Despite downward pressure on insulin prices in the US, Novo Nordisk was able to increase group sales in the first half year of this year on the strength of its new generation insulins and Victoza, its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug for Type 2 diabetes.
A Phase 2a study of a drug developed by Galapagos NV for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has halted the progression of the disease in a randomised, placebo-controlled study. Galapagos said it is making plans for a late-stage trial.
H. Lundbeck A/S has made significant progress in improving profitability following a rolling restructuring programme that began in 2015. At 30 June, the company’s operating margin was 24.3%, up from 12.7% a year earlier. This compares with an operating loss in 2015.
While new collaborations spring up regularly among developers of antibody drugs, existing partnerships also expire.
GW Pharmaceuticals Plc expects to complete its US regulatory submission for Epidiolex, a drug for childhood epilepsy, in October. Provided the review is favourable the drug could be launched in 2018, the company said.
After securing rights to a compound developed by Innate Pharma SA in 2011, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) has expanded its investment in innate immunity with the purchase of IFM Therapeutics Inc of Boston, Massachusetts.
Shire Plc has disclosed for the first time that it is considering a possible listing for its neuroscience division which includes its revenue-generating drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A review of the franchise is underway with a decision expected by the end of the year.
With US regulatory approval of a partnered antibody product now in hand, MorphoSys AG has started to move quickly to consolidate its position as an independent drug developer.
Imbruvica (ibrutinib), a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor developed by Pharmacyclics LLC, has received a further approval in the US – this time to treat adult patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD).
Denmark’s Zealand Pharma A/S started its previously announced initial public share offering on Nasdaq in the US on 1 August with the goal of raising $86 million for the clinical development of two of its peptide therapeutics.