vi Key nose cells identified as likely COVID-19 virus entry points By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Two specific cell types in the nose have been identified as likely initial infection points for COVID-19 coronavirus. Scientists discovered that goblet and ciliated cells in the nose have high levels of the entry proteins that the COVID-19 virus uses to get into our cells. The identification of these cells by researchers from the Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi Loss of smell associated with milder clinical course in COVID-19 By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Following an earlier study that validated the loss of smell and taste as indicators of SARS-CoV-2 infection, researchers at UC San Diego Health report in newly published findings that olfactory impairment suggests the resulting COVID-19 disease is more likely to be mild to moderate, a potential early indicator that could help health care providers determine which patients may require hospitalization. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi Novartis announces plan to initiate clinical trial of canakinumab for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Novartis announced plans to initiate a Phase III clinical trial to study canakinumab in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The CAN-COVID trial will examine the efficacy of utilizing canakinumab, an interleukin (IL)-1β blocker, to treat a type of severe immune overreaction called cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in people with COVID-19 pneumonia. Full Article Featured Novartis Business
vi AstraZeneca and Oxford University announce landmark agreement for COVID-19 vaccine By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0200 AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford announced an agreement for the global development and distribution of the University’s potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection from SARS-CoV-2. The collaboration aims to bring to patients the potential vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, being developed by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, at the University of Oxford. Full Article Featured AstraZeneca Business
vi Antibodies from llamas could help in fight against COVID-19 By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 The hunt for an effective treatment for COVID-19 has led one team of researchers to find an improbable ally for their work: a llama named Winter. The team - from The University of Texas at Austin, the National Institutes of Health and Ghent University in Belgium - reports their findings about a potential avenue for a coronavirus treatment involving llamas on May 5 in the journal Cell. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi Researchers identify four possible treatments for COVID-19 By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 While COVID-19 has infected millions of people worldwide and killed hundreds of thousands, there is currently no vaccine. In response, researchers have been evaluating the effectiveness of various antiviral drugs as possible COVID-19 treatments. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi Supercomputer simulations present potential active substances against coronavirus By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Several drugs approved for treating hepatitis C viral infection were identified as potential candidates against COVID-19, a new disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This is the result of research based on extensive calculations using the MOGON II supercomputer at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). One of the most powerful computers in the world, Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi Study reveals most critically ill patients with COVID-19 survive with standard treatment By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Clinicians from two hospitals in Boston report that the majority of even the sickest patients with COVID-19 - those who require ventilators in intensive care units - get better when they receive existing guideline-supported treatment for respiratory failure. The clinicians, who are from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, published their findings in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi Repurposing existing drugs for COVID-19 offers a more rapid alternative to a vaccine By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 Repurposing existing medicines focused on known drug targets is likely to offer a more rapid hope of tackling COVID-19 than developing and manufacturing a vaccine, argue an international team of scientists in the British Journal of Pharmacology today. Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in late 2019, more than 3.5 million people are known to have been infected, leading to over 240,000 deaths worldwide from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate By www.pharmanews.eu Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 10:00:00 +0200 A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries. The research, led by Dr Lee Smith of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Mr Petre Cristian Ilie, lead urologist of Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, is published in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. Full Article Featured Research Research & Development
