The pharma industry briefing

The latest news, approvals and clinical trials you need to know about this month

Data:
News in Numbers

Data: News in Numbers

$2.5bn

US politicians have requested $2.5bn in emergency funds to combat COVID-19 in the country.

5.1

The average number of days before people started showing signs of COVID-19, according to a new study .

5.1

114

The number of countries with reported cases of COVID-19 when the WHO declared a pandemic.

$4bn

According to GlobalData, Amgen and Allergan’s rituximab biosimilar could reach almost $4bn in sales by 2025.

Seven

The number of known coronaviruses that can infect people according to the US CDC.

Data: News in Numbers

5.1

The average number of days before people started showing signs of COVID-19, according to a new study

$2.5bn

US politicians have requested $2.5bn in emergency funds to combat COVID-19 in the country

114

The number of countries with reported cases of COVID-19 when the WHO declared a pandemic

$4bn

According to GlobalData, Amgen and Allergan’s rituximab biosimilar could reach almost $4bn in sales by 2025.

Seven

The number of known coronaviruses that can infect people according to the US CDC

FDA halt of foreign inspections may delay some new product approvals

The US FDA has decided to halt inspections of all foreign drug manufacturers after earlier putting inspections in China on hold.

Source: Fierce Pharma

Failed trial puts future of UCB’s epilepsy drug padsevonil in doubt

Shares in UCB slid this morning after the Belgian company announced its refractory epilepsy drug candidate padsevonil had failed a phase IIb trial.

Source: Pharmaphorum

Drug shortage fears as India limits exports

The world's biggest supplier of generic drugs has restricted exports of 26 ingredients and the medicines made from them in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Source: BBC

Commonly prescribed Alzheimer’s drugs affect activity of another

TauRx Therapeutics have published a study in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model which demonstrates that drugs currently used to manage the symptoms of the disease interfere with the activity of a drug with an entirely unrelated mode of action.

Source: Pharma Field

Approvals

fremanezumab (Ajovy^®)

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended Teva’s Ajovy for the prophylaxis of migraine in adults with chronic migraine who have not responded to at least three prior preventive treatments.

Source: Pharma Times

Isturisa (osilodrostat) tablets

Novartis has received FDA approval for its Isturisa oral tablets for adults with Cushing’s disease who either cannot undergo pituitary gland surgery or have undergone the surgery but still have the disease.

Source: FDA

Venclyxto (venetoclax)

The European Commission has approved Venclyxto in combination with Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab) for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Source: Pharma Times

Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc) Injection

The US FDA has approved Sanofi’s Sarclisa, a CD38-directed cytolytic antibody indicated in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients multiple myeloma.

Source: PM Live