Oncology

Amgen reported 5% year-over-year revenue growth to $6.5bn in the second quarter, up 11% from Q1. It did not break out Lumakras sales but detailed upcoming data that may support future indications.

Positive Phase III topline results follow the US FDA’s acceptance of the drug in cholangiocarcinoma and encouraging data in low-grade glioma at ASCO 2021.

The German biotech has raised a significant sum to advance its T-cell therapies for solid tumors developed using its transgenic mouse technology platform.

The company’s two approved cell therapies led growth in oncology. But despite oncology currently accounting for a small share of Gilead’s overall business, analysts expect big readouts later in the year.

Sanofi has transformed the productivity of its R&D pipeline over the past several years, and late-stage clinical data readouts are expected in the second half of this year for new anticancer drugs, a candidate pemphigus therapy and a COVID-19 vaccine.

Sanofi’s sales grew strongly in the second quarter, driven by the immunologic Dupixent and its vaccines business, with the company also reporting success in a further potential indication for the product, chronic spontaneous urticaria. The big pharma has raised its EPS guidance for the year.

Ipsen has inked a worldwide collaboration pact with BAKX Therapeutics to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize the biotech’s asset BKX-001 as a potential treatment for leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumors.

Private California venture will bring additional expertise and novel platforms to acquisitive biotech giant as it looks to expand its interests in bispecific and multispecific antibody technologies.

A surprise surge in Roche's R&D spending this year reflects high quality in-house innovation opportunities as well as high prices for external M&A targets, management said.

The Daiichi Sankyo affiliate successfully argued that Novartis willfully infringed two patents covering its discoveries in the BRAF inhibitor drug class, getting nearly $178m in damages and future royalties.

It has taken almost two decades but it looks as though Erytech could get approval for eryaspase in the US in two indications next year – acute lymphoblastic leukemia and pancreatic cancer.

Roche unveiled a strong Q2 performance driven by new medicines and continued strong growth from its diagnostics division but analysts were most keen for clues on plans for gantenerumab, now in Phase III studies for Alzheimer’s disease.