vi COVID-19 leading to shortage of orphan drugs in Russia By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:09:00 +0100 The ongoing spread of COVID-19 in Russia is leading to shortages of drugs against orphan diseases in… Full Article Anti-virals/Coronavirus/Focus On/From our correspondent/Hydroxychloroquine/In Depth/Pharmaceutical/Public health/Rare diseases/Russia/Russian market
vi Firms ready RNAi candidate for COVID-19 development By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:27:00 +0100 A collaboration in COVID-19 between immunology specialist Vir Biotechnology and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals… Full Article Alnylam Pharmaceuticals/Anti-virals/Biotechnology/Cell and Gene Therapy/Coronavirus/Focus On/Public health/Research/USA/Vir Biotechnology/VIR-2703
vi Clinical tests imminent for Junshi's COVID-19 antibody By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 13:11:00 +0100 A new collaboration between Shanghai’s Junshi Biosciences and Eli Lilly will seek to develop novel… Full Article Anti-virals/Biotechnology/China/Coronavirus/Drug Trial/Eli Lilly & Company/Focus On/JS016/Junshi Biosciences/Research/USA
vi EU-led coronavirus fundraiser targets initial 7.5 billion euros By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 15:20:00 +0100 A pledging conference led by the European Union (EU) has set an initial target of 7.5 billion euros ($8.1… Full Article Anti-virals/Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Coronavirus/EIB Group/Europe/Focus On/Government Affairs/Health Medical Pharma/Pharmaceutical/Public health
vi China and COVID-19 offer test case for blockchain By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 15:25:00 +0100 The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop China from launching its national blockchain-based service network… Full Article China/Coronavirus/Digital Pharma/Focus On/GlobalData/Pharmaceutical
vi Pfizer and BioNTech move on COVID-19 vaccine work apace By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 16:43:00 +0100 As with other companies, US drug giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are moving forward their… Full Article BioNTech/BNT162/Coronavirus/Drug Trial/Focus On/Pfizer/Pharmaceutical/Research/USA/Vaccines
vi Regeneron rockets as financial results provide perfect picture of growth By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 17:29:00 +0100 Investors in Regeneron could afford a rare smile in these difficult times, as the company’s first quarter… Full Article Anti-virals/Biotechnology/Dermatologicals/Dupixent/Eylea/Financial/Immuno-oncology/Inflammatory diseases/Libtayo/Management/Oncology/Ophthalmics/Regeneron/REGN-COV2/USA
vi US FTC clears AbbVie’s buy of Allergan, but with divestments By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:05:00 +0100 Almost a year after the original announcement, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted the… Full Article AbbVie/Allergan/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Endocrinology/Federal Trade Commission/Ireland/Legal/Management/Pancrelipase/Pharmaceutical/USA/Viokace/Zenpep
vi Gilead plans to meet rising tide of remdesivir demand By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:21:00 +0100 California’s Gilead Sciences has outlined a plan to ramp up production of newly USA-approved COVID-19… Full Article Anti-virals/Coronavirus/Focus On/Gilead Sciences/Pharmaceutical/Production/Public health/Remdesivir/USA
vi Global pharma and biotech’s fight against COVID-19: an investment perspective By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 18:01:00 +0100 Mark Brewer, who heads up the life sciences team at UK broker and M&A advisory company, finnCap, gives… Full Article Actemra/Anti-virals/Avacta/Avigan/Biotechnology/Business Financing/Chloroquine/Coronavirus/Cytiva/Expert View/Faron Pharmaceuticals/favipiravir/Focus On/Fujifilm/Gilead Sciences/Hydroxychloroquine/In Depth/Medical Devices and Diagnostics/Novacyt/Remdesivir/Roche/SNG001/Synairgen/UK
vi Assessing the long-term impact of COVID-19 on clinical research By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:15:00 +0100 The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many life sciences companies due to a… Full Article Anti-virals/Cell and Gene Therapy/Coronavirus/CRA/Feature/Focus On/Global/In Depth/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/Research/Vaccines
vi BetterLife Pharma inks licensing deal for AntiCovir By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:48:00 +0100 Canada-based BetterLife Pharma, previously known as Pivot Pharmaceuticals, has entered into an agreement… Full Article Altum Pharmaceuticals/Anti-virals/AntiCovir/BetterLife Pharma/Biotechnology/Canada/Coronavirus/Deals/Focus On/Licensing/Research
vi Japan grants ‘exceptional’ approval for remdesivir in COVID-19 By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 14:53:00 +0100 As had been widely expected, Gilead Sciences on Thursday announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health,… Full Article Anti-virals/Asia Pacific/Coronavirus/Focus On/Gilead Sciences/Japan/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/Remdesivir/USA/Veklury
vi BRIEF—AbbVie finally completes acquisition of Allergan By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 14:18:00 +0100 US pharma major AbbVie has finally completed its $63 billion acquisition of Ireland-incorporated Allergan,… Full Article AbbVie/Allergan/Companies mergers and acquisitions/Ireland/Legal/Pharmaceutical/USA
