News

Tecentriq shows PFS benefit in lung cancer

Country
Switzerland

The second arm of a Phase 3 study of the checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq (atezolizumab) in patients with advanced lung cancer has shown a progression free survival (PFS) benefit when combined with chemotherapy, according to the developer Roche.

Lundbeck builds PD franchise with Prexton acquisition

Country
Denmark

H. Lundbeck A/S is to pay €100 million upfront to buy a six-year-old biotech that is developing a small molecule drug for treating the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This will broaden its neurological franchise which includes PD.

Alzheimer’s drug has effect at higher dose

Country
Germany

An experimental drug for Alzheimer’s disease that has failed in successive trials to show efficacy, demonstrated for the first time that it can reduce amyloid beta plaques in the brain at a higher dose. Gantenerumab achieved an effect at dosing of up to 1200 mg.

MorphoSys to raise R&D spending

Country
Germany

MorphoSys AG will maintain a high level of research and development spending this year as it advances its lymphoma antibody MOR208 in the clinic with a goal of getting an expedited review of the product from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Meeting Report – Joint HTA in the European Union

Country
Netherlands

If everything goes according to plan, member states of the European Union will in future use a common methodology to decide whether a new medicine or medical device is clinically effective, relative to certain benchmarks, and therefore be considered for reimbursement. This is the scenario envisioned by the European Commission under a proposed Regulation on Health Technology Assessment, which was unveiled earlier this year.

MYSTIC trial results to be later than expected

Country
United Kingdom

AstraZeneca Plc said that final data from its Phase 3 MYSTIC trial which is testing a combination immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer, are now expected in the second half of the year, rather than in the first half.

Autolus files for potential US IPO

Country
United Kingdom

UK-based Autolus Ltd has made a submission to the US Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a potential initial public offering of its shares. As of 8 March, the timing and terms of the potential offering had not been determined.

Ipsen moves ahead in cancer

Country
France

Ipsen SA reported its best annual results so far in 2017 with consolidated revenue rising by 20.4% to €2.0 billion and operating profit gaining 30.4% to €397.2 million. The French company’s market value rose by 45.5% for the year to €8.3 billion, reflecting the strong performance.

Sanofi to transfer infectious disease research to Evotec

Country
Germany

Evotec AG is to gain rights to a group of infectious disease assets from Sanofi SA in a transaction that will see the German company become a research hub for the development of medicines for diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

Minoryx spins off asset into new Swiss company

Country
Spain

Spain-based Minoryx Therapeutics s.l. has spun out a platform technology into a new company, enabling it to focus on its lead programme MIN-102 for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, a genetic disorder affecting the nervous system.