Don Tracy, Associate Editor Trial results expected to accelerate the potential of Dupixent to become the first FDA-approved treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi have announced that a Phase 3 trial evaluating Dupixent (dupilumab) in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) showed the drug reduced exacerbations by 34%, reportedly confirming positive results from its earlier Phase 3 BOREAS trial. According to a Regeneron press release, the NOTUS trial also confirmed that treatment led to rapid and significant improvements in lung function by 12 weeks and were sustained at 52 weeks. Back in May, the companies also announced the success of the aforementioned BOREAS trial for investigational use of Dupixent in adults currently on maximal standard-of-care inhaled therapy (triple therapy) with COPD and evidence of type 2 inflammation. Earlier this year, the drug was granted FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation as an add-on maintenance treatment in ...
Cytovale, a San Francisco-based medical diagnostics company, raised $84 million in Series C funds to advance the commercialization of its diagnostic test for early sepsis detection. Using standard blood draws, the test provides results in under 10 minutes. It is meant to detect sepsis in patients who present to hospital emergency departments. Sepsis kills more than 11 million people worldwide each year and contributes to 20% of all global deaths. The disease is also a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, and a septic patient’s risk of death increases by 8% each hour they go undiagnosed and untreated. Cytovale, a San Francisco-based medical diagnostics company, is seeking to tackle this issue with its early sepsis detection test. On Wednesday, the startup announced that it has raised $84 million in Series C funds to bring the test to more hospitals. The financing round, which takes Cytovale’s total funding amount to more than $122 million, was led by Norwest ...
Antimicrobial resistance is considered one of the top ten global public health threats Sandoz has announced the opening of two new European facilities in Austria and Germany to strengthen the development and supply of critical medicines in the EU and beyond. The two facilities include a new facility for the production of penicillin at Kundl, Austria, along with a new biosimilar development centre in Holzkirchen, Germany. Both facilities align with Sandoz’s commitment to ensuring sustainable access to quality antibiotics as well as spearheading the development of biosimilars. Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infections by killing or stopping them from spreading. Antimicrobial resistance has been declared one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity by the World Health Organization. Currently, penicillin antibiotics are the leading category of antibiotics worldwide. Sandoz’s new penicillin production process aims to improve its ecological footprint and will ...
Adzynma is the first approved genetically engineered protein product for the treatment of patients with congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The FDA has approved Takeda’s Adzynma as the first genetically engineered protein medication for the preventative treatment or for on-demand enzyme replacement therapy in patients with congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP). Image credit: olegganko | stock.adobe.com The FDA granted the application for Adzynma with a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher, as well as Priority Review, Fast Track, and Orphan designations. cTTP affects fewer than 1,000 individuals in the United States. “The FDA remains deeply committed in our efforts to help facilitate the development and approval of safe and effective therapies for patients with rare diseases,” said FDA Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Peter Marks, MD, PhD, in a press release.1 “Without treatment, cTTP is ultimately fatal. Today’s approval reflects important progress in the development of ...
By Tristan Manalac Pictured: Entrance to the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC/iStock The Department of Health and Human Services in a supplemental court filing posted late last week has suggested that Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster psoriasis therapy Stelara (ustekinumab) might soon be “deselected” from the Inflation Reduction Act’s Drug Price Negotiation Program. The development comes after the FDA last week approved Amgen’s Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub), an interchangeable biosimilar to Stelara. In May 2023, Amgen and J&J settled their patent dispute over the biosimilar challenge to Stelara, allowing the entry of Wezlana “no later than January 1, 2025.” Under the current negotiation guidelines, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services can reconsider a drug product for price negotiations when it is “subject to meaningful competition.” HHS referred to this provision in a separate October 2023 court filing, supporting its prior motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by various ...
A new research institute in London has been launched aimed at discovering a cure and new treatments for motor neurone disease (MND). The UK Motor Neuron Disease Research Institute (UK MND RI) will bring together a virtual network of MND labs, clinical centres and researchers to carry out MND research across the UK. Affecting one in every 300 people in the UK, MND is a neurodegenerative disease which affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Around one-third of patients with MND die within one year of diagnosis, and more than half within two years. Currently, Sanofi’s Rilutek (riluzole) is the only licenced drug for MND in the UK. Collaboratively, doctors, clinicians, scientists and people living with MND, along with funders and charities, will work to speed up drug discovery and drug development and aim to test potential treatments in clinical trials. LifeArc, the MND Association, MND Scotland, ...
Pfizer’s Litfulo (ritlecitinib) has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to treat severe alopecia areata in patients aged 12 years and older. Affecting approximately 147 million people globally, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterised by patchy or complete hair loss on the scalp, face or body. The condition can develop at any age and nearly 20% of patients are diagnosed before the age of 18. Litfulo, which is a one-daily oral kinase inhibitor, works by blocking the activity of enzymes in the body involved in inflammation at the hair follicle. This reduces the inflammation, leading to hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata. The MHRA’s decision on the drug was supported by positive results from the phase 2b/3 ALLEGRO trial, which evaluated Litfulo in patients aged 12 years and older with 50% or more scalp hair loss, including those with total scalp and body ...
A group of 31 biotechnology, biopharma and life sciences companies and educational institutions have launched the first global organisation dedicated to advancing mRNA medicines. The Alliance for mRNA Medicines (AMM), which issued its first announcement at the International mRNA Health Conference in Germany, is now the only scientific and policy organisation singularly focused on global mRNA innovation. It also serves as an advocate for policies before legislative and regulatory bodies in North America, Europe and Asia to support innovation, define regulatory standards and enhance patient access to mRNA medicines. The AMM states that its mission is to “propel the future of mRNA medicine, improve patients’ lives, and advance scientific knowledge by convening and empowering mRNA industry leaders, innovators, scientists and other key stakeholders”. Founding members of the organisation include BioNTech, CSL, CureVac, Ginkgo Bioworks, Ethris, Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic, Replicate Bioscience and Verve Therapeutics. “This is a pivotal moment ...
University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers received a $13.1 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to continue studies aimed at rejuvenating the immune system of older people in order to improve health throughout the lifespan. Older adults are disproportionally affected by infection, cancer and certain types of autoimmune disease. This is influenced by the fact that as a person ages, their body produces fewer T cells and gets less proficient at maintaining them. T cells are a type of white blood cell essential to the immune system and defense against infection. Janko Nikolich, MD, PhD, principal investigator, professor and head of the Department of Immunobiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, said, “It is clear how much our immune system declines with age when you look at all the previous epidemics and pandemics that have hit us, including COVID-19. Older adults die at a ...
ohnson & Johnson MedTech Worldwide Chair Tim Schmid [Photo courtesy of Johnson & Johnson] Tim Schmid is the new worldwide chair of Johnson & Johnson MedTech and EVP of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)+ following Ashley McEvoy’s announcement today that she plans to resign from the world’s second-largest medical device manufacturer.“We are pleased to have the depth of talent at Johnson & Johnson that allows us to transition to Tim, a respected, results-driven and Credo-based leader,” J&J Chair and CEO Joaquin Duato said in a news release.McEvoy called Schmid “a trusted friend and partner” in a LinkedIn post announcing her resignation. Schmid has worked for New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J for three decades, most recently serving as group chair of J&J MedTech Asia Pacific (APAC).“During his tenure, the APAC region has delivered above-market growth and further strengthened our leadership position across multiple businesses,” J&J said. “Mr. Schmid has also been instrumental in elevating the role ...
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