Drug delivery opportunities are at the heart of Halozyme Therapeutics Inc.’s nearly $1 billion acquisition of Antares Pharma Inc. The deal brings Halozyme an autoinjector platform to complement its Enhanze drug delivery technology, which is designed to reduce hours-long treatments to minutes.
Viiv Healthcare Group has continued its quest for patient-friendly long-acting HIV drugs, signing a potential $740 million deal with Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. to develop injections that could be dosed more than six months apart.
The exceptional and speedy response in bringing safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics to combat COVID-19 has kept investors engaged and supportive. As a result, not only have companies involved in this research and development benefited, but so has the sector as a whole. Those biopharma companies have enjoyed significant jumps in their share values, with the BioWorld Drug Developers index closing up 4.6% in December and up 29% for 2020.
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: Canada moves to make some COVID-19 flexibilities permanent; Industry group forms to advance subcutaneous technology.
A survey of nearly 100 biotech companies by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has found the industry still has important work to do before achieving overall gender parity and racial diversity, especially in executive and board roles. While showing "progress in some areas, we know that as an industry, we can do better," said Helen Torley, chair of BIO’s Workforce Development, Diversity and Inclusion (WDDI) Committee and president and CEO of Halozyme Therapeutics Inc.