vi jCyte out-licenses rare vision disorder treatment for $252 million By www.thepharmaletter.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 14:46:00 +0100 US biotech firm jCyte Inc has entered into a licensing agreement with Japanese ophthalmology specialist… Full Article Biotechnology/Deals/Japan/jCell/jCyte Inc/Licensing/Ophthalmics/Rare diseases/Santen/USA/Vision disorder
vi Gilead in talks to expand COVID-19 hopeful remdesivir supply chains with outside partner By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 14:30:25 +0000 Gilead Sciences scored a massive win earlier this week with its first positive data readout for investigational candidate remdesivir in treating patients with severe COVID-19. Gilead already has its own supply of the drug humming in anticipation of high demand, but opportunities are out there for a partner to join in. Full Article
vi AbbVie CEO: Don't worry, Allergan's aesthetics clients still have money—and 'strong desire' for treatment By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 15:20:40 +0000 AbbVie may be working through COVID-19, but it's pressing ahead with its Allergan merger, too—and taking stock of products hit by pandemic lockdowns. That puts Allergan’s aesthetics business top of mind, but AbbVie CEO Rick Gonzalez figures customers are ready and able to return quickly for treatment. Full Article
vi Gilead's remdesivir scores emergency FDA nod in COVID-19 days after big data reveal By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 20:01:17 +0000 Days after U.S. officials reported the first positive controlled data for Gilead's remdesivir in COVID-19, the FDA has given the drug an emergency use authorization. Full Article
vi With the world waiting, Roche socks $459M into COVID-19 antibody test production By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 15:05:01 +0000 Roche scored a major win with the FDA's backing for its COVID-19 antibody tests last week in a field marked by products of questionable quality. Now, to cover its booming production goals, Roche plans to infuse nearly half-a-billion dollars into its German manufacturing facility. Full Article
vi Fair price for Gilead's COVID-19 med remdesivir? $4,460, cost watchdog says By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 15:09:09 +0000 While Gilead has yet to present a marketing plan for remdesivir—much less a price—ICER figures the COVID-19 drug could be cost-effective at up to $4,460 per patient. That means it could easily rake in blockbuster sales this year, at least theoretically. Full Article
vi Remdesivir, check. Now, analysts are looking ahead to 'several' COVID-19 drugs to come By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 15:22:41 +0000 Gilead made waves on Friday with its emergency FDA approval for remdesivir quickly on the heels of a controlled trial data release. But while it’s an important first step, other COVID-19 medicines will likely be coming down the line, analysts wrote. Full Article
vi AbbVie, Allergan score FTC approval for $63B merger with one final hurdle left to go By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 17:50:19 +0000 AbbVie and Allergan have waited for nearly a year for their much-discussed merger to pass muster. Finally, after pushback from consumer groups and tight scrutiny from regulators, the FTC has granted its green light. The partners face just one final hurdle to consummating their deal. Full Article
vi Fresenius Kabi recalls anti-inflammation drug Ketorolac after finding particles in vials By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 15:25:53 +0000 German drugmaker Fresenius Kabi has made major investments in its U.S. manufacturing operations in recent years with some mixed quality results along the way. Now, one of the drugmaker's products faces a recall for more manufacturing woes. Full Article
vi Pfizer tags 3 U.S. manufacturing sites for possible COVID-19 vaccine launch By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:38:33 +0000 Global coronavirus vaccine makers have been rolling out details about their manufacturing and launch plans—even ahead of any clinical data. Now, Pfizer says it will draw on three sites in the U.S., plus one in Belgium, for the early stages of a launch, provided its BioNTech-partnered shot wins a green light. Full Article
vi Teva generics benefit from COVID-19 bump––but the boom may not last By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:57:22 +0000 With its multibillion-dollar restructuring plan in the rearview mirror, Teva is pinning its future growth on two of its branded meds with high hopes. But generics are still central to the Israeli drugmaker's business, and increased demand due to COVID-19 gave Teva a welcome gift in the first three months of the year. Full Article
vi Can the price be right? With the world watching, Gilead faces a no-win decision on remdesivir By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:40:24 +0000 The world is waiting for Gilead Sciences to set a price tag for remdesivir, the first brand-new med authorized to treat COVID-19. Its choice will affect Gilead's reputation and bottom line, set a tone for follow-up meds—and either help polish up the pharma industry's image or create a new flashpoint for criticism. Full Article
