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.
Capricor Therapeutics Inc. has expanded its commercialization and distribution deal with Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd. to include the EU and the U.K. for deramiocel, Capricor’s lead asset, in treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In the new agreement, Capricor will receive an up-front payment of $20 million. Capricor will handle development and manufacturing duties for deramiocel while Nippon Shinyaku will be responsible for the sales and distribution.
The U.S. FDA cleared Senseonic Holdings Inc.’s Eversense 365, the first continuous glucose monitor to last a full year with a single sensor rather than the 10 days to two weeks typical for wearable sensors such as those offered by Abbott Laboratories and Dexcom Inc.
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.
The U.S. FDA cleared Senseonic Holdings Inc.’s Eversense 365, the first continuous glucose monitor to last a full year with a single sensor rather than the 10 days to two weeks typical for wearable sensors such as those offered by Abbott Laboratories and Dexcom Inc.
The U.S. FDA’s draft guidance for predetermined change control protocols (PCCPs) is out for comment, but a recent agency webinar highlighted some areas of ambiguity.
The U.S. FDA reported Sept. 17 that the Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. CPT hip system is associated with an increased risk of thighbone fracture, a problem Zimmer acknowledged with a July 2, 2024, class II recall.
Somite Therapeutics Inc.’s lead program, SMT-M01, has been awarded orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations by the FDA for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The program leverages the company’s proprietary Alphastem artificial intelligence (AI) platform to develop a novel cell replacement therapy for DMD.
While it’s called the FDA Modernization Act (FDAMA) 3.0, the short bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate Sept. 15 is basically a message to the FDA: “The move away from animal testing in FDAMA 2.0 wasn’t a congressional suggestion. It’s a mandate, so get it done.”
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.