Novartis (NYSE:NVS) said today that it out-licensed its U.S. commercial rights for 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease drugs to Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. Novartis will commercialize the Utibron Neohaler, Seebri Neohaler, and Arcapta Neohaler inhalation powders outside of the U.S. The Switzerland-based company will manufacture the inhaled powders for Sunovion, according to the agreement. “Given the evolving market […]
Respiratory
Actelion, J&J re-enter takeover negotations
Actelion (VTX:ATLN) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) have re-entered talks to reach a takeover deal, after the US healthcare giant reportedly abandoned its efforts last week. Some suggest that this could mean the end of Sanofi‘s (NYSE:SNY) attempt to make a deal with the Swiss biotech firm, according to Reuters. J&J and Actelion had been engaged in informal talks […]
GSK launches phase III trial for inhaled triple combination therapy
GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) and Innoviva (NSDQ:INVA) said today that they launched a phase III trial evaluating the triple combination therapy fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) in patients with asthma. The companies’ triple combination therapy is made up of 3 drugs – an inhaled corticosteroid, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, and a long-acting beta-adrenergic agonist. The treatment is delivered once a day using GSK’s […]
Actelion gains on Sanofi deal rumors
Actelion (VTX:ATLN) shares jumped more than 8% to 214 Swiss francs after reports that Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) and the Swiss biotech are nearing a takeover deal that would value Actelion at $29.6 billion. After Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) abandoned its efforts to reach an agreement with Actelion this week, Sanofi stepped in to pursue negotiations. Sanofi is expected to offer […]
Actelion, Sanofi in talks after J&J backs out of negotiations
Actelion (VTX:ATLN) and Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) are reportedly in talks to reach a takeover deal after Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said yesterday that it has closed negotiations with the Swiss biotech. J&J and Actelion have been in informal talks for nearly 2 months and the US company has made an offer valued at 250 Swiss francs per share. J&J said yesterday […]
Adherium’s smart inhaler tech chosen for EU mobile health program
Adherium Ltd. (ASK:ADR) said today that its Smartinhaler was chosen for the myAirCoach program as a part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework for Research and Innovation. The Horizon 2020 program is the largest EU research and innovation program ever established, with €80 billion (nearly $85 billion) of funding available from 2014 until 2020. The […]
Mylan to cut 10% of workforce in restructuring efforts
Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) shares dropped 5% this morning after it said in regulatory filing that it expects to cut less than 10% of its global workforce as a result of its restructuring efforts. The Canonsburg, Penn.-based company has about 35,000 employees, according to Reuters, and wrote in the SEC filing that it will implement restructuring programs in specific […]
Sanofi throws hat in the ring with J&J’s in Actelion pursuit
Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) is reportedly considering a bid for Actelion Pharmaceuticals (VTX:ATLN), competing with an offer made to the Swiss biotech by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). Bloomberg reported that Sanofi is working with advisers to assess its options and has made its interest known informally to Actelion. The French drugmaker has not made a formal comment on the matter […]
GSK, Innoviva seek EU nod for triple combo inhaled therapy
GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) and Innoviva (NSDQ:INVA) said last week that they filed a regulatory submission with the European Medicines Agency for the once-daily, triple-combination therapy fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Last month, the companies submitted a new drug application for the inhaled therapy to the FDA for approval in the U.S. The triple combination therapy is […]
Hedge funds betting on J&J after Actelion remains silent on takeover bid
Despite reports this week that Actelion Pharmaceuticals (VTX:ATLN) rejected Johnson & Johson‘s (NYSE:JNJ) 2nd takeover bid, hedge funds are piling into the Swiss biotech firm, encouraged by Actelion’s silence on the matter. The 2 companies have been engaged in informal talks for 2 months, according to Reuters, and the latest offer was pegged at 250 Swiss francs per share. […]