GlaxoSmithKline‘s (NYSE:GSK) new chief executive, Emma Walmsley, signaled in April that she plans to cut programs in the company’s pharmaceutical pipeline that aren’t generating enough value, including older antibiotics. “We’ll need to be switching off some areas,” Walmsley said, according to Reuters. She is slated to detail her plans this week when she presents second quarter […]
Pharmaceuticals
Novocure brings Optune tech to drug trial for glioblastoma
Novocure (NSDQ:NVCR) said today that it joined a Phase Ib study to evaluate the safety of Celgene‘s (NSDQ:CELG) marizomib and temozolomide in combination with Optune for patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma. The trial is the first to assess Optune, the company’s “Tumor Treating Fields” delivery device, in combination with an investigational drug. Celgene and Triphase changed their ongoing […]
Parkinson’s protein to take a trip into space
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space yesterday inked a collaboration to send a protein linked to Parkinson’s disease to the International Space Station. The researchers plan to evaluate the protein’s growth under microgravity conditions, which could foster larger, more regular LRRK2 protein crystals […]
Endo shutters manufacturing facilities in Huntsville
Endo (NSDQ:ENDP) said today that it plans to close its manufacturing and distribution plants in Huntsville, Alabama, slashing 875 jobs from its workforce. The closing, which is slated to happen over the next 12 to 18 months, is due to declining volumes of commoditized products, according to Endo. “Endo’s key priorities include building our product portfolio and […]
Trump pushes ‘America First’ policy with pharmaceutical packaging industry
Donald Trump yesterday revealed an initiative to bring jobs and investment into the U.S. drug packaging industry, spearheaded by Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW), Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE). At the ‘Made In America’ event, Trump announced that the companies are making a $500 million investment to create 1,000 jobs at manufacturing facilities in New York, New Jersey and […]
Why Abbott’s CEO is excited about Bigfoot Biomedical and diabetes treatment
Just one week after Abbott (NYSE:ABT) said it inked a deal with Bigfoot Biomedical to develop an automated diabetes management system, CEO Miles White told analysts that he thinks Bigfoot is playing an important role in the strategic change taking place in the space. “It’s a fairly clever service and approach that I think will create, not just an […]
FTC approves Baxter’s $625m Claris buyout, with conditions
The Federal Trade Commission approved Baxter‘s (NYSE:BAX) $625 million acquisition of Claris Lifesciences‘ (BOM:533288) injectable drug biz, but mandated that the companies divest two drugs products – an antifungal agent, fluconazole, and intravenous milrinone. The FTC filed a complaint saying that the original deal would likely reduce competition in the U.S. for fluconazole since Baxter […]
Insulet, Ypsomed go their separate ways
Ypsomed has been the exclusive distributor of Insulet‘s (NSDQ:PODD) Omnipod insulin management system in Europe since 2010. But today, the companies announced that the arrangement is slated to end on June 30, 2018, after the pair could not agree on extending the contract based on the price set by Insulet, according to Ypsomed. Insulet said […]
Kala Pharmaceuticals prices $90m IPO
Kala Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:KALA) today priced its initial public offering of 6 million shares of common stock at $15.00 apiece. The IPO is slated to bring in nearly $90 million for the Waltham, Mass.-based company. The offering, which is expected to close on July 25, includes a 30-day option for underwriters to buy up to 900,000 additional shares […]
Braeburn, Camurus seek FDA nod for buprenorphine depot
Camurus AB (STO:CAMX) and Braeburn Pharmaceuticals said today that the companies submitted a new drug application to the FDA for its weekly and monthly buprenorphine depots to treat opioid use disorder. Braeburn also reported that it applied for priority review of its application, which could potentially shorten the company’s path to the market. The NDA submission was supported […]