Merck makes $30M bet in brain cancer

Today’s Big News

Oct 23, 2024

Novo Nordisk asks FDA to prevent compounders from making copycat versions of semaglutide


Roche culls cough candidate, pivots KRAS program after revaluing entire pipeline


Merck sets sights on brain cancer with $30M Modifi acquisition


Roche CEO says Novo's Catalent buyout 'could be a problem' for smaller drugmakers


Anyone with lungs can get cancer, warns hard-hitting new campaign backed by Big Pharma giants

 

Featured

Novo Nordisk asks FDA to prevent compounders from making copycat versions of GLP-1 star semaglutide

Novo Nordisk has asked the FDA to prevent compounders from manufacturing copycat versions of its juggernaut diabetes and obesity treatments Ozempic and Wegovy, claiming the drugs are too complex to safely replicate.
 

Top Stories

Roche culls cough candidate, pivots KRAS program after revaluing entire pipeline

Roche’s chronic cough program has sputtered to a halt. The drugmaker, which axed the program after the drug candidate disappointed in phase 2, disclosed the setback as part of a wider pullback from prospects that fell short of the bar for further development.

Merck sets sights on brain cancer with $30M Modifi acquisition

Merck & Co. is putting down $30 million cash to buy Yale spinout Modifi Biosciences, a deal that includes a preclinical asset designed to take on the tough-to-treat brain cancer glioblastoma.

Roche CEO says Novo's Catalent buyout 'could be a problem' for smaller drugmakers

While Novo Holdings and Catalent continue to voice confidence that their planned $16.5 billion merger will go through before the year is out, the deal has received near-constant criticism over the past several weeks. Now, a new complaint has surfaced—not from lawmakers or consumer groups but a major pharma CEO.

Anyone with lungs can get cancer, warns hard-hitting new campaign backed by Big Pharma giants

As we head towards Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November disease healthcare organization LUNGevity Foundation is launching a new awareness campaign with backing from major lung cancer drug players.

Boston Scientific posts 177% EP growth, pauses Farapulse study in first-line afib

Boston Scientific is keeping the ball rolling in pulsed field ablation, with sales ahead of projections and global expansions on the horizon. But the company also paused a study exploring Farapulse as a first-line afib therapy.

Amgen pledges to launch Eylea biosim after legal win—but Regeneron stresses the fight's not over yet

Amgen is preparing to launch its Eylea biosimilar, Pavblu, after another victory over Regeneron in court. That said, Regeneron is appealing the decision and stressed that it continues to believe Amgen's copycat infringes multiple Eylea patents.

Savara sponsors Lifetime talk show episode about rare respiratory disease ahead of FDA submission

As it prepares to submit its molgramostim inhalation solution for FDA approval to treat autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, Savara is laying some groundwork in raising awareness of the rare disease.

Alto’s midphase depression trial falls flat, raising doubts about pitch to disrupt neuropsychiatry R&D

Alto Neuroscience hit a bum note in an early test of its precision neuropsychiatry model. A phase 2b trial of Alto’s lead drug candidate in depression missed its primary and key secondary endpoints, prompting investors to wipe 60% off the biotech’s share price.

Ogilvy Health names former Avalere exec Mario Muredda CEO as Kim Johnson hits the exit

There’s change at the top of Ogilvy Health. Kim Johnson is leaving to pursue new opportunities after three years as CEO, driving Ogilvy Health to hire Mario Muredda from Avalere Health to fill the vacancy.

Alpha-9 raises $175M series C to bankroll clinical-stage radiopharma pipeline

Alpha-9 Oncology has raised a $175M series C to fund its clinical-stage radiopharma drugs, although the exact details of the biotech’s pipeline remain hazy for now.

Red light, green light: England's NICE not sold on Lilly's Kisunla despite UK approval

Lilly's Alzheimer's treatment fell to the same fate as Biogen and Eisai's rival Leqembi in the U.K., with the region's cost watchdog declining to support reimbursement through its National Health Service.

ICR unites Westwicke and Consilium units under single healthcare brand

ICR has united the fruits of its acquisition-driven push into healthcare under a single brand. Around one year after closing the second of two key acquisitions, the communications firm has brought its assets together to create ICR Healthcare.
 
Fierce podcasts

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'The Top Line': Where are they now? Catching up with past Fierce 15 honorees

In this week’s episode of “The Top Line,” we catch up with three past Fierce 15 honorees to gain their insights, experiences and visions for the evolving biotech landscape.

 

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