June 2016

In the first-ever clinical trial for metastatic patients previously treated for the disease, research led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that the immune checkpoint blockade nivolumab shows promise for the majority of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA).

Use of Metformin commonly used as the front-line treatment for type 2 diabetes improves survival for some breast cancer patients, and shows promise as a treatment for patients diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, according to the results of two new studies presented by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and includes its subsidiaries or associate companies) announced that as a part of its manufacturing consolidation in the US, one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has entered into an agreement with Frontida BioPharm, Inc. (“Frontida”) for divestment of its two oral solid dosage manufacturing facilities located at Philadelphia, PA, and Aurora, IL both in the US, along with 15 related pharmaceutical products. 

Bayer and Orion Corporation announced the expansion of the global clinical development programme for the investigational androgen receptor (AR) antagonist BAY-1841788 (ODM-201) in the area of prostate cancer. A new phase III study ARASENS will evaluate the compound in combination with standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the chemotherapy docetaxel in men with newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), who are starting first line hormone therapy.

Novartis announced  that the European Commission has approved Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic, well-differentiated (Grade 1 or Grade 2) nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of gastrointestinal (GI) or lung origin in adults with progressive disease. Afinitor is the first approved therapy in all 28 member states of the European Union (EU), plus Iceland and Norway, for this type of lung NET, and one of very few treatment options available for this type of GI NET.

Shire plc, a leading global biotechnology company, completed its previously announced combination with Baxalta Incorporated, creating the leading global biotechnology company focused on serving patients with rare diseases and other highly specialized conditions.