Sanofi, AZ face Senate scrutiny over RSV vax shortage

Today’s Big News

Nov 20, 2023

Bayer's blood thinner fails Eliquis test, sinking phase 3 trial and denting $5B sales forecast


Labcorp to lay off 239 New Jersey workers while ‘consolidating testing operations’ 


Senate Democrats press Sanofi and AZ for answers as 'unprecedented' demand spurs shortage of RSV antibody Beyfortus


UPDATE: FDA AdComm shoots down Merck's chronic cough med in 12-1 vote


Medtronic claims long-sought renal denervation approval from FDA for its Symplicity Spyral blood pressure treatment

 

Featured

Bayer's blood thinner fails Eliquis test, sinking phase 3 trial and denting $5B sales forecast

Bayer’s plans to turn asundexian into a $5.5 billion a year medicine have taken a hit. The factor XIa inhibitor had “inferior efficacy” to Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer’s Eliquis in a phase 3 trial, prompting Bayer to stop the study early while continuing to advance the asset in another indication.
 

Top Stories

Labcorp to lay off 239 New Jersey workers while ‘consolidating testing operations’

Labcorp is planning to lay off dozens of workers from a New Jersey facility by next spring, according to a recent filing with the state’s labor department in accordance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

Senate Democrats press Sanofi and AZ for answers as 'unprecedented' demand spurs shortage of RSV antibody Beyfortus

In a letter sent to Sanofi and AstraZeneca, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) lamented that the drugmakers “seem to have vastly underestimated” the amount of Beyfortus—also known nirsevimab—needed to protect young kids during this year's RSV disease season.

UPDATE: FDA AdComm shoots down Merck's chronic cough med in 12-1 vote

An FDA advisory committee has voted against approving Merck & Co.’s gefapixant, a P2X3 receptor antagonist medicine designed to treat adults with chronic cough.

Medtronic claims long-sought renal denervation approval from FDA for its Symplicity Spyral blood pressure treatment

The race is on as Medtronic claims the FDA's second green light in renal denervation this month. The company said it plans to begin the commercialization of its Symplicity Spyral system immediately as it competes with Recor Medical in what's said to be a multibillion-dollar market.

FDA pushes back decision date on BMS, 2seventy bio's Abecma in earlier line of treatment

It appears Bristol Myers Squibb’s multiple myeloma cell therapy Abecma will not end the year on a happy note. The company’s effort to gain approval for the CAR-T in an earlier line of treatment—previously set for an FDA decision on Dec. 16—will have to be pushed back pending an advisory committee meeting.

Sickle cell gene therapy process may cause cancer-linked mutations in blood stem cells

Gene therapy has the potential to dramatically benefit patients with genetic blood disorders but a small study on participants in a clinical trial for sickle cell disease suggests that a key process carried out prior to giving the treatment might cause mutations that make blood stem cells more likely to turn cancerous.

Bayer pulls batch of cancer med Vitrakvi over bacterial contamination concerns

Bayer is recalling one lot of Vitrakvi oral solution in the U.S. after routine stability testing discovered the presence of microbial contamination identified as Penicillium brevicompactum.

FDA's drug delivery device recall spree continues with Class I tag for B. Braun infusion pump

For the fourth time already this month, the FDA has issued a notice formally bestowing a Class I label—denoting a heightened risk of serious injury or death—upon a recall of yet another drug delivery device.

AstraZeneca launches new company to share digital clinical trial expertise with CROs, pharmas

AstraZeneca has launched a new company to allow CROs and fellow Big Pharmas to pay to access its tried-and-tested digital solutions for running clinical trials.
 
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