J&J takes $130M hit for R&D shuffle

Today's Big News

Apr 18, 2023

GSK coughs up $2B to buy Bellus for late-phase rival to Merck & Co.'s stuttering gefapixant


Big Pharmas finally strike with GSK, Merck acquisitions, signaling accelerating pace of M&A


J&J records $130M restructuring expense in Q1 overhaul of infectious disease unit


AACR: Lilly challenges Amgen, Mirati with early KRAS data, heading for a field 'much less crowded than it seems'


J&J bullish on immunology, oncology programs filling infectious disease vacuum


AACR: Kinnate ends cancer data wait but fails to captivate investors


2 embattled biotechs fight to survive as cash, options run dry


After lupus setback, Nektar sticks with immunology but lays off 60% of hometown workforce


AACR: Affimed changes path after hitting middle of the road for lymphoma therapy

 

Featured

GSK coughs up $2B to buy Bellus for late-phase rival to Merck & Co.'s stuttering gefapixant

Merck & Co. has a new challenger for the chronic cough market: GSK. The British Big Pharma is set to pay $2 billion to buy Bellus Health, securing a late-phase rival to Merck’s stuttering gefapixant program and completing a remarkable, 16-year turnaround for the biotech.
 

Top Stories

Big Pharmas finally strike with GSK, Merck acquisitions, signaling accelerating pace of M&A

After circling around the crop of biotechs ripe for a takeover, Big Pharma companies have finally decided to strike. Merck & Co. made the first jab for Prometheus Biosciences on Sunday, then GSK struck Tuesday.

J&J records $130M restructuring expense in Q1 overhaul of infectious disease unit

The overhaul of Johnson & Johnson’s infectious disease work, which includes the end of its adult RSV vaccine program, has resulted in expenses of $130 million for the first quarter.

Minimizing Barriers to eConsent Adoption

Michael Hughes, Chief Product Officer at YPrime discusses the benefits and challenges of eConsent implementation and how to circumvent the biggest barriers to adoption.

AACR: Lilly challenges Amgen, Mirati with early KRAS data, heading for a field 'much less crowded than it seems'

KRAS inhibitors arrived on the market in May 2021 and December 2022 to much fanfare—but if you ask Eli Lilly’s Loxo unit, the therapies have left much to be desired.

J&J bullish on immunology, oncology programs filling infectious disease vacuum

J&J is bullish on its pharmaceutical plans after reporting $130 million in restructuring costs in the first quarter due to an overhaul of its infectious disease division. The company believes that progress in both immunology and oncology programs provides a sturdy foundation to build on.

AACR: Kinnate ends cancer data wait but fails to captivate investors

The long wait for clinical data on Kinnate Biopharma’s pan-RAF inhibitors is over—and investors see little to get excited about.

2 embattled biotechs fight to survive as cash, options run dry

As difficult market conditions continue, two European-based biotechs are slashing costs and seeking ways to stay afloat as the end of the road nears.

After lupus setback, Nektar sticks with immunology but lays off 60% of hometown workforce

Almost exactly a year after Nektar Therapeutics jettisoned 70% of its staff, the biotech is now contracting again. This time, 60% of its San Francisco-based workforce are being laid off as part of a reorganization that will also see the C-suite rejigged and the company focus on immunology.

AACR: Affimed changes path after hitting middle of the road for lymphoma therapy

The pressure to perform is building for Affimed as its investigational lymphoma treatment fails to beat current standard-of-care treatments, prompting the German biotech to pursue a new path for its lead asset.

The top 20 pharma companies by 2022 revenue

2022 was all about a return to normalcy from the COVID-19 pandemic. While a few companies continued to reap huge profits from COVID products, others benefited from a return to business as usual operations. It was a tough year for the global economy, but biopharma showed its resilience with all but a few recording revenue gains.

Bear-ly a clot in sight: Potential thrombosis drug target identified thanks to hibernating bears

A research team has used the blood of hibernating bears to discover how waxing and waning levels of a protein protect against venous thromboembolism.