vi Bristol Myers Squibb's blood thinner Eliquis soars on COVID-19 demand, but Opdivo could suffer: execs By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:53:18 +0000 Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Giovanni Caforio credited COVID-19-related stocking for high sales of some products in the first quarter, including Eliquis, a blood thinner that's being snapped up to reduce clotting risk in patients with the virus. But the pandemic has limited access to oncology clinics and other non-COVID-19 services, raising challenges that could impact sales later this year. Full Article
vi GBT chief blames COVID-19 for 'clear' slowdown in Oxbryta launch, but analysts are still impressed By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 18:11:22 +0000 Global Blood Therapeutics' sickle cell disease medicine Oxbryta got off to a hot start after a November FDA approval. But early in its launch, execs now say they're seeing a "clear headwind" from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lately, new patient starts have tanked by 60%, CEO Ted Love said. Full Article
vi FiercePharmaAsia—Gilead's Japanese remdesivir nod, licensing talks; Lilly-Junshi COVID-19 antibody pact By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 10:10:53 +0000 Gilead Sciences' remdesivir, now called Veklury, has won a fast Japanese nod in SARS-CoV-2. The Big Biotech's scouting licensing partners to ramp up supply around the world. Eli Lilly has signed on China's Junshi Biosciences to develop neutralizing antibodies against the novel coronavirus. And more. Full Article
vi Cadila shutters Indian ingredients plant after 26 workers test positive for COVID-19: report By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:40:29 +0000 Global drugmakers are working overtime to keep supplies coming amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. But in manufacturing facilities packed with workers, COVID-19 presents a particularly difficult challenge—and now one Indian plant has been forced to shutter due to a rash of infections. Full Article
vi Early missteps, transparency questions dog U.S. government's remdesivir rollout: reports By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:50:52 +0000 When Gilead Sciences scored a groundbreaking FDA emergency use authorization for COVID-19 therapy remdesivir, the company made the unusual move of handing distribution rights to the U.S. government. But the federal rollout has gotten off to a rocky start. Full Article
vi Gilead hit with Iranian cyberattack for role in COVID-19 response: report By www.fiercepharma.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 19:43:17 +0000 Gilead Sciences has captured worldwide attention with its COVID-19 antiviral, remdesivir, cleared late last week by the FDA—not all of it welcome. With bad actors targeting companies at the head of the spear in the pandemic response, Gilead may have found itself in their sights. Full Article
vi U.S. CDC reports 1,248,040 coronavirus cases, 75,477 deaths By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 21:46:52 -0400 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday reported 1,248,040 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 28,974 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 2,180 to 75,477. Full Article healthNews
vi Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 1,251 to 168,551: RKI By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 22:09:29 -0400 The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,251 to 168,551, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. Full Article healthNews
vi China reports one new coronavirus case, 15 asymptomatic cases By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 23:09:58 -0400 China reported one new coronavirus case for Friday, unchanged from the day before, data from the national health authority showed on Saturday. Full Article healthNews
vi FDA commissioner in self-quarantine after exposure to person with COVID-19 By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:38:14 -0400 U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn is in self-quarantine for a couple of weeks after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, an FDA spokesman told Reuters late on Friday. Full Article healthNews
vi Thailand reports four new coronavirus cases, one new death By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 01:23:35 -0400 Thailand reported four new coronavirus cases and one more death on Saturday, bringing the total to 3,004 cases and 56 deaths since the outbreak started in January. Full Article healthNews
vi Singapore reports 753 new coronavirus cases, taking total to 22,460 By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 03:27:35 -0400 Singapore registered 753 new coronavirus infections, its health ministry said on Saturday, taking the city-state's total to 22,460 cases. Full Article healthNews
vi Russia records more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases in past day By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 04:07:00 -0400 Russian authorities said on Saturday they had recorded 10,817 new cases of the coronavirus in the last day, pushing the nationwide tally to 198,676. Full Article healthNews
vi Philippines' coronavirus deaths breach 700 By feeds.reuters.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 04:50:24 -0400 The Philippines' health ministry reported on Saturday that coronavirus deaths have reached more than 700. Full Article healthNews