In a 10-1 vote, the U.S. FDA’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee said Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s studies of its combination post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment did not show enough efficacy. Had the adcom felt otherwise, the path may have been smoother for a new treatment in an indication that hasn’t seen regulatory advancement in decades. The committee’s conclusion, however, is not binding on the FDA, which will make its own decision whether to approve.
Johnson & Johnson beat analysts’ expectations for its second quarter results, led by medical device sales of $8.54 billion. All med-tech segments performed better than anticipated, with cardiology reporting exceptionally strong 22.3% growth. In addition, the innovative medicines division shocked the Street with 4.9% growth, despite the loss of patent protection for the blockbuster drug, Stelara.
Abbott Laboratories’ second quarter results echoed Johnson & Johnson’s, with med tech performing the hero’s work with strong growth. Overall, Abbott slightly beat expectations with sales up 6.9% overall compared to 2Q 2024, largely boosted by the med-tech unit’s organic revenue increase of 12.2%, and worldwide sales for the quarter of $11.1 billion. Diabetes provided a particularly bright spot with 19.5% year-over-year growth for continuous glucose monitoring devices.
Uromems SAS received investigational device exemption (IDE) approval from the U.S. FDA, and clearance from the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), to begin a pivotal trial of its Uroactive smart implant.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a draft coverage memo for cardiac contractility modulation (CCM), which offers coverage with evidence development for the company’s Optimizer line of devices. CMS said it will issue the final coverage memo by Oct. 8, 2025, which will mark the achievement of an objective the company set for itself more than two decades ago.
Expanding on guidance issued a dozen years ago, the U.S. FDA released a draft guidance to help sponsors developing cancer drugs for use in novel combinations determine the contribution of the individual drugs’ effect.
Carving out $400 million in annual cost savings is going over well with Sarepta Therapeutics Inc.’s investors, as the company’s stock got a 19.6% boost on July 17. Its big seller, the gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec), continued its revenue numbers decline, so Sarepta chopped operating expenses by letting about 500 employees go in a 36% cutback and pared its development path.
The rough ride presaged by briefing documents came to pass for GSK plc with the drug first approved by the U.S. FDA as Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin, bel-maf), as the agency’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) appraised the possibility that the antibody-drug conjugate could return to market for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM).
Johnson & Johnson beat analysts’ expectations for its second quarter results, led by medical device sales of $8.54 billion. All med-tech segments performed better than anticipated, with cardiology reporting exceptionally strong 22.3% growth. In addition, the innovative medicines division shocked the Street with 4.9% growth, despite the loss of patent protection for the blockbuster drug, Stelara.
Caranx Medical SAS secured clearance from the U.S. FDA for Tavipilot Soft, its AI-powered software which provides real-time intraoperative guidance during transcatheter heart valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. The software, which tracks anatomical and instrumental landmarks in real-time to enable precise and accurate heart valve positioning and delivery, will allow a broader number of cardiologists to perform this complex procedure.
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