AstraZeneca Plc expects to return to growth in 2018 as new oncology, diabetes and cardiovascular products boost group sales, offsetting the loss of market share for the statin Crestor which faces generic competition in Europe and Japan.
AstraZeneca Plc’s antibody drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Fasenra (benralizumab), has failed to meet its primary endpoint in the first of two Phase 3 trials of patients with the disease.
H. Lundbeck A/S recorded double-digit growth for its portfolio of new drugs for depression and schizophrenia in the first quarter, offsetting the loss of sales arising from generic competition. Group revenue for the quarter was DKK 4.6 billion (€615.4 million), up by 9% from a year earlier.
An unusual combination of events drove revenue at Genmab A/S up by DKK 430 million to DKK 681 million (€91.4 million) in the first quarter, for an increase of 171% compared with a year earlier. Operating income consequently rose to DKK 324 million from DKK 46 million the previous year.
The US Food and Drug Administration has requested permanent injunctions against stem cell clinics in two regions of the country to prevent them from administering unapproved stem cell treatments to patients with cancer and other diseases. The move comes nearly 10 months after it issued warning letters to the clinics.
A Phase 3 trial evaluating a combination of the checkpoint antibody Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and the kinase inhibitor Cotellic (cobimetinib) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer failed to meet its primary endpoint of overall survival, Roche announced on 10 May.
Evotec AG ended the first quarter confidently predicting that it will achieve double-digit revenue and profit growth this year largely due to the expansion of its global business following the acquisition of Aptuit LLC in 2017.
Abcam Plc has decided not to pursue a proposed offer for Horizon Discovery Group Plc having been rebuffed by the gene-editing company, which is based in Cambridge, UK. Abcam is a pharmaceutical services company, also based in Cambridge.
InflaRx NV of Germany has raised a net $57.1 million from a primary and secondary offering of its shares on Nasdaq to support its portfolio of drugs for inflammatory diseases that target the complement system, a component of the innate immune system.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd has won the agreement of Shire Plc to a takeover that values the Ireland-based company at $62 billion and will potentially strengthen Takeda’s position in the US. Although headquartered in Dublin, Shire generates most of its business from the US.