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Regeneron rockets as financial results provide perfect picture of growth

Investors in Regeneron could afford a rare smile in these difficult times, as the company’s first quarter…



  • Anti-virals/Biotechnology/Dermatologicals/Dupixent/Eylea/Financial/Immuno-oncology/Inflammatory diseases/Libtayo/Management/Oncology/Ophthalmics/Regeneron/REGN-COV2/USA

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Akebia soars on positive Ph III trial results for vadadustat

Shares of US biotech Akebia Therapeutics were up more than 35% at $11.72 by early afternoon today, after…



  • Akebia Therapeutics/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Nephrology and Hepatology/Research/USA/vadadustat

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US FTC clears AbbVie’s buy of Allergan, but with divestments

Almost a year after the original announcement, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted the…



  • AbbVie/Allergan/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Endocrinology/Federal Trade Commission/Ireland/Legal/Management/Pancrelipase/Pharmaceutical/USA/Viokace/Zenpep

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Gilead plans to meet rising tide of remdesivir demand

California’s Gilead Sciences has outlined a plan to ramp up production of newly USA-approved COVID-19…



  • Anti-virals/Coronavirus/Focus On/Gilead Sciences/Pharmaceutical/Production/Public health/Remdesivir/USA

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ALK Abello outperforms expectations in strong 1st-qtr

Shares of Danish allergy immunotherapy specialist ALK Abello were up almost 10% at 1,788.00 Danish kroner…



  • Acarizax/ALK Abello/Denmark/Financial/Immunologicals/Itulazax/Pharmaceutical

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Portola agrees to takeover bid from Alexion

Following a couple of active M&A years, USA-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals has now reached a definitive…



  • Alexion Pharmaceuticals/AndexXa/Anticoagulants/Biotechnology/Cardio-vascular/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Hematology/Ondexxya/Portola Pharmaceuticals/USA

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Ferring in sight of finish line with first microbiome-based drug

Swiss drugmaker Ferring and its Rebiotix subsidiary have announced a world first with a microbiome-based…



  • Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Ferring Pharmaceuticals/Microbiomes/RBX2660/Rebiotix/Research/Switzerland

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BRIEF—Key appointments at Denmark’s Acesion Pharma

Danish drugmaker Acesion Pharma, which is focused on novel treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF), has…



  • Acesion Pharma/Boardroom/Cardio-vascular/Denmark/Management/Pharmaceutical

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FDA approval for Farxiga in new indication in heart failure patients

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) has been approved in the US to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death and…



  • AstraZeneca/Cardio-vascular/Diabetes/Farxiga/Focus On/Glucosides/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/SGLT2 inhibitors/UK/US FDA/USA

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Stockpiling spurs sales at Novo Nordisk in first quarter

Pandemic-based stockpiling among people with diabetes helped lift revenues beyond analysts’ expectations…



  • Biotechnology/Denmark/Diabetes/Financial/Management/Novo Nordisk/Ozempic/Research/Rybelsus/Tresiba/USA/Victoza

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Alexion exceeds earnings estimates but drops guidance

US drugmaker Alexion Pharmaceuticals fared better in its revenue and adjusted earnings figures in the…



  • Alexion Pharmaceuticals/Autoimmune Disorders/Biotechnology/Financial/Immunologicals/Management/Rare diseases/Soliris/Strensiq/Ultomiris/USA

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Bristol-Myers' CAR-T cell therapy meets with FDA delay

The submission of additional information, upon the request of the US regulator, has delayed the action…



  • Biotechnology/Bristol-Myers Squibb/Focus On/Immuno-oncology/lisocabtagene maraleucel/Regulation/Research/US FDA/USA

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BRIEF—Merck invests in AI chip start-up SynSense

Germany’s science and technology company Merck KGaA today announced its investment in SynSense (formerly…



  • China/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Digital Pharma/Germany/Merck KGaA/Pharmaceutical/Switzerland/SynSense

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Otezla’s impact shown in milder psoriasis

Amgen’s Otezla (apremilast), a drug divested by Celgene ahead of its acquisition by Bristol-Myers Squibb,…



  • Amgen/Biotechnology/Dermatologicals/Drug Trial/Inflammatory diseases/Otezla/Research/USA

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Bausch + Lomb licenses Stada and Xbrane’s Lucentis biosimilar

Eye health specialist Bausch + Lomb, part Bausch Health Companies, has entered into an exclusive licensing…



