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This Week

Sep 1, 2023

SPECIAL REPORT—Introducing Fierce Biotech's 2023 Fierce 15


AstraZeneca jumps on IRA litigation bandwagon, raises concerns over 'unintended consequences' for rare disease R&D


Novo Nordisk swallows another obesity biotech, paying $16M upfront for its preclinical partner


Drugs from J&J, Merck, Novartis, BMS and more set for first round of Medicare price negotiations: CMS


Notch Therapeutics shutters cell therapy center, seeks roles for displaced staff at other companies


After Catalent rumors, Danaher strikes $5.7B deal to acquire antibody specialist Abcam

 

Featured

Introducing Fierce Biotech's 2023 Fierce 15

This year's Fierce 15 features companies pushing the envelope not only in the lab, in the clinic or on the conference circuit.
11-14
Sep
Philadelphia, PA
 

Top Stories

AstraZeneca jumps on IRA litigation bandwagon, raises concerns over 'unintended consequences' for rare disease R&D

The company cited concerns with the law's consequences for orphan drug development. AstraZeneca becomes the sixth drugmaker to file suit against the IRA.

Novo Nordisk swallows another obesity biotech, paying $16M upfront for its preclinical partner

Novo Nordisk is continuing to seek out obesity assets, paying 15 million euros ($16 million) to snap up Embark Biotech in its second weight loss takeover in quick succession.

Drugs from J&J, Merck, Novartis, BMS and more set for first round of Medicare price negotiations: CMS

The drugs that made the cut for the first price negotiations are Johnson & Johnson’s Imbruvica, Stelara and Xarelto plus Bristol Myers Squibb’s Eliquis, Merck & Co.’s Januvia, Novartis’ Entresto, Eli Lilly’s Jardiance, AstraZeneca’s Farxiga, Novo Nordisk’s Fiasp and Amgen’s Enbrel.

Notch Therapeutics shutters cell therapy center, seeks roles for displaced staff at other companies

Notch Therapeutics is shuttering one of its three cell therapy centers—which also serves as its headquarters—and is working to find positions for its displaced staff at other companies in the industry.

After Catalent rumors, Danaher strikes $5.7B deal to acquire antibody specialist Abcam

Danaher Corporation is picking up all outstanding shares of Abcam for $24 apiece. Both companies’ boards unanimously approved the decision, Danaher and Abcam said Monday. The deal is expected to close in mid-2024.

Merck bets big on oral PCSK9 inhibitor, putting 6-year outcome study at heart of phase 3 program

Merck & Co. is betting big on its oral PCSK9 inhibitor. Buoyed by midphase results, the Big Pharma has kicked off a clutch of late-stage studies including a cardiovascular outcomes trial that will follow patients for around six years.

Bristol Myers Squibb partners with Cellares for robotic production of pipeline CAR-T drug

Right after joining a Cellares funding round, Bristol Myers Squibb plans to utilize the cell therapy manufacturer’s robotic platform. For evaluation, Cellares will perform a proof-of-concept transfer process for the manufacture of a BMS pipeline cell therapy.

AmerisourceBergen is no more as it drops its 2-decade-old merger name to become Cencora

For 22 years, pharma manufacturer and service company AmerisourceBergen has been the bane of pharma journalists with its very long-winded and bolt-on name, but, at last, our fingers can get a rest.

Combining Mirati's KRAS G12D inhibitor with immunotherapy halts pancreatic cancer in mice

New research that helps explain why KRAS mutations drive pancreatic cancer suggests that monotherapy isn’t sufficient to eliminate it—but that combining KRAS inhibitors with immunotherapy might be the key.

Cleveland Clinic spinout VisionAir, a maker of 3D-printed airway stents, acquired by Theken

Theken Companies, an Ohio-based family of medical implant makers, has found the next member of its family within the Buckeye State.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

'The Top Line': Trends at Cannes Lions, the top compensated CEOs in the industry, and the cancer drug shortage

This week on "The Top Line," we discuss the trends seen at Cannes Lions, the top compensated CEOs in the industry, and the cancer drug shortage
 

Resources

Whitepaper

Discovering High-Affinity, Functional Anti-GLP-1R Antibodies

Learn how a GPCR-focused library with a cell-based biopanning strategy led to the discovery of 13 high-affinity and selective anti-GLP-1R antibodies with highly developable therapeutic properties.
Whitepaper

Five ways to get the most from your lab and manufacturing facilities

Learn more about how you can improve the productivity of your research and manufacturing operations and accelerate the journey from laboratory to saving lives.
Whitepaper

Biotech in the UK: Mapping the Runway to Success

15 biotech executives from the Cambridge area discuss the current biotech landscape, as well as challenges, opportunities, and best practices for emerging biotech companies seeking success in the UK and beyond.
Whitepaper

Challenges of Cell Line Development: Stable Transfection

Unravel the intricacies of Cell Line Development in biotherapeutics production with our latest eBook chapter.
Whitepaper

Plan for success with your process liquid and buffer preparation

Learn how process liquids and buffers impact your total cost of ownership (TCO) and how outsourcing can revolutionize your approach, ensuring quality standards and improving productivity.
Webinar

Novel Antibodies for the Characterization of CAR-T Cells

Download this webinar to learn how to avoid pitfalls when characterizing CAR-T cells in your development workflow, how to save time by using one antibody to examine your entire panel of CARs, and more.
 

Industry Events

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The MedTech Conference

 

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