The pharma industry briefing

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

Data: News
in Numbers

£10bn

The amount granted by the UK Government to tackle antimicrobial resistance

111%

The expected CAGR of the peanut allergymarket, which is forecast to reach $4.5bn by 2027

$113bn

The amount that the immunology drugs market is projected to reach by 2023

14

The number of healthcare firms listed in the PwC’s top 100 global companies

€66m

$600

million

The amountthat Sanofihas invested in developing a new R&D hub in Chengdu, China

China pushes for lower cancer drug prices: Xinhua

China’s new medical insurance regulator will begin negotiations with domestic and overseas pharmaceutical companies to lower prices of cancer drugs in a bid to cut the financial burden on patients.

Source: Reuters

Indivior's shares soar

Indivior’s shares jumped more than 33% after a US court blocked a rival from selling a cheaper copycat of the British drugmaker’s bestselling opioid addiction treatment.

Source: Reuters

Genetically modified babies given go ahead by UK ethics body

The creation of babies whose DNA has been altered to give them what parents perceive to be the best chances in life has received a cautious green light in a landmark report from a leading UK ethics body.

Source: The Guardian

Drugs that kill off old cells may limit a body’s aging

A new study, conducted using mice, indicates that having a small population of cells that have hit the wall due to aging can induce symptoms of age-related decline in otherwise young mice. And a drug combination that targets these cells can block these problems from taking root. The same drugs, when given to elderly mice, also reduce mortality and limit some of the symptoms of age.

Source: Ars Technica

FDA approves the first drug with an indication for treatment of smallpox

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved TPOXX (tecovirimat), the first drug with an indication for treatment of smallpox.

Source: FDA

Prostate drug approved for use in non-metastatic cases

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug Xtandi (enzalutamide) to treat men with advanced non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Source: Pharmaphorum

EC approves expanded indication for Sprycel

Bristol-Myers Squibb has secured approval from the European Commission for the use of its Sprycel (dasatinib) to treat Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Source: The Pharma Letter

FDA approves drug for excessive drooling

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Merz North America’s supplemental biologics license application for Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of chronic sialorrhea, otherwise known as excessive drooling.

Source: The Pharma Times