Accurins developer BIND Therapeutics recently announced that it has extended its collaboration with Pfizer. The companies announced an extension of the terms of their global collaboration to create Accurins that optimize the therapeutic potential of two molecularly targeted oncology drugs in Pfizer’s pipeline. The companies’ original collaboration, worth up to …
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Astellas and MD Anderson Sign Option Agreement for AML Drug
Tokyo-based Astellas announced that it has entered into an option agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The companies said that they have signed an option agreement to research and develop a new treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The deal grants Astellas an option …
Read More »Caribou Biosciences Raises $11 Million to Advance its CRISPR-Cas9 Technology
California-based Caribou Biosciences, one of the upstart leaders in developing CRISPR-Cas9 technologies for precision cell engineering, has closed an $11 million Series A financing round. The group of investors include pharma giant Novartis, Fidelity Biosciences, Mission Bay Capital, 5 Prime Ventures and an undisclosed strategic partner. Additionally, Dr. Jennifer Doudna, …
Read More »CMS Issues Guidance on Biosimilar Reimbursement and Formulary Policies
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued documents with guidance on reimbursement and formulary policies for biosimilars. The company issued documents on reimbursement of biosimilars that will remove the benefit from physicians to prescribe higher cost, branded innovator products over biosimilars. Typically, Part B physician-administered drugs are reimbursed …
Read More »Report Forecasts Trends for the World Market of Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies through 2025
The overall world biosimilars monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) market is anticipated to rise substantially over the next decade, reaching multibillion dollar annual revenue, according to a new report from Visiongain. With patents for many blockbuster biological drugs expiring, pharmaceutical companies are investing in the development of biosimilars. While biosimilars have been …
Read More »OncoMed to Investigate the Combination of its Experimental Cancer Drug with Lilly’s Alimta in Lung Cancer
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has teamed up with Eli Lilly and Company to test a combination of the companies’ drugs for treatment of lung cancer. The companies announced that they have entered into an agreement, under which OncoMed’s anti-DLL4 antibody, demcizumab, is being tested in combination with Lilly’s lung cancer drug, …
Read More »Catamaran Report Finds Drug Inflation and Increased Specialty Utilization Drives Increase in Drug Trend
Increased specialty utilization and drug inflation were the driving factors for overall drug trend more than doubling in 2014, according to a new report. Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Catamaran Corp. today released its annual Informed Trends report for 2014. Overall commercial drug trend was 5.7 percent in 2014, more than …
Read More »Registration Open for Biosimilars 20/20: The Next Five Years
TAMPA, FL, April 1, 2015 – The Specialty Pharma Education Center (SPEC) and Specialty Pharma Journal (SPJ) today announced that registration is now open for Biosimilars 20/20, scheduled for June 3-4, 2015 at The Hub in Philadelphia, PA. Biosimilars 20/20 promises to provide an in-depth look into the future of the …
Read More »Study Finds New Expensive Hepatitis C Drugs Are Only Cost-Effective for Certain Patients
A study, led by Boston Medical Center (BMC) researchers, assessed the cost-effectiveness of expensive new hepatitis C drugs and found that while they are highly effective, they are cost-effective and provide the greatest value in a specific groups of patients with hepatitis C. Findings from the study, led by Benjamin …
Read More »Merck Teams Up with Syndax to Test Cancer Combination Regimen
Merck has teamed up with privately-held Syndax Pharmaceuticals to test combining Syndax’s investigational epigenetic therapy, entinostat, with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in cancer patients. The companies announced that they have entered into a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel combination regimen in patients …
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