Sanofi-GSK tout omicron win
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Today's Rundown

Featured Story

Sarepta defuses concerns about Duchenne clinical hold with vow to meet FDA's request within days

Sarepta Therapeutics has successfully defused concerns about a FDA clinical hold on one of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy clinical trials. After initially plunging, the biotech’s share price stabilized when it reassured investors it could satisfy the regulator’s requests “in the next few days” and convinced analysts of the likelihood of a speedy resolution.

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Top Stories

M&A is down, but Big Pharma likely to line up 'multiple shots on goal' in 2nd half, PwC says

Deal values are down by 58% and volume has decreased by 33%, but fear not, the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry is poised for a “flurry of deals” in the second half, according to PwC.

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Beta-vax: Sanofi, GSK hail phase 3 omicron win to throw down gauntlet in COVID-19 vaccine format war

After lagging the leaders in the original COVID-19 vaccine race, Sanofi and GSK have now claimed a first in the push to protect people from omicron. The partners hailed the first successful efficacy study against omicron after their beta-specific vaccine achieved 72% protection versus the now-dominant variant.

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Galapagos says out with the old, in with the new, as respiratory drug sent back to Molecure

While Galapagos is stocking its pipeline by way of two acquisitions, the biotech is also cleaning house, sending the rights for a respiratory disease drug back to Molecure.

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FDA unveils 5-year action plan for neurodegenerative drugs, with focus on ALS

There’s an urgent need to improve and extend the lives of patients with rare neurodegenerative diseases, and the FDA is hoping a new five-year action plan, which has a specific detailed blueprint for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can help accelerate new medicines.

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BioNTech's solid tumor CAR-T hits prime time with EU regulatory tag

Just a couple months after showcasing a small data set, BioNTech’s solid tumor CAR-T cell therapy is ready for prime time. BNT211 has been granted a priority medicines, or PRIME, designation from the European Medicines Agency, giving the famed German biotech extra help during the regulatory process.

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Florence raises another $27M to fund trial software and network expansion

Florence Healthcare has raised $27 million to expand its clinical trial document management software business.

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Labcorp moves to bolster RWD offering with HealthVerity collaboration

Labcorp has partnered with real-world data tech firm HealthVerity, citing growing drug industry demand for patient insights.

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Manipulating T-cell fate to improve CAR-T therapy in solid tumors

Inhibiting a protein could boost the efficacy of CAR-T cells by letting newly activated T cells preferentially differentiate toward long-lasting memory T cells rather than the short-living effector cells, scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have shown.

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AstraZeneca launches first Evusheld DTC, but without full approval it comes with a different feel

AstraZeneca launched the first ever COVID drug DTC for its prevention antibody, Evusheld, and it’s one of the most unusual and unique commercials you will see this year.

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'The Top Line' podcast: Why we need an Alzheimer's moonshot, a controversial take on diversity in biotech, plus this week's headlines

This week on "The Top Line," we discuss why scientists say we need an Alzheimer's moonshot. We also talk about a controversial take on diversity during a panel at the BIO conference. Plus, we'll hear award-winning ads that tug at our heartstrings.

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Chutes & Ladders—Merck vet Guindo returns to the fold after Biogen marketing stint

A Biogen marketing exec is returning to his Merck & Co. roots. PathAI's co-founder is taking on a similar role at Iterative Scopes. And American Gene Technologies is tapping Ellume's U.S. president as its new chief science officer.

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Fierce Pharma Asia—Biocon bribery allegations; AstraZeneca's China investment; Shionogi's COVID pill delay

Biocon is embroiled in a bribery allegation in India around an insulin product. AstraZeneca is betting on more in China with a new manufacturing plant and a rare disease-focused innovation center. Japanese authorities have postponed a decision on Shionogi's COVID-19 pill. And more.

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Resources

Whitepaper: Medical Affairs Metamorphosis II: Medical Affairs’ Evolving Role as Insight Generator

Medical Affairs plays a critical role in generating insights to inform strategic decisions, but that role is changing. This paper explores why, and how MA teams can stay ahead of the curve.

eBook: Streamline HCP interactions management

Don’t miss these critical considerations when evaluating your HCP interactions management program.

White Paper: Jump Start for Biotech: New Lab Startup Guide

Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific The journey for starting or expanding a lab can be exhilarating, while also being challenging--learn how this free program provides savings and solutions to support your goals.

eBook: Download the Cell Therapy Handbook

Explore the new cell therapy handbook from Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Whitepaper: Gain Operational Speed and Velocity by Sharing Quality Incident Data

Quality operations guide your organization through regulatory compliance processes and safeguard your products, processes, and reputation. But your team is capable of so much more. Quality incident data and processes can be a driver of significant business value if shared with other stakeholders.

Whitepaper: Catalent Pulmonary & Nasal Delivery Capabilities Sheet

Did you know Catalent has newly expanded in-house capabilities spanning clinical and commercial scale manufacturing for DPIs, unit-dose, bi-dose and preserved multi-dose nasal sprays?

eBook: Orally Inhaled & Nasal Drug Delivery: A Pipeline of Opportunities

Orally Inhaled & Nasal Drug Delivery: A Pipeline of Opportunities

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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