Today Stories

Breast Cancer Survivor, U.S. Olympian & High Jump American Record Holder Chaunté Lowe joins Komen, Lilly in taking action to improve breast cancer health equity Partnership to expand support services for Black women in the Midwest and across the U.S. to help close the 40% mortality gap in breast cancer INDIANAPOLIS and DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2021 -- Today, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Susan G. Komen®, the world's leading breast cancer organization, launched a new multiyear program to address breast cancer health disparities experienced by Black women in the U.S. Through the partnership, Lilly and Komen will expand existing resources that provide direct support to Black women facing breast cancer to meet their psychosocial needs, provide guidance to credible health information, a…

AstraZeneca will advance and accelerate ongoing Phase III clinical development of CAEL-101, a potential first-in-class medicine for AL amyloidosis AstraZeneca’s Alexion has exercised its option to acquire all remaining equity in Caelum Biosciences for CAEL-101, a potentially first-in-class fibril-reactive monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the treatment of light chain (AL) amyloidosis. AL amyloidosis is a rare disease in which misfolded amyloid proteins build up in organs throughout the body, including the heart and kidneys, causing significant organ damage and failure that may ultimately be fatal.1,2 Approximately 20,000 people across the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK live with AL amyloidosis classified as Mayo stage IIIa or IIIb disease.3 CAEL-101 is currently being evalu…

Influenza results in approximately 5 million cases of severe illness and 290,000 to up to 650,000 deaths worldwide every year,1 with current seasonal vaccines preventing 40% to 60% of the disease in the best-matched seasons 2 mRNA-based vaccine design requires only the genetic sequences of the viruses, enabling more flexible, rapid manufacturing and the potential opportunity to improve upon the efficacy of current flu vaccines NEW YORK -- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced today that the first participants have been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a single dose quadrivalent mRNA vaccine against influenza in healthy adults. Pfizer’s mRNA influenza vaccine program is the first in a planned wave of programs leveraging mRNA technol…

AZD7442 long-acting antibody combination Phase III PROVENT trial prevention data to be presented in late-breaker session Vaxzevria Phase III analysis investigating asymptomatic infection and duration of viral shedding in infections will also be presented AstraZeneca will present data across its COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pipeline at the 10th Annual IDWeek Virtual Conference, 29 September to 3 October 2021, illustrating its commitment to advancing innovative science in infectious diseases. Data featuring AstraZeneca’s investigational long-acting antibody (LAAB) programmes – AZD7442 for COVID-19 and nirsevimab for RSV – as well as its COVID-19 vaccine Vaxzevria, will be presented as three late-breaking oral presentations. Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, B…

Joining forces to further strengthen our omnichannel capabilities September 23, 2021, London, UK – OPEN Health has today announced the acquisition of London-based agency ARK. ARK has a unique approach to delivering data-driven, digital-first creative campaigns. Integrating the ARK business with the OPEN Health Group further strengthens our global creative, digital-first resources, and our ability to offer our global clients measurable omnichannel campaigns. In terms of scale, the acquisition means OPEN Health will now consist of approximately 875 people in 16 locations across 6 different countries including the USA, UK, The Netherlands, Germany, India and China. Dominic Marchant, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of ARK, said, "Over the past three years, we have proudly grown both the cor…

AstraZeneca has reached an agreement to collaborate with VaxEquity for the discovery, development and commercialisastion of the proprietary self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) therapeutics platform developed at Imperial College London. The strategic, long-term research collaboration aims to optimise and validate VaxEquity’s saRNA platform and apply it to advance novel therapeutic programmes. AstraZeneca will support VaxEquity with research and development funding and should AstraZeneca advance any of the research programmes into its pipeline, VaxEquity could receive development, approval and sales based milestones totalling up to $195 million and royalties in the mid-single digits per programme. AstraZeneca has the option to collaborate with VaxEquity on up to 26 drug targets and will also make an…

