Biogen Idec is teaming up with Fondazione Telethon and Ospedale San Raffaele to develop gene therapies for hemophilia A and B. The worldwide collaboration will combine San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy’s (TIGET) extensive expertise in creating new gene therapy strategies and developing them from bench to bedside with Biogen’s …
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mHealth Tools Significantly Improve Adherence Among HIV Patients
New mobile health (mHealth) tools have demonstrated effectiveness in aiding HIV patients better manage their disease through improved medication adherence. After analyzing data regarding the effectiveness in mobile pharmacy apps in helping HIV patients, mscripts and Avella Specialty Pharmacy found that HIV patients using a mobile app which provides refill …
Read More »FDA and EC Approve Novartis’ Psoriasis Drug Cosentyx
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission (EC) approved Novartis’ biologic Cosentyx (secukinumab) as a treatment for psoriasis. Today, Novartis announced that it has received FDA-approval and recently received EU approval for the drug, making it the first drug in the interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor class to …
Read More »FDA Grants Fast Track Status to Marathon’s Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Drug
Marathon Pharmaceuticals’ investigational Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) drug was granted Fast Track designation by US health regulators. The rare-disease focused biopharmaceutical company recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted fast track status for its deflazacort for treatment of patients with DMD, a fatal muscle disease found …
Read More »AbbVie’s Hepatitis C Drug Wins EC Approval
European regulators have approved AbbVie’s all-oral, interferon-free hepatitis C drug. The company announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorizations for Viekirax (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets) + Exviera (dasabuvir tablets) for treatment with genotype 1 (GT1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including those with compensated liver cirrhosis, HIV-1 …
Read More »Incyte and Agenus Partner for Development of Immuno-Oncology Products
Incyte and Agenus will partner on immuno-oncology targets in a deal worth up to $410 million. The companies announced today that they have entered into a global license, development and commercialization agreement focused on novel immuno-therapeutics using Agenus’ proprietary Retrocycle Display antibody discovery platform. According to terms of the deal, …
Read More »Biogen’s anti-LINGO-1 Demonstrates Mixed Results in Study
Biogen Idec said that its experimental multiple sclerosis (MS) drug showed signs that it could help repair nerve damage in patients’ eyes. The company announced top-line results from the Phase II acute optic neuritis (AON) RENEW trial. According to Biogen, treatment with its anti-LINGO-1 showed evidence of biological repair of …
Read More »Gilead Inks Exclusive Deal with CVS Health for Hepatitis C Drugs
Gilead Sciences Inc.’s shares were up more than two percent Monday following news that the company gained exclusive coverage from CVS Health Corp. CVS Health, the nation’s second-largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), said that it would make Gilead’s drugs, Harvoni and Sovaldi, the exclusive option for patients on its commercial …
Read More »Pfizer Provides Update on its Breast Cancer Candidate
Today, Pfizer Inc. announced that it is in discussion with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regarding its potential blockbuster breast cancer drug palbociclib. According to the company, it expects to get a final decision from the agency by April 13. Pfizer said that the FDA is not requiring …
Read More »FDA Expands Approval of Vertex’s Kalydeco
Pharmaceuticals Incorporated recently announced that US health regulators approved a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for the use of Kalydeco (ivacaftor) in a new group of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Kalydeco in people with CF ages 6 and older …
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