prevalent malignancies, respectively. The total number of new cases of breast and gastric cancer in the region in 2022 ...
Singapore, March 19, 2024, WuXi Biologics (“WuXi Bio”) (2269.HK), a leading global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), today announced that it has broken ground on its new 13.5-hectare CRDMO center in Tuas Biomedical Park, Singapore. The center will provide integrated biologics research, development and manufacturing services. WuXi Biologics announced a USD$1.4 billion (S$2 billion) investment in Singapore in 2022. The CRDMO center will be the first-of-its-kind in Singapore, offering end-to-end biologics research, development and manufacturing solutions upon completion. It will add 120,000L of manufacturing capacity to WuXi Biologics’ global network, and is expected to employ 1,500 staff. The site will be equipped with WuXi Biologics’ proprietary technical platforms, along with industry-leading technologies such as single-use technology to provide clients with time-and cost-efficient services. In line with WuXi Biologics’ Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, the site will implement sustainable concepts in the design and construction of the center, deploy ...
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