Boehringer Ingelheim aims to develop novel cancer therapies by leveraging Abexxa’s unique technology and breakthrough antibody-based drugs.    Abexxa’s focus is on the development of specific antibodies to intracellular antigens presented by the non-classical MHC Class I molecule, HLA-E (human leucocyte antigens), enabling the development of cancer immunotherapies potentially benefiting a broader range of patients and cancer types. The addition of Abexxa’s expertise complements Boehringer Ingelheim’s current approaches to the treatment of difficult-to-treat solid cancers and especially those resistant to available immunotherapies. Ingelheim, Germany, and Arlington, Texas, USA – 21 September 2021 – Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the acquisition of…

Investment will transform development and commercialisation of new medicines AstraZeneca is planning on establishing a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility for small molecules near Dublin, Ireland to ensure the Company’s global supply network is fit for future growth. The new plant will allow for late-stage development and early commercial supply, adopting state of the art process technology and digital innovation that is designed to meet the needs of the Company’s new medicines pipeline with speed and agility.  The $360m planned investment at the Alexion Campus in College Park, Dublin, is expected to create about 100 highly skilled direct jobs, including scientists and engineers, and further indirect jobs. The project, which will provide an i…

World Mitochondrial Disease Week raises awareness of mitochondrial disease (mito) on a global scale through educational, fundraising and advocacy activities. What is Mitochondrial Disease? Most people have never heard of mitochondrial disease. Once considered rare, it is now thought to affect 1 in 5000 people, making it the second most commonly diagnosed, serious genetic disease after cystic fibrosis. Researchers have discovered links between mitochondrial dysfunction and other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cardiac issues and some cancers. Scientists believe that in focusing on mitochondrial dysfunction, they may be able to devise effective treatments and potential cures for mito and help the millions of people who suffer from the above-men…

PARIS – September 14, 2021 - Sanofi announced today the completion of its acquisition of Translate Bio, further accelerating the company’s efforts to develop transformative vaccines and therapies using mRNA technology. The acquisition adds a critical pillar to the company’s mRNA Center of Excellence which aims to unlock the potential of next-generation mRNA vaccines and other strategic areas such as immunology, oncology, and rare diseases. The tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Translate Bio common stock expired as scheduled at one minute after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, September 13, 2021. The minimum tender condition and all of the other conditions to the offer have been satisfied and on September 14, 2021, Sanofi accepted for payment and will promptly pay for al…

- AbbVie and REGENXBIO form a strategic partnership combining eye care and gene therapy expertise- Companies will develop and commercialize RGX-314, an investigational gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other chronic retinal diseases- REGENXBIO to receive $370 million upfront payment AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced a partnership to develop and commercialize RGX-314, a potential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other chronic retinal diseases. RGX-314 is currently being evaluated in patients with wet AMD in a pivotal trial utilizing subretinal delivery, and in patients with wet AMD and DR in two separate Phase II clinic…

AbbVie GK (Headquarters: Tokyo, President: James Feliciano, "AbbVie"), Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai"), and EA Pharma Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Yuji Matsue, "EA Pharma”) announced today that, on September 13, 2021, the companies launched “Humira® Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients” an initiative intended to improve patients’ adherence to Humira® therapy. “Humira Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients” is a free-of-charge service that assists patients on Humira therapy by directly delivering support tools to their home or other requested location. Patients can use this service by applying on the website or using a designated form to request support tools such as containers for disposal of used syringes, bags for disposal of used pens,…

South San Francisco, Calif., USA and Ingelheim, Germany – September 9, 2021 – Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ:TWST), a company enabling customers to succeed through its offering of high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform, today announced a broad-based research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to use Twist’s proprietary antibody libraries to discover therapeutic antibodies against multiple targets provided by Boehringer Ingelheim. “Boehringer Ingelheim believes Twist’s ability to generate potent, diverse therapeutic antibodies by mining its comprehensive libraries, combined with our extensive capabilities and experience  in drug discovery and development, will enable us to deliver breakthrough opportunities to patients,” said Clive R. Wood, Ph.D.…