  • Bausch & Lomb/Bausch Health Companies/Biosimilars/Canada/Deals/Germany/Licensing/Lucentis/Ophthalmics/STADA Arzneimittel/Sweden/USA/Xbrane Biopharma AB/Xlucane

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Bausch Health and partners settle Xifaxan IP litigation

Canada-based Bausch Health Companies, along with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Salix Pharmaceuticals and…



  • Alfasigma/Bausch Health Companies Inc./Canada/Deals/Legal/Licensing/Nephrology and Hepatology/Patents & Trademarks/Pharmaceutical/Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd/Sandoz/Switzerland/USA/Xifaxan

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An important option in the fight against antimicrobial resistance

Positive Phase III data for Recarbrio (imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam) have been announced by New Jersey,…



  • Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Biotechnology/Drug Trial/Merck & Co/Recarbrio/Regulation/Research/US FDA/USA

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Global pharma and biotech’s fight against COVID-19: an investment perspective

Mark Brewer, who heads up the life sciences team at UK broker and M&A advisory company, finnCap, gives…



  • 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

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Assessing the long-term impact of COVID-19 on clinical research

The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many life sciences companies due to a…



  • Anti-virals/Cell and Gene Therapy/Coronavirus/CRA/Feature/Focus On/Global/In Depth/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/Research/Vaccines

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Checkpoint blocker plus chemo shows impact in lung cancer

A multi-year collaboration between China’s Innovent Biologics and USA-based Eli Lilly is bearing fruit,…



  • Biotechnology/China/Drug Trial/Eli Lilly & Company/Gemzar/Immuno-oncology/Innovent Biologics/Research/Tyvyt/USA

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BRIEF—GSK completes sale of nutrition brands for £3.4 billion

GlaxoSmithKline has completed divestment of its Horlicks and other Consumer Healthcare nutrition products…



  • Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Deals/Financial/GlaxoSmithKline/India/Pharmaceutical/UK

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First targeted therapy for aggressive form of lung cancer approved by FDA

Late Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration said it has granted accelerated approved for Tabrecta…



  • Biotechnology/capmatinib/Focus On/Incyte Corp/Medical Devices and Diagnostics/Novartis/Oncology/Rare diseases/Regulation/Research/Switzerland/Tabrecta/USA

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PTC Therapeutics to acquire Censa Pharmaceutical

In another strategic M&A deal announced so far this month, PTC Therapeutics has entered into an agreement…



  • Biotechnology/Censa Pharmaceuticals/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Metabolics/PTC Therapeutics/Rare diseases/sepiapterin/USA

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Mediolanum buys French I-O company

Privately-held Italian pharma group Mediolanum Farmaceutici has acquired the French immuno-oncology specialist…



  • Biotechnology/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Elsalys Biotech/France/Immuno-oncology/Italy/Leukotac/Mediolanum/Oncology

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Novel ADC continues on path to blockbuster status

Tokyo’s Daiichi Sankyo has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for trastuzumab deruxtecan…



  • Asia Pacific/AstraZeneca/Biotechnology/Daiichi Sankyo/Enhertu/Focus On/Japan/Oncology/Regulation/Research/trastuzumab deruxtecan/UK

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Growth forecast for drug delivery systems market

COVID-19 is having varying effects on different markets within healthcare, with drug delivery systems…



  • Anti-virals/Antibiotics and Infectious diseases/Asia Pacific/Biotechnology/Coronavirus/Drug delivery systems/Focus On/Healthcare/Markets & Marketing/Oncology/USA

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Dr Reddy's gets FDA nod for migraine drug Elyxyb

Shares of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories rose more than 2% to 3,936.35 rupees, after the Indian drugmaker…



  • Analgesia/celecoxib/Dr Reddy's Laboratories/Elyxyb/Focus On/India/Migraine/Neurological/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/US FDA/USA

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Teva soars as 1st-qtr beats expectations

Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020,…



  • Ajovy/Analgesia/Austedo/Copaxone/Financial/Generics/Israel/Musculoskeletal/Rare diseases/Teva Pharmaceutical Industries/Treanda

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B-MS’ quarterly financials exceed estimates

US pharma major Bristol-Myers Squibb saw its revenue reach $10.8 billion in the first quarter of 2020,…



  • Bristol-Myers Squibb/Cardio-vascular/Celgene/Eliquis/Financial/Hematology/Immuno-oncology/Immunologicals/Management/Oncology/Opdivo/Orencia/Pharmaceutical/Pomalyst/Revlimid/USA

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BetterLife Pharma inks licensing deal for AntiCovir

