Daiichi approval sets up clash with Novartis, Astellas

Today's Big News

Jul 21, 2023

J&J’s shrinking infectious disease and vaccine plans leave partners in limbo 


After FDA snub, Daiichi's Vanflyta gains US approval and tees up AML clash with Novartis, Astellas 


Intuitive stock slumps on Q2 results—even as robotic surgery procedures continue post-pandemic recovery 


ADC Therapeutics pulls the plug on Zynlonta study after partial FDA hold  


Sleepless nights for 500 Idorsia staff as biotech halves cash burn to outlast weak insomnia drug sales 


‘The Top Line’: The chemotherapy drug shortage, plus this week’s headlines   

 

Featured

J&J’s shrinking infectious disease and vaccine plans leave partners in limbo

Cidara Therapeutics has yet to hear whether Janssen is formally ending a collaboration on flu prophylaxis, saying it intends to trudge ahead with development until hearing otherwise. Janssen no longer lists the partnered asset in its pipeline.
11-14
Sep
Philadelphia, PA
 

Top Stories

After FDA snub, Daiichi's Vanflyta gains US approval and tees up AML clash with Novartis, Astellas

Some four years after Daiichi Sankyo's quizartinib scored its initial green light in Japan—and suffered a slap-down from drug regulators stateside—the acute myeloid leukemia medicine has won the FDA’s blessing. It becomes the U.S.' first FLT3 inhibitor approved across three phases of the common blood cancer.

Intuitive stock slumps on Q2 results—even as robotic surgery procedures continue post-pandemic recovery

After use of its surgical robotics systems all but ground to a halt at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Intuitive Surgical has seen its fortunes reverse in recent months, as hospital procedures steadily return to pre-pandemic levels.

ADC Therapeutics pulls the plug on Zynlonta study after partial FDA hold

After severe respiratory events and seven deaths held up ADC's Zynlonta study in unfit or frail patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the company has scrapped the trial altogether.

Sleepless nights for 500 Idorsia staff as biotech halves cash burn to outlast weak insomnia drug sales

Up to 500 roles at Idorsia are at risk as the Swiss biotech tries to halve its cash burn while it waits for its approved insomnia treatment Quviviq to pay off.

Ex-B. Braun regulatory specialist pleads guilty to forging FDA clearance documents

A regulatory affairs specialist has pleaded guilty to forging FDA documents and leading his bosses to believe they had a green light to put their medical devices on the market.

Mirati's flagship KRAS inhibitor Krazati gets rebuffed in Europe

Friday, Mirati said the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had spurned the company’s conditional marketing authorization application for Krazati, also known as adagrasib, to treat patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Mirati “disagrees with the opinion” and intends to file for a formal re-examination, the company said.

Passage decides 26% of staff, 2 execs not needed on voyage deeper into clinic

In a tricky financial climate, we’re increasingly used to hearing about biotechs reducing head count for their early-stage R&D work. But Passage Bio has decided to go in the other direction, laying off employees in its chemistry, manufacturing and controls group to prioritize its development strategy.

University of Utah’s ‘Bone Bolt’ system for complex fractures earns FDA clearance

Proving once and for all that you can, indeed, teach an old dog new tricks, the University of Utah has earned its first-ever 510(k) clearance from the FDA at the ripe old age of 173.

Chutes & Ladders—Stanford president resigns after investigation

Marc Tessier-Lavigne has resigned from his post as president of Stanford University after months of sidestepping allegations that select research he oversaw was manipulated.

Fierce Pharma Asia—Eisai's subcutaneous Leqembi study; Astellas' IRA lawsuit; and GSK's Taiwan recall

Eisai showed off "promising" results from a modeling and bioavailability study of its subcutaneous Leqembi formulation. Astellas joined the growing list of drugmakers taking on the Inflation Reduction Act with legal action. GSK pulled two batches of its Nucala in Taiwan after glass particles were found in one vial. Plus more.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don't miss an episode

'The Top Line': Digital phenotyping, plus this week's headlines

This week on "The Top Line," we discuss the state of digital phenotyping, plus the vaccine patent lawsuits, the smallest insulin pump, and the rest of the week's headlines.

 

Resources

Whitepaper

Five ways to get the most from your lab and manufacturing facilities

Leading facilities practices and technologies can help improve the productivity of your research and manufacturing operations—and accelerate the journey from laboratory to saving lives.
Webinar

Novel Antibodies for the Characterization of CAR-T Cells

Download this webinar to learn how to avoid pitfalls when characterizing CAR-T cells in your development workflow, how to save time by using one antibody to examine your entire panel of CARs, and more.
Whitepaper

Improving the Patient Experience Through Research-Driven Design

Learn more about the current challenges and issues that eClinical technology providers are facing.
Research

Develop a cost-effective cGMP chemical sourcing strategy

The right sourcing strategy can help save of millions of dollars—learn about developing a strategy for sourcing the cGMP chemicals critical to your processes.
Whitepaper

Discovering High-Affinity, Functional Anti-GLP-1R Antibodies

Learn how a GPCR-focused library with a cell-based biopanning strategy led to the discovery of 13 high-affinity and selective anti-GLP-1R antibodies with highly developable therapeutic properties.
eBook

Medical Affairs Metamorphosis

This eBook identifies the trends driving major change in the Medical Affairs (MA) function. It also outlines the strategic and tactical implications for MA leaders and team members.
eBook

6 Tools Trial Sponsors Need to Take Action Earlier in Enrollment

Take a look at the reporting tools sponsors need to access insights earlier in the clinical trial enrollment funnel, so you can take informed actions.
Whitepaper

Enhance the cost-effectiveness of your GMP chemical supply chain

Learn how to develop a high-performing supply chain for cGMP chemicals used throughout your bioprocessing workflows.
 

Industry Events

 

Upcoming Fierce Events

11-14
Sep
Philadelphia, PA
13
Sep
Philadelphia, PA
19-21
Sep
Virtual Event
26-28
Sep
Philadelphia, PA
5-6
Oct
San Diego, CA

View all events