Putting in writing what it’s been saying at advisory committee meetings, the U.S. FDA is issuing a draft guidance on multiregional clinical trials for cancer drugs that underscores the need for applicability to the U.S. population and medical practices.
Genentech’s newly approved multiple sclerosis (MS) injection takes about 10 minutes to administer, dramatically reducing the four to six hours required by its intravenous predecessor. The U.S. FDA approved the humanized monoclonal antibody Ocrevus Zunovo (ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase-ocsq) for relapsing MS and primary progressive MS on Sept. 13.
Eli Lilly and Co.’s Ebglyss (lebrikizumab) becomes the latest U.S. entrant in the increasingly competitive atopic dermatitis space, following FDA approval of the IL-13-targeting antibody, which will now go up against other biologics such as established blockbuster Dupixent (dupilumab, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.), as well as more recently approved Adbry (tralokinumab, Leo Pharma Inc.).
Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc. lost its uphill battle to convince the U.S. FDA’s Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee that the risks of its second-line primary biliary cholangitis drug outweigh the benefits. The committee overwhelmingly said the data in the follow-up studies of treating the rare disease with Ocaliva (obeticholic acid), which has accelerated approval from the FDA, was insufficient.
Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech companies are leading development of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly and Co. edge closer to launching blockbuster therapies in China. At the heart of the GLP-1 boom is a nationwide obesity problem driven by a confluence of factors, including the rise of a modern, sedentary lifestyle, according to Clarivate. Despite the rising prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, the gap in obesity therapeutics is “substantial and leaves a solid market opportunity for weight loss drugs,” Karan Verma, principal analyst of healthcare research & data analytics at Clarivate, said.
Two leading glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for obesity and type 2 diabetes – Novo Nordisk A/S’s semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic) and Eli Lilly and Co.’s tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) – are advancing in China after taking the U.S. market by storm. China represents the world’s largest population of diabetes and obesity patients. Its GLP-1 market, valued at about $1.7 billion in 2023 according to Clarivate, is expected to grow as the number of obesity patients is projected to exceed 500 million by 2033.
Friday the 13th could be a make-or-break day in the U.S. for Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Ocaliva (obeticholic acid). That’s the day the company will make its case before the FDA’s Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee for turning an 8-year-old accelerated approval into traditional approval.
Criminal and civil charges related to insider trading were filed Sept. 10 against Dishant Gupta based on his stock purchases of Epizyme Inc. in the months leading up to its acquisition by Ipsen SA.
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong is “all ears” to foster local biotech IPOs, speakers said at the Bio Hong Kong 2024 conference Sept. 11, and more than 60 companies have jumped on board since the introduction of the Chapter 18A listing regime in 2018.
Another day, another insider trading deal involving biopharma stock. One of the latest U.S. SEC cases involves a retired dentist, Stephen Forlano Sr., who traded on a tip passed on through his son from a close friend who was an analyst at an investment firm handling a strategic financing collaboration with Harmony Biosciences Holdings Inc.
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