Netherlands-based Pharming Group NV has achieved positive results for its protease inhibitor replacement therapy Ruconest for the prevention of hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare disorder caused by a deficiency of the C1 esterase inhibitor protein.
AstraZeneca Plc has received further evidence that its new personalised medicine for lung cancer is effective in patients with a specific genetic mutation. New Phase 3 data show that Tagrisso (osimertinib) increased progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy.
A Phase 3 study of the Roche therapy Gazyva (obinutuzumab) in patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma failed to meet its primary endpoint, even though two previous studies of the same drug in different blood cancers succeeded.
Mesoblast Ltd is to do an early interim analysis of a Phase 3 trial of its cell therapy for heart failure in order to take a strategic view of the programme’s future. The analysis will take place in the first quarter of 2017, the Australian company announced on 1 July.
The US Food and Drug Administration has put a clinical hold on a Phase 2 trial of a new immunotherapy developed by Juno Therapeutics Inc after two patients died in early July. A third patient had previously died at the end of May.
Ablynx NV said that its experimental compound for rheumatoid arthritis, vobarilizumab, was very effective with less frequent administration than tocilizumab when tested as a monotherapy in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.
A pioneering cell therapy designed to treat patients with congestive heart failure did not meet its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 European trial. But the developer, Celyad SA, said a subgroup did show statistical significance.
Researchers from the University of Aberdeen have called attention to a possible new link between Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes in a study published in the journal Diabetologia.
The share price of Circassia Pharmaceuticals Plc fell by 64.85% to 95 pence in mid-morning trading on 20 June following the announcement that its phase-3 trial of its cat allergy drug failed to meet its primary endpoint.
The European Medicines Agency has launched a review of guidelines for the testing of new medicines in volunteers following the death of one person and the hospitalisation of five others in France in January. The case is the most serious incident to come to light since 2006 when an experimental immunotherapy seriously injured six volunteers in a first-in-human study the UK.