Pfizer enters the Lyme light
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Today's Rundown

Featured Story

Hot on Alnylam’s heels, AstraZeneca racks up phase 3 win for Ionis-partnered rare disease drug

AstraZeneca’s $200 million bet on Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ rare disease drug has delivered an early win. A phase 3 trial of eplontersen in hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy hit the mark at an interim analysis, teeing AstraZeneca to make an approval filing that will keep it hot on the heels of Alnylam.

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Top Stories

Axcella's CEO knows people are tired of the pandemic. But long COVID patients need help, too

Visiting Washington, D.C., last week, Axcella CEO Bill Hinshaw is trying to enlist congressional allies to help with long COVID. He’s the first to admit that it’s not an easy sell.

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Lyme-light: Pfizer triggers surge in Valneva’s stock with €91M investment to support phase 3 vaccine trial

Pfizer is throwing its weight behind Valneva to support late-phase development of a Lyme disease vaccine candidate, agreeing to invest $95.6 million as part of a revised deal that triggered an 81% surge in its partner’s share price.

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Merck's next-gen pneumococcal vaccine slated for July phase 3 after two-part win

One of Merck’s next-generation pneumococcal vaccines has sailed through a mid-stage trial and is being readied for a late-stage study next month. V116—one of three pneumococcal vaccines in Merck’s clinical pipeline—targets serotypes that account for 85% of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease among individuals aged 65 and over in the U.S.

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Carbon Biosciences exits stealth with $38M, unveils cystic fibrosis gene therapy candidate

Carbon Biosciences has emerged from stealth mode with $38 million in series A funds to push its cystic fibrosis candidate into the clinic and build out its gene therapy platform.

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In new executive order, Biden seeks to protect LGBTQ+ access to affirming care, expand provider training

The order condemned conversion therapy and called on the expansion of access to care, suicide prevention and crisis support services.

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Decentralized trials an agile solution for cancer R&D, says Science 37

Many of the 10,000-plus cancer drug studies expected to start over the next few years will be hybrid or decentralized, according to Science 37. The North Carolina trial tech firm made the prediction this week citing a survey of industry executives, 73% of whom plan to execute a site-less or hybrid cancer trial in the next 12 months.

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Big Pharmas lose out at Cannes Lions as VMLY&R sweeps health categories with campaigns for Dell and Maxx Flash

Marketing and comms agency VMLY&R won top prizes across the two major healthcare divisions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2022 Monday night for its work with Dell, Intel and Rolls-Royce as well as Maxx Flash mosquito repellent coils.

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Proofpilot, Greater Gift team on research diversity initiative

Clinical trial software firm Proofpilot has teamed with Greater Gift, a non-profit that aims to raise awareness about drug research, to encourage both patient diversity and diversity of ideas in studies.

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More drug, fewer jabs: Novartis' Sandoz eyes EMA nod for high-concentration Humira copy

Novartis’ Sandoz is pushing to wipe out an advantage AbbVie’s Humira enjoys over its biosimilar rival in the EU, securing regulatory acceptance of a filing for a high-concentration formulation of the autoimmune treatment.

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AstraZeneca to build production facility in China for COPD inhaler Breztri

AstraZeneca plans to build a manufacturing facility in Qingdau, China, to produce its Breztri aerosol inhalant COPD treatment, which was recently added to the country’s National Reimbursement Drug List.

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GSK opens doors at $110M biologics smart factory in UK

GSK has cut the ribbon at its new aseptic smart manufacturing plant in Barnard Castle, England, local news outlet Business Live reported Tuesday. Bankrolled by a £90 million ($110.45 million) investment, the facility—dubbed Q Block—will add another fixture to one of GSK’s biggest U.K. manufacturing sites, the publication said.

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Resources

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Whitepaper: Intranasal Drug Product Development: Formulation to Manufacturing

What are key considerations for intranasal delivery in the treatment of acute and chronic conditions?

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