Researchers at the University of Chicago have identified a new member of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family of proteins that could control the reactivation of several herpesviruses, including the cancer-associated Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV). Read More
Dual disappointments from the challenging field of advanced lung cancer announced Friday highlighted continuing challenges in addressing the disease, still the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. despite substantial progress. Astrazeneca plc and its biologics arm Medimmune reported that, for people with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), neither the anti-PD-L1 antibody Imfinzi (durvalumab) nor a combination of that drug with the anti-CTLA-4 candidate tremelimumab improved overall survival vs. standard-of-care chemotherapy for previously-untreated patients in the phase III Mystic trial. Astrazeneca's partner Hutchison China Meditech Ltd. (Chi-Med) also reported phase III results showing that, despite improving progression-free survival, its small-molecule inhibitor of VEGF receptors, fruquintinib, failed to improve OS for advanced NSCLC patients who had failed two lines of systemic chemotherapy. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Australia is rolling out a nationwide electronic health record (EHR) portal, called My Health Record under which patients will be able to access their health data any time and take it with them when they move. Read More
Not that long ago, interchangeability was seen as key to jumpstarting the biosimilar market in the U.S. Not so much anymore. As biosimilars continue to crawl onto the market, reality is setting in. Part of that reality is that the benefit interchangeability offers – automatic substitution at the pharmacy – only helps with biologic follow-ons dispensed at a pharmacy. Read More
The holidays are (already) here again. Much as we try to push back the calendar, those Thanksgiving doorbuster, Black Friday blowout, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday pitches keep knock, knock, knocking at our doors. Before you hit the stores take a spin through these suggestions from the BioWorld team and from our fans and followers. Read More
Since the initiation of the Human Microbiome Project and the more recent National Microbiome Initiative (NMI) created in 2016 by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in collaboration with federal agencies and private-sector stakeholders, our understanding of the role that the microbiome plays in health and disease is steadily increasing. Although we are still a very long way from fully understanding its role, new research has indicated that the microbiome not only primarily affects the health and function of the gastrointestinal tract but also has a strong influence on general body health. Read More
Seqirus Inc., of Summit, N.J., disclosed a new real-world evidence analysis indicating that its cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine was 36.2 percent more effective than standard egg-based quadrivalent vaccine in preventing influenza-like illness captured within primary care visits in people aged 4 years and above during the 2017-18 influenza season in the U.S., a season characterized by egg-adapted changes. Read More
Centrexion Therapeutics Corp., of Boston, which filed to sell up to 5 million shares in the price range of $14 to $16 in an IPO has postponed the offering. It is developing a pipeline of non-opioid therapies, with the most advanced, CNTX-4975, in pivotal phase III development for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe pain due to knee osteoarthritis. The company had planned to list on Nasdaq under the symbol CNTX. Read More
