Merck KGaA‘s biopharma biz, EMD Serono, said today that it won FDA approval for a redesigned version of its Gonal-f RFF Redi-ject pen injector. The device, which was first approved in 2013, is designed to inject follitropin alfra to induce ovulation and pregnancy in oligo-anovulatory women. The newly-designed pen was evaluated in a simulated-use study involving […]
Merck
Startup aims to disrupt asthma, COPD space with digital inhaler
Formed just two years ago, pharma startup Pneuma Respiratory is developing a digital inhaler that it touts as the first of its kind. The company is looking to bring its technology to the more than 40 million people who suffer from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the U.S. They’re stepping into a highly […]
Merck raises full-year guidance despite mixed Q3
Shares in Merck (NYSE:MRK) slipped in pre-market activity today after the pharmaceutical company beat earnings estimates but missed sales expectations on Wall Street with its third quarter results. The Kenilworth, N.J.-based company posted a loss of -$51 million, or -2¢ per share, on sales of $10.33 billion for the 3 months ended Sept. 30. This quarter’s […]
Sanofi files patent infringement suit against Mylan over insulin pen
Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) filed a patent infringement suit against Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) yesterday in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, alleging that the EpiPen-maker infringed upon 18 patents covering Sanofi’s Lantus insulin glargine injection and SoloStar pen. The suit was triggered by a notice from Mylan in mid-September, Sanofi said. Mylan told the insulin-maker that it had […]
LifeMine Therapeutics combines AI, drug discovery & microbes with $55m launch
Backed by the likes of Google and Merck (NYSE:MRK), Cambridge, Mass.-based LifeMine Therapeutics launched today by closing a $55 million Series A round. The company calls itself the first to “massively scale the genomic discovery of powerful new drugs from eukaryotic microbes”. LifeMine plans to use artificial intelligence to hunt down drugs hidden within the DNA […]
Merck leads $11m round for Antidote’s trial-matching tech
Antidote Technologies said today that it inked an $11 million funding round to advance its clinical trial matching technologies. The round was led by Merck’s Global Health Innovation Fund. Existing investors Smedvig Capital and Octopus Ventures participated in the round, which is contingent upon obtaining certain regulatory clearances and is expected to close later this […]
Fresenius closes Merck biosimilar biz purchase
Fresenius Kabi said today that it closed its acquisition of Merck KGaA’s biosimilars unit. The company paid €156 million at closing ($185.7 million USD) and could pay up to €500 million ($595.2 million USD) in milestone payments, which are contingent upon meeting certain drug development targets. Previously, Fresenius announced it would pay €170 million upfront ($202.4 million […]
Federal judge dismisses faulty birth control suit against Merck
A Maine federal judge tossed out a woman’s lawsuit against Merck (NYSE:MRK), after she claimed that the company’s Nexplanon birth control implant allegedly failed to keep her from becoming pregnant. Kayla Doherty filed the suit in April 2015, seeking damages related to the costs of raising a child as a single mother and costs related to […]
Update: Industry panels disintegrate in wake of Trump remarks
A pair of industry panels convened by President Donald Trump disintegrated today in the wake of his latest comments on the racist violence in Charlottesville. After Merck (NYSE:MRK) CEO Kenneth Frazier announced on Monday that he planned to leave Trump’s manufacturing advisory panel, a wave of executives followed in his path. Today, reversing from a statement […]
Merck CEO Frazier leaves Trump council
Merck (NYSE:MRK) announced today that chief executive Kenneth Frazier plans to resign from President Donald Trump’s American Manufacturing Council, citing the president’s mild-mannered response to a white nationalist rally in Virginia on Saturday. The “Unite The Right” gathering turned deadly when a car mowed down a group of counter-protesters, killing at least one person and injuring […]
