Down syndrome patients left out of Alzheimer’s advances

This Week

Mar 3, 2023

FDA advisers support efficacy and safety of GSK's RSV vaccine with more confidence than Pfizer rival 


Bankrupt Akorn Pharma calls it quits and closes all US sites, laying off entire workforce 


Pfizer's RSV vaccine wins support of FDA panel despite lingering safety and efficacy questions 


Alzheimer's meds are here. But for the Down syndrome community, it's still the 1980s 


Moderna pays US government $400M 'catch-up payment' under new COVID-19 vaccine license 


Apple's long-desired glucose tracking is reportedly at proof-of-concept stage: Bloomberg 


Acquisitive Pfizer to strike again? Seagen back in M&A talks after Merck walked away: WSJ 


'The Top Line': The surprising multibillion-dollar medtech megadeals

 

Featured

FDA advisers support efficacy and safety of GSK's RSV vaccine with more confidence than Pfizer rival

FDA advisers endorsed the safety and efficacy of GSK's respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in older adults. But advisers expressed concerns with some safety signals and the lack of long-term data.
 

Top Stories

Bankrupt Akorn Pharma calls it quits and closes all US sites, laying off entire workforce

It's the end of a rocky road for Akorn. After years of financial problems, the drugmaker has laid off all of its employees, according to reports.

Pfizer's RSV vaccine wins support of FDA panel despite lingering safety and efficacy questions

Though safety signals and study design vexed FDA expert advisers, Pfizer’s vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Abrysvo, ultimately won over the group. The question of the day? Whether the safety and efficacy of the shot merits an approval to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in older adults.

Alzheimer's meds are here. But for the Down syndrome community, it's still the 1980s

Thirty years ago, the Down syndrome community helped scientists uncover critical learnings about the genetic basis of Alzheimer’s disease. Now in 2023, these patients still don't have access to emerging treatments.

Moderna pays US government $400M 'catch-up payment' under new COVID-19 vaccine license

Moderna and the U.S. government are putting one patent dispute to bed. Under a licensing deal inked late last year, the mRNA specialist recently paid a $400 million "catch-up payment."

Apple's long-desired glucose tracking is reportedly at proof-of-concept stage: Bloomberg

For much of the last decade, rumors swirling around Silicon Valley have suggested that Apple is aiming to one day bring completely noninvasive glucose tracking to its eponymous smartwatch.

Acquisitive Pfizer to strike again? Seagen back in M&A talks after Merck walked away: WSJ

A potential buyout of Seagen by Pfizer—which was reported Sunday by The Wall Street Journal—makes “strategic sense for both parties and the antitrust hurdle appears surmountable,” Berenberg Capital Markets wrote in a note to investors.

'The Top Line': The surprising multibillion-dollar medtech megadeals

This week on "The Top Line," we discuss 2022's M&A trends in the medtech sector and the surprising multibillion-dollar megadeals. We also cover the top headlines from this week.

Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche most mature pharmas on social media (but still room for improvement): report

Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche are the most mature pharmas on social media, though there are still areas in which the companies can do better.

After spending $6.5B for Momenta, J&J readies 'pipeline in a product' for pivotal year

With over 10 indications already being explored and the promise of more to come, it’s no surprise that Johnson & Johnson’s nipocalimab has been dubbed a “pipeline in a product.” It's a good thing, too, because the monoclonal antibody didn't come cheap. 

Sanofi, poised to rival Roche in hemophilia, nabs FDA approval for Altuviiio

Sanofi and partner Sobi are coming back to the hemophilia A market with a vengeance after Roche’s Hemlibra ate up sales of their aging Eloctate. The duo expects the once-weekly Altuviiio to be commercially available in April.

Dunn with the FDA: Head of agency's neuroscience unit to depart

Billy Dunn is leaving his post leading the FDA’s neuroscience team, leaving behind an 18-year legacy that in recent years has included the controversial accelerated approval of Biogen’s Alzheimer’s med, Aduhelm. 

Novartis halts Pluvicto new patient starts, struggles with radiotherapy's supply amid manufacturing expansion

Novartis has been experiencing challenges meeting the demand for Pluvicto. And as demand climbs, the company has decided to pause accepting new patients until it has “more clarity on the FDA’s approval” of a manufacturing site in New Jersey.

Medtronic pads the case for MiniMed closed-loop system with one-year data, study of automated meal-detection app

Nearly two years after submitting its MiniMed 780G insulin delivery system to the FDA for clearance, Medtronic is still awaiting the agency’s nod—though not for a lack of evidence to back the technology.

FDA flags Guillain-Barré risks for GSK, Pfizer RSV shots, but just one will need safety trial

Both Pfizer and GSK’s upcoming respiratory syncytial virus vaccines had instances of Guillain-Barré syndrome in clinical trials. And yet the FDA is only recommending that one of them conduct a new post-marketing study to assess the risk.

Sarepta's DMD gene therapy inches closer to market as FDA declines to hold advisory meeting

The FDA won’t be holding an advisory panel meeting for Sarepta Therapeutics’ SRP-9001, which is now that much closer to becoming the first gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Clario and startup ArtiQ partner to improve use of data in respiratory trials

Health tech firm Clario is linking with tech start-up ArtiQ with the aim of leveraging AI for improved patient benefits and solidifying the certainty of data collection in respiratory trials that require spirometry data.
 
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'The Top Line': Surprising multibillion-dollar medtech M&A deals

This week on "The Top Line," we discuss 2022's M&A trends in the medtech sector and the surprising multibillion-dollar megadeals. We also cover the top headlines from this week.

 

Resources

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Answering your specific questions about mRNA/saRNA manufacturing

Have you had your questions about mRNA/saRNA manufacturing unanswered during a webinar; have no fear, we have you covered here.
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US/EU Governance: The Importance of Company Culture and Proven, Real-World Solutions

This paper describes the key elements of good US/EU corporate governance for US-based biopharma companies in operating Europe.
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Proven Pharmaceutical Go-To-Market Model

Download Herspiegel Consulting’s Go-To-Market Model, based on 100+ launches, to learn the critical components, and timelines for commercial success.

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The Power of Small & Safety: Nanoplasmid™️ Vector Platform

Discover the Power of Small with NanoplasmidTM – the next-generation plasmid for manufacturing today’s cell and gene therapies.

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Learn more about critical success factors for your next launch based on the experience of 100+ pharma product launches.

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Writing the Future of Antibody Discovery Solutions

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Step-wise strategy to address process characterization and late phase development

Learn more on Catalent’s step-wise approach for the definition and execution of Process Characterization for the production of a monoclonal antibody for late phase process characterization and development.

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Clinical Supply Solutions for the Asia-Pacific Region

Learn how Catalent’s extensive network across APAC can meet a wide range of clinical supply needs for sponsors conducting trials within the region.
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A Strategy to Standardize Process Characterization & Late Phase Development

Learn more on an approach for process characterization for the production of a monoclonal antibody, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process by targeting the right design and number of experiments.

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Supply Services to Support Clinical Trials in Japan & Beyond

Explore Catalent’s newest clinical supply facility in Japan, including the comprehensive services & solutions it offers to help support trials both in-country & around the world.
Case Study

A Strategy to Standardize Process Characterization & Late Phase Development

Learn more on an approach for process characterization for the production of a monoclonal antibody, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process by targeting the right design and number of experiments.

 

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