NICE has issued final guidance for Imbruvica and preliminary guidance for Brukinsa, saying that while clinical evidence supports using the BTK inhibitors for WM, it is not convinced that either drug will be a cost-effective use of National Health Service resources.

Among recent highlights, SK Bioscience files for approval of recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine GBP510, Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Chinese subsidiary continues to report strong earnings, led by cold drug sales, while Yuhan’s novel peptide drug candidate for degenerative disc disease is set to move into a Phase III trial in the US.

Investor Deerfield Management and genomic sequencing giant Illumina entered into a five-year partnership to identify novel targets and drug candidates that may be spun out into new companies.

Shilpa Medicare’s plan for trials of an Eylea biosimilar shows the company’s ambition to leapfrog to a biosimilars-led growth strategy, one that Indian majors like Cipla and Lupin pivoted to post a successful generics program. However, the path isn’t going to be easy and Biocon/Viatris, Samsung Biologics are ahead