Percutaneously implanted devices designed to seal off the left atrial appendage (LAA) have been around for some time, but a recent study of surgical closure of the appendage might have a beneficial effect on sales of these devices despite that the study did not deal directly with these devices. The results were compelling enough to provoke a halt to the study before all patients had reached the projected term of follow-up, and at least one observer said it may be time to study whether more routine use of devices for percutaneous LAA closure is indicated.
Two-year results from the Evolut Low Risk Trial show Medtronic plc’s Evolut transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is noninferior to open-heart surgery in younger, healthier aortic stenosis patients. Moreover, the Evolut cohort fared better on certain critical events. Specifically, two-year rates of all-cause mortality or disabling stroke were 4.3% for TAVR patients vs. 6.3% for those undergoing surgical aortic valve repair (SAVR).
DUBLIN – Bergenbio ASA joins an expanding list of companies whose candidate drug has failed to attain the primary endpoint of a clinical trial in COVID-19.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Amarin, Apnimed, Bergenbio, Catalyst, Cybin, GSK, I-Mab, Leo, Medicago, Metacrine, Mustang, Novo Nordisk, Realta, Roche, Sarepta, Seven and Eight, Shield.
To accelerate drug development targeting the pandemic, the FDA issued final guidance May 17 on master protocols for drugs intended to prevent or treat COVID-19 infections. Although the guidance is geared toward developing COVID-19 drugs, the FDA said it expects master protocols to continue to play an important role in addressing the public health needs in future pandemics.
As investors await interim data this quarter from Arcus Biosciences Inc.’s ARC-7 phase II effort with domvanalimab (AB-154) in non-small-cell lung cancer, the anti-TIGIT space continues to bubble, with Wall Street busy trying to sort out the odds of various players.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: AC Immune, Amo, Antengene, Appili, Athenex, Baudax, Foghorn, Galera, GSK, Incyte, Knopp, Regeneron, Sanofi, Seelos.
Little more than two years ago, Biogen Inc. plunked down about $800 million for gene therapy developer Nightstar Therapeutics plc, which had an X-linked retinitis pigmentosa drug in its pipeline. Top-line results from the phase II/III Xirius study of cotoretigene toliparvovec (BIIB-112), administered by subretinal injection, show the one-time therapy missed its primary endpoint of producing a statistically significant improvement in the proportion of treated study eyes.
Allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (AlloCAR T) specialist Allogene Therapeutics Inc.’s promise of data readouts at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, along with the virtual CD19 forum slated by the company for May 19, whetted investor thirst in the space.
LONDON – Delaying the second dose of Pfizer Inc./Biontech SE’s COVID-19 vaccine significantly increases the antibody response in people ages 80 to 99, compared to the approved schedule of two doses three weeks apart, according to the latest data from the U.K. coronavirus immunology consortium.
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