Sweden-based Kancera hopes to advance its investigative anti-inflammation drug in a Phase II trial to treat severe COVID-19 patients and then build its applications from there.

The Phase III EXPLORER-HCM trial evaluating mavacamten in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) succeeded on all primary and secondary endpoints.

AstraZeneca's biopharmaceuticals president Ruud Dobber tells Scrip that the price for Farxiga in the heart failure indication should reflect its potential to improve survival and reduce the need for hospitalization.

AstraZeneca, during a strong first-quarter update, underscored its determination to test existing portfolio assets for use in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bayer has beaten analyst forecasts for the first quarter but says the uncertainties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic prevent it from issuing financial guidance for the full year.

First quarter revenue of $150m beat analyst consensus of $129m, but investors remain wary of Amarin’s ability to overturn its recent Vascepa patent defeat and execute a favorable European strategy.

Kynmobi is an important approval for parent company Sumitomo Dainippon ahead of the loss of exclusivity for Latuda. Sunovion hopes to launch after COVID-19 social distancing requirements ease.

With Alexion's Soliris already approved, and Viela's inebilizumab within touching distance of an FDA green light, Roche is highlighting the safety profile of its investigational neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder drug satralizumab.

The lockdowns caused by coronavirus has led to significant decline of multiple sclerosis patients getting to see neurologists and getting treatment. It has also reduced the number of treatment switches and Merck's drug Mavenclad is suffering as a consequence.

Lundbeck adapted its launch strategy for its quarterly injectable migraine therapy Vyepti because of the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming more virtual, and payer responses have been encouraging.

Sarizotan, licensed from Merck KGaA in 2011 for Rett syndrome, was seen as a potential gamechanger for Newron but the termination of the project leaves a huge hole in the Italian group's pipeline.

China's first domestically developed Alzheimer’s drug inches closer to US market as FDA approves trials with Green Valley's GV-971.

Kadmon’s treatment for graft-versus-host disease, belumosudil continues to perform well in its pivotal ROCKstar study, setting the stage for a US filing under the FDA’s pilot Real-Time Oncology Review program.

Sweden-based Kancera hopes to advance its investigative anti-inflammation drug in a Phase II trial to treat severe COVID-19 patients and then build its applications from there.

Swedish biotech Affibody hopes an R&D alliance with China-based Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals will speed development of its lead compound for auto-immune diseases.

PureTech said it finished 2019 with healthy finances and a promising pipeline which analysts said should offer positive catalysts for the UK group’s stock in 2020.

Pfizer’s next-generation JAK1 inhibitor, abrocitinib, continues to show beneficial effects in atopic dermatitis (eczema), in the JADE COMPARE study, comparable to the positive control dupilumab and, in the case of itch, with a faster onset at the higher dose.

Autoimmune disease drugs ranging from Humira to Cosentyx to Tremfya to Xeljanz carry warnings about increased risk of infections. This raises new questions in the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Multiple vaccine and drug developers across the world report progress and partnerships amid volatility in their shares. 

Pandemic-related collaborations between Hoth/VCU; Sorrento/Mt. Sinai Health; Audax/Northeastern U.; Alkido/U. of Maryland, Baltimore; Active Motif/Hisun BioRay/Fudan U. and more.

While Moderna and others frontrunners aim for a 2020 emergency use approval, Merck believes a more deliberate approach will pay off in the long term.

Mounting evidence that President Trump's 'game changer' does more harm than good for COVID-19 patients. Novovax and Medicago among the latest vaccine developers to report progress.

As generalist investors continue to push higher the stock prices of biotech companies that announce the most tenuous of coronavirus developments, the track record of biotech companies developing even vaccines for which the antigen is proven to be safe and efficacious remains poor.

Sweden-based Kancera hopes to advance its investigative anti-inflammation drug in a Phase II trial to treat severe COVID-19 patients and then build its applications from there.

Eighty-eight insurers who offer Medicare Part D plans are interested in the demonstration project, which would limit insulin copays to $35.

Sanofi’s decision to return to originator Hanmi all rights to the novel diabetes candidate efpeglenatide, which is in global Phase III trials, has placed the South Korean pharma in a difficult spot. Unless there are some surprisingly positive data, finding a major global partner for commercialization may be tough.

Novo Nordisk said late stage clinical trials near completion would not be hit by the pandemic but that delays to other stage studies were likely, and new ones were now “on hold.”

Private US venture moves into the clinic with early-stage asset from Japanese partner with potential in aging disorders.

AstraZeneca, during a strong first-quarter update, underscored its determination to test existing portfolio assets for use in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emerging Company Profile: The start-up, funded by Flagship Pioneering, is developing small molecules across multiple therapeutic areas, based on a discovery platform exploring the microbiome, gut immune system and enteric nervous system.

First-line lung cancer approval will expand potential market for Takeda's ALK contender but the latecomer is also facing some well-established class competition in the setting.

Susanne Schaffert tells Scrip that policies of prioritizing coronavirus treatment to the detriment of cancer care was a worrying move that is negatively impacting survival and mortality.

US venture raises new funds from Asia partners as it builds a direct presence in China to develop its oncology portfolio. 

Patient enrollment in clinical trials for cancer drugs was "severely" affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 

Lynparza has received the green light from the FDA for advanced prostate cancer, its fourth tumor type, and while it may not be the first PARP inhibitor to be approved for this indication, analysts are expecting the drug to lead the class.

Merck & Co is gradually catching up with Roche in PD-1/L1 first-line triple-negative breast cancer treatment, but its presentation at ASCO on Keynote-355 includes mixed PFS results. Overall survival data will be key to Keytruda’s competitiveness.

Sweden-based Kancera hopes to advance its investigative anti-inflammation drug in a Phase II trial to treat severe COVID-19 patients and then build its applications from there.

Abivax will test its anti-inflammatory ABX464 in early COVID-19 patients after the small molecule showed it could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in human lung tissue in addition to its anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing effects.    

Glenmark rolls out three-in-one inhaler therapy for COPD in India and hopes to address challenges faced by patients suffering from the severe form of the disease. Some early physician outlook appears mixed for the new combination in a segment where leading respiratory player Cipla has an established product.

Crowd-funding venture capital platform OurCrowd is leading a $12m investment in the newly formed MigVax Corp to fund development of a potential COVID-19 vaccine whose discovery was a by-product of an avian virus vaccine researchers were already working on for the poultry industry.

Plus: Korea's Dong Wha readies potent antiviral for trials, and Pharming's candidate shows promise in compassionate use.

More Phase III trials announced from Alexion and Novartis, while Karyopharm investigates potential of repurposed cancer therapy.