CDC Loses Faith In AstraZeneca's Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
Executive Summary
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has decided not to recommend AstraZeneca PLC's nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist Quadrivalent (known as Fluenz Tetra in Europe) for the upcoming flu season owing to lack of efficacy. AstraZeneca said it would take an $80m write-down on stocks in the second quarter as a result.
You may also be interested in...
Europe Set To Get Live Pandemic Bird Flu Vaccine Protection
Europe looks set to get its first pandemic live attenuated influenza vaccine for fighting H5N1-strain bird flu after EMA's top advisory panel backed use of AstraZeneca PLC's version in an officially declared pandemic situation in children and adolescents.
UK Reimbursement Decisions Focus Mostly On Cancer
The UK's main reimbursement bodies made a series of decisions this week that were broadly favorable and largely focused on oncology medicines.
Deal Watch: Valeant Sells Off iNova To Finance Debt-Reduction Efforts
While troubled Valeant was divesting iNova to private equity investors, Novartis announced a pair of oncology-focused deals, out-licensing a brain cancer drug to Midatech and partnering with IBM Watson Health to optimize breast cancer treatment.