Business Wire

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) and granted Priority Review for emicizumab prophylaxis (preventative) as a once-weekly subcutaneous treatment for adults, adolescents and children with hemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors. Nearly one in three people with hemophilia A develop inhibitors to standard factor VIII replacement therapies, which limits treatment options and increases the risk of life-threatening bleeds and repeated bleeds, particularly in joints, that cause long-term damage.

 The global pruritus therapeutic market to grow at a CAGR of 4.95% during the period 2017-2021.Global Pruritus Therapeutic Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc. known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada,  announced that they have entered a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize AstraZeneca’s LYNPARZA (olaparib) for multiple cancer types. LYNPARZA is an innovative, first-in-class oral poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor currently approved for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer in multiple lines of treatment.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced detailed 48-week results from two Phase 3 studies (Studies 1489 and 1490) evaluating the efficacy and safety of a fixed-dose combination of bictegravir (50 mg) (BIC), a novel investigational integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (200/25mg) (FTC/TAF), a dual-NRTI backbone, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve adults. In the ongoing studies, BIC/FTC/TAF was found to be statistically non-inferior to regimens containing dolutegravir (50mg) (DTG) in combination with a dual-NRTI backbone. The data were presented in two late-breaker sessions [MOAB01 and TUPDB02] at the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2017) in Paris.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Janssen) announced results from the Phase 2b Topaz Trial which demonstrated that treatment with pimodivir (JNJ-63623872) significantly decreased viral load over seven days versus placebo, in adult patients with acute, uncomplicated seasonal influenza A. Patients treated with pimodivir and oseltamivir (OST) also demonstrated a significantly lower viral load compared with those who received pimodivir alone at the same dose. 

AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, will present the latest research from the Company’s Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (CVMD) therapy area, including for Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Bydureon (exenatide extended-release) for injectable suspension, with more than 50 abstracts at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 77th Scientific Sessions in San Diego, USA 9-13 June 2017.

Alkermes plc announced the initiation of ENLIGHTEN-Early, a supportive study in the ENLIGHTEN clinical development program for ALKS 3831, an investigational, novel, once-daily, oral atypical antipsychotic drug candidate designed to be a broad-spectrum treatment for schizophrenia.

Medrobotics Corp., a medical robotics company, announced at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons meeting in Adelaide that it has received TGA regulatory clearance to market the Flex® Robotic System for colorectal procedures. Medrobotics is the first and only company to offer minimally invasive, steerable and shapeable robotic products for colorectal procedures in Australia. The Flex® Robotic System is the world’s first robotic surgical platform to offer Scarfree™ access to hard-to-reach anatomy in otolaryngology and colorectal procedures. This provides surgeons treatment options that may not be possible with straight, rigid instruments.

Ipsen announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of a portfolio of five consumer healthcare products from Sanofi.

Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland launches the next generation of INR patient self-monitoring meter for patients on warfarin anticoagulant therapy. The new CoaguChek INRange meter allows patients to send their results to their clinic via an App on their phone using wireless connectivity.