Canada-based BetterLife Pharma, previously known as Pivot Pharmaceuticals, has entered into an agreement…



  • Altum Pharmaceuticals/Anti-virals/AntiCovir/BetterLife Pharma/Biotechnology/Canada/Coronavirus/Deals/Focus On/Licensing/Research

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Japan grants ‘exceptional’ approval for remdesivir in COVID-19

As had been widely expected, Gilead Sciences on Thursday announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health,…



  • Anti-virals/Asia Pacific/Coronavirus/Focus On/Gilead Sciences/Japan/Pharmaceutical/Regulation/Remdesivir/USA/Veklury

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Recordati 1st-qtr revenues rise 12% as income leaps more than 20%

Italian drugmaker Recordati has reported consolidated revenues for the first quarter of 2020 are 429.2…



  • Financial/Italy/Pharmaceutical/Recordati/Signifor

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FDA backs Retevmo for certain lung and thyroid cancers

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval for Retevmo (selpercatinib) capsules…



  • Biotechnology/Eli Lilly/Focus On/Immuno-oncology/Loxo Oncology/Oncology/Regulation/Retevmo/selpercatinib/US FDA/USA

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BRIEF—AbbVie finally completes acquisition of Allergan

US pharma major AbbVie has finally completed its $63 billion acquisition of Ireland-incorporated Allergan,…



  • AbbVie/Allergan/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Ireland/Legal/Pharmaceutical/USA

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jCyte out-licenses rare vision disorder treatment for $252 million

US biotech firm jCyte Inc has entered into a licensing agreement with Japanese ophthalmology specialist…



  • Biotechnology/Deals/Japan/jCell/jCyte Inc/Licensing/Ophthalmics/Rare diseases/Santen/USA/Vision disorder

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Gilead in talks to expand COVID-19 hopeful remdesivir supply chains with outside partner

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. 




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AbbVie CEO: Don't worry, Allergan's aesthetics clients still have money—and 'strong desire' for treatment

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.




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Gilead's remdesivir scores emergency FDA nod in COVID-19 days after big data reveal

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.




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Novartis taps real-life Cosentyx patients to thank healthcare workers, pledge patient support

Novartis is using familiar faces—real patients from its Cosentyx TV commercials—to thank healthcare workers and promise support for patients. It’s a shift away from product-centered TV ads as Novartis adjusts its Cosentyx DTC effort during the COVID-19 crisis to highlight resources for patients, the drugmaker said.




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With the world waiting, Roche socks $459M into COVID-19 antibody test production

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. 




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Fair price for Gilead's COVID-19 med remdesivir? $4,460, cost watchdog says

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.




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Remdesivir, check. Now, analysts are looking ahead to 'several' COVID-19 drugs to come

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.




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Seattle Genetics, Astellas' bladder cancer med Padcev blows early expectations out of the water

Even a pandemic can’t slow down Seattle Genetics and Astellas' new bladder cancer treatment Padcev, which "blew out sales expectations" for the first quarter, analysts said. And now, they're jacking up their long-term sales estimates for the drug as a result.




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AbbVie, Allergan score FTC approval for $63B merger with one final hurdle left to go

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. 




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Ousted BARDA director pushed back on chloroquine claims and faced whistleblower retaliation, complaint says

After his surprise removal from HHS’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority—a key agency partnered with pharma companies on COVID-19 drugs, vaccines and diagnostics—former Director Rick Bright is alleging whistleblower retaliation by HHS leadership. 




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AstraZeneca's Farxiga scores landmark FDA nod in heart failure patients with or without diabetes

AstraZeneca has watched superstar SGLT2 diabetes med Farxiga nail trial after trial in highly coveted kidney and heart failure indications, with the FDA expediting reviews to back them up. The one thing AstraZeneca was missing? The agency taking Farxiga across the finish line. 




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Fresenius Kabi recalls anti-inflammation drug Ketorolac after finding particles in vials

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.




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Amgen ramps up Otezla expansion effort with positive data in mild psoriasis

Amgen is planning to file for FDA approval of Otezla in mild to moderate plaque psoriasis based on new data showing patients on the drug experienced significant improvements in their symptoms. The label expansion will be key to Amgen's ability to recoup the $13.4 billion it paid to acquire the drug from Celgene last year.




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Pfizer tags 3 U.S. manufacturing sites for possible COVID-19 vaccine launch

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.




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Teva generics benefit from COVID-19 bump––but the boom may not last

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.