HIMSS23: Philips, Intermountain executives call for tech partnerships focused on thoughtful innovation to address burnout

CHICAGO—Soon after announcing a partnership with Amazon Web Services at HIMSS 2023 on Monday, Royal Philips CEO Roy Jakobs joined other health execs to speak on the importance of strategic innovation.

J&J's unstoppable profit engine sputters after $6.9B talc litigation charge

A $6.9 billion charge tied to J&J’s talc defense spurred a net earnings loss of $68 million in 2023’s first quarter, the company reported Tuesday. J&J is currently defending itself against tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming its talc-based products cause cancer.

New test detects Parkinson's biomarker before movement symptoms start

A nearly-decade-long study sponsored by actor Michael J. Fox's foundation has resulted in an assay that could pave the way for early intervention in Parkinson's disease—and maybe even new drugs that can prevent the disease.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don't miss an episode

'The Top Line': Which biotechs scored big VC dollars in 2022?

This week on "The Top Line," we talk about biotech’s top money raisers in 2022. We also cover J&J's talc litigation, prison plans for Elizabeth Holmes and more of this week's top headlines.

 

Resources

Research

Sustaining media quality from prototyping to GMP manufacturing

Read the results of a two-phase scale-up strategy used to help decrease risk and ensure consistency in complex dry powder media formulations produced within customers’ specifications and timelines.
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eConsent: Flexible Consent Through Enabling Technologies

How can eConsent provide a more flexible approach to informed consent?

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The Hematopoietic Colony Forming Cell (CFC) Assay for Drug Safety and Toxicity

The preclinical hematotoxicity screening method that helps clients eliminate bad players earlier in the drug development process

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Accessing and Analyzing Relevant Content in Today’s Information Chaos – R&D Challenges and Opportunities

We’ve identified four must-have tools to manage today’s scientific information chaos. How many are you utilizing?

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Blueprint for Commercializing Cell and Gene Therapies

How advanced medicines commercial readiness differs and the resources needed to maximize potential.

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Coming to America: Keys to Success for ex-US Digital Health Companies Entering the US Market

This paper outlines an approach that digital health / therapeutics companies can use when developing a go-to-market strategy for the complex US market.
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Plan for scalable process liquid and buffer preparation

Preparation of critical process liquids and buffer components shifts resources away from core activities and can be filled with inefficiencies and risks that can increase time and costs across your workflow. Learn about the framework to help reduce your total costs beyond capital and operational expenditures and set a solid foundation for successful scale-up of buffer preparation.

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Running Decentralized Trials at Scale

Explore how clinical supply can be scaled up as decentralized programs progress, and how technological solutions can accelerate trial deployment.
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Key Clinical Supply Issues Sponsors Should Consider with their CRO

As sponsors increasingly look to CROs to support their clinical studies, making and addressing certain clinical supply considerations at the outset of the relationship can reduce the risk of potentially unforeseen impact to budget and time later. Discover key issues sponsors should consider to help their CRO or partner of choice better understand their clinical supply needs.

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Specialized Expertise for Management of Clinical Supply Budgets

For sponsors, cost is a key concern when it comes to managing the supply of their clinical trials. A financial project analyst (FPA) is a specialized expert who can help control clinical supply costs and keep the project within budget. Explore the critical role that a Financial Project Analyst plays in clinical trial supply and budget management.
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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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Designing an Optimal APAC Clinical Supply Chain

Discover key considerations that every trial sponsor should know when navigating the complex clinical supply distribution landscape across Asia-Pacific.
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Roles and Responsibilities of Specialized Clinical Supply Experts

How can specialized expertise help you optimize your clinical supply chain? Learn about the roles and responsibilities of unique experts such as clinical supply management, project management, and financial project analysis.
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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.
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Questions You Need to Ask Your CRO About Clinical Supply

Planning on using a CRO to support your next clinical study? This infographic outlines critical areas to address at the start of the relationship in order to ensure that budget and timelines keep on track for the duration of the trial.
 

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