In the past decade, new innovations and well-funded research have heralded in the era of immunotherapy. The pace of change within the field has amazed Peter Hoang, the chief executive of a Jacksonville, Fl.-based company working to develop therapeutic vaccines for cancer. “15 years ago, if you or I walked into a venture capitalist’s office, […]
AstraZeneca plc
AstraZeneca wins FDA nod to remove boxed warning from asthma drug label
After reviewing results from trials involving more than 41,000 asthma patients, the FDA has agreed to remove the boxed warning of serious asthma-related outcomes for AstraZeneca‘s (NYSE:AZN) Symbicort product. Patients using Symbicort, which combines an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist in a single inhaler, did not experience a significant increase in the risk […]
FDA clears AstraZeneca’s once-weekly Type II diabetes drug-device combo
AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) said today that the FDA approved its once-weekly exenatide drug in a single-dose auto-injector for adults with Type II diabetes whose blood sugar is uncontrolled on one or more oral drugs. The company’s drug, Bydureon, is formulated with a continuous-release microsphere delivery system designed to provide consistent levels of exenatide, according to AstraZeneca, to […]
Oral drug delivery startup raises $39m for robotic pill
San Jose, Calif.-based Rani Therapeutics has some seriously big-name backers: Alphabet (NSDQ:GOOGL), Novartis (NYSE:NVS) and AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) have all invested in the startup. This month, the company raised $38.7 million as part of a $126.5 million offering of equity and options or warrants, according to an SEC filing. So far, 12 investors have contributed to the offering. Rani […]
Adherium launches next-gen monitor for AstraZeneca’s Turbuhaler
Adherium Ltd. (ASK:ADR) said today that it launched a next-gen version of its SmartTurbo adherence monitor for AstraZeneca‘s (NYSE:AZN) Turbuhaler. The company’s monitor features usability improvements to make the device’s installation and removal easier for older patients with COPD. It also includes larger buttons to help patients access features like audio and visual reminders, battery monitoring […]
Adherium wins 510(k) clearance for smart inhaler monitoring device
Adherium Ltd. (ASK:ADR) said today that it won 510(k) approval from the FDA for its inhaler monitoring device, SmartTouch for Symbicort. The device was cleared for use with AstraZeneca‘s (NYSE:AZN) Symbicort aerosol inhaler. The Melbourne, Australia-based company’s product installs directly onto a patient’s inhaler to monitor and boost medication adherence. The device records the time and […]
Milestone Scientific appoints new CEO following FDA nod | Personnel Moves – July 13, 2017
Milestone Scientific (NYSE:MLSS) said this week that it appointed Daniel Goldberger to the company’s corner office. Leonard Osser, who previously served as CEO, is slated to remain on the board and will continue to serve as director of Milestone’s China operations. The appointment comes on the heels of the FDA’s decision to grant Milestone’s CompuFlo epidural […]
Braeburn names former Teva exec as new president, CEO | Personnel Moves – June 14, 2017
Braeburn Pharmaceuticals said last week that it named Michael Derkacz as president and CEO of the buprenorphine implant-maker. Most recently, Derkacz worked as senior VP and head of global central nervous system and pain therapeutic areas for Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA). Behshad Sheldon, who helped to found Braeburn in 2012, is slated to step down from Braeburn […]
Pieris, AstraZeneca ink $45m deal for inhaled respiratory drugs
Pieris Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:PIRS) inked a $45 million deal with AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) to develop a group of inhaled drugs for respiratory diseases. According to the deal, Pieris will get $45 million up front to bring an experimental asthma drug into human clinical trials. The drug is slated to begin Phase I testing this year, which will […]
Novo Nordisk puts $145m into U.K. research center
(Reuters) – Novo Nordisk, the world’s top maker of diabetes drugs, is investing 115 million pounds ($145 million) in a new research center in Britain, undeterred by Brexit. The Danish company said on Monday it would invest the money over 10 years in the center based at the University of Oxford, which will employ 100 […]