COVID-19 highlights urgent need for national respiratory strategies to drive improvements in patient outcomes and healthcare system resilience The European Respiratory Society (ERS), the Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP), AstraZeneca, Amgen and leading respiratory clinicians have launched the International Respiratory Coalition, a new partnership to transform post-pandemic respiratory healthcare. The Coalition aims to support governments and healthcare systems in their recovery from COVID-19 by strengthening respiratory care. The Coalition will seek to improve outcomes for people living with respiratory diseases by supporting the creation of ambitious national-level respiratory strategies and by building resilience in managing pandemics. Membership is open to organi…

Adds Rezurock™ (belumosudil) an FDA-approved, first-in-class treatment for adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy PARIS and NEW YORK – September 8, 2021 – Sanofi has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Kadmon Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: KDMN) a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and markets transformative therapies for disease areas of significant unmet medical needs. The acquisition supports Sanofi’s strategy to continue to grow its General Medicines core assets and will immediately add Rezurock™(belumosudil) to its transplant portfolio. Rezurock is a recently FDA-approved, first-in-class treatment for chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) fo…

Medicines Australia has secured a 5-year Strategic Agreement with the Federal Government, centered on earlier patient involvement and influence in the availability of new medicines in Australia. The new Agreement sets out a hardworking, five-year plan that heralds a new era by securing stronger patient involvement in critical processes and ensuring Australia keeps pace with access to rapidly transforming medical advancements developed around the world. “This Agreement, signed and supported by Minister Greg Hunt today, will ensure what is important to patients is a priority focus in creating faster access to lifesaving medicines and treatments,” said Dr Anna Lavelle, Chair of Medicines Australia. In a major step forward, the Agreement ensures patients will become fundamental contributors to…

Sensyne Health plc (LSE: SENS) (“Sensyne” or the “Company” or the “Group”), the ethical Clinical AI company, today announces it has signed a five year non-exclusive Strategic Research Agreement (SRA) with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (“GOSH”) to analyse anonymised patient data using clinical artificial intelligence (Clinical AI) technology.   The purpose of the SRA is to enable the ethical application of Clinical AI research to improve paediatric clinical outcomes, and accelerate research into new medicines to find new and better ways to treat rare and complex childhood diseases.  The SRA is Sensyne’s first to focus on improving care and accelerating the development of medicines specifically for children. The first project will focus on developing a clinic…

Transaction valued at $156.00 per Hillrom Share for an All-Cash Purchase Price of $10.5 Billion    Brings together two leading medical technology companies to broaden access to care in the hospital, home and alternate site settings Accelerates digitally-enabled connected care solutions across the continuum of care Builds on Baxter's global footprint to expand Hillrom's penetration of international markets Creates significant opportunities to position Baxter for faster top- and bottom-line growth Expected to generate high single-digit ROIC by year five DEERFIELD, Ill., and CHICAGO - 2021-09-02 Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), a leading global medical products company, and Hillrom (NYSE:HRC), a global medical technology leader, today announced that the companies hav…

Thermo Fisher Scientific's clinical sequencing business and AstraZeneca today announced they will co-develop next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based companion diagnostics (CDx) to support AstraZeneca's expanding portfolio of targeted therapies. The companies will collaborate under a multiyear, global agreement. "As the pipeline of targeted therapies expands, the availability of diagnostic tools that can interrogate multiple biomarkers simultaneously will ensure patients can be matched with the right therapies more rapidly – this is the promise of precision medicine," said Garret Hampton, president of clinical next-generation sequencing and oncology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Introduction of diagnostic tools early in the process of drug development can further facilitate the success of co…

Agreement follows positive NICE recommendation and commits to deliver Leqvio® (inclisiran) access via a population health management approach identifying eligible patients across England1 Over three years ~300,000 patients at high risk of a second cardiovascular event are expected to be treated with inclisiran, a small interfering RNA therapy administered as a 6-monthly maintenance dose‡, in the community setting Long-term elevated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is a known cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and a key modifiable risk factor in the prevention of cardiovascular disease2 Cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attack and stroke, causes more than 1 in 4 deaths across the UK and places a considerable financial burden on the NHS and wider society3,4.…