Clinical research - Today Stories

Both Edwards Lifesciences and Teva won four Golds and one Silver each, making them joint top of the pharma charts. Roche won two Golds and two Silvers and Reckitt Benckiser (RB) two Golds. Other Gold winners on the client side included ALK, Heart UK, Immunocore, Janssen, Mundipharma, Novo Nordisk and Santen.    The event is the largest in the industry awards calendar and attracts around 900 people from across pharma companies and agencies to the largest ballroom in Park Lane. The ceremony was skilfully hosted by Claudia Winkleman in combination with comedian Zoe Lyons and everyone’s favourite voice, Alan Dedicoat, the voice of Strictly.  Although the Gold Awards were dominated by Havas Lynx Group and VCCP, there were 21 different agencies and 30 different pharmaceutical or healthcare organ…

Both Edwards Lifesciences and Teva won four Golds and one Silver each, making them joint top of the pharma charts. Roche won two Golds and two Silvers and Reckitt Benckiser (RB) two Golds. Other Gold winners on the client side included ALK, Heart UK, Immunocore, Janssen, Mundipharma, Novo Nordisk and Santen.    The event is the largest in the industry awards calendar and attracts around 900 people from across pharma companies and agencies to the largest ballroom in Park Lane. The ceremony was skilfully hosted by Claudia Winkleman in combination with comedian Zoe Lyons and everyone’s favourite voice, Alan Dedicoat, the voice of Strictly.  Although the Gold Awards were dominated by Havas Lynx Group and VCCP, there were 21 different agencies and 30 different pharmaceutical or healthcare organ…

From an increase in sales of interleukin inhibitors to the prevalence of biosimilars, this decade has been an eventful one in the immunology industry. Patrick Aiyes, Senior Immunology Analyst at leading data and analytics company GlobalData, observes the key trends that has shaped the immunology market in the last decade: Key immunology drugs “The immunology market has seen a continuous increase in the sales of interleukin inhibitors and a decrease in the sales of TNF inhibitors - primarily because of the entry of biosimilars into the market and the increased safety profile associated with interleukin inhibitors. Abbvie’s Humira will end the decade as the highest grossing drug of 2019, generating sales of approximately $19bn globally, while Janssen’s Stelara will be the highest-grossing i…

Following the news that sepsis has been found to be a bigger killer than cancer worldwide in a study by Rudd et al; Kasey Fu, Director of Epidermiology at GlobalData, provides her view: “The *7MM will see diagnosed incident cases of sepsis grow at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 2.06% per year over the next ten years from 2.5 million cases in 2016 to 3.1 million in 2026. By these estimations, this year will see around 600,000 cases of septic shock and close to three million cases of intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalized sepsis.  “The study by Rudd et al, published in Lancet, was an impressive and enormous undertaking. Looking at the study's robust and comprehensive methodology, it is not surprising that sepsis incidence was found to be twice as what was known previously. Compared to most…

Fasenra being evaluated in eight eosinophil-driven diseases beyond severe asthma AstraZeneca today announced three new trials for Fasenra (benralizumab) in skin diseases, adding to five trials already underway for the medicine in eosinophil-driven diseases (EDDs) beyond severe asthma. In EDD, immune system dysfunction causes eosinophil recruitment and activation leading to chronic local and/or systemic inflammation.1 The three new trials for Fasenra in skin diseases include two Phase II trials to assess the potential of the medicine in atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU); and a Phase III trial in bullous pemphigoid (BP). Five additional Phase III clinical trials are underway to investigate the potential of Fasenra in: Disease Trial name Estimated data readout …

BIOGEN TO ACQUIRE NOVEL CLINICAL STAGE ASSET WITH APPLICATION IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE FROM PFIZER INC PF-05251749 is a CNS-penetrant regulator of circadian rhythm with potential to address behavioral and neurological symptoms across various psychiatric and neurological diseases  Biogen to pay Pfizer $75 million upfront plus potential milestones of up to $635 million, and royalties  PF-05251749 complements the Company’s pipeline of potential disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) today announced an agreement to acquire from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) PF-05251749, a novel CNS-penetrant small molecule inhibitor of casein kinase 1 (CK1), for the potential treatment…

Ashfield Pharmacovigilance Inc. becomes part of Ergomed’s PrimeVigilance division, bolstering its market-leading position as a global independent specialist pharmacovigilance provider and establishing a platform for the broader Ergomed services business in the US Combined business expands PrimeVigilance’s geographic coverage in the strategically important US market and strengthens global service offering Acquisition adds over 40 new clients to PrimeVigilance and a strong order book of contracted future revenues of $9.8 million Ashfield Pharmacovigilance Inc. reported $11.6 million revenue and $0.9 million adjusted EBITDA in the year to 30 September 2019 and is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings   London, UK – 13 January 2020: Ergomed plc (LSE: ERGO) ("Ergomed" or the "Compa…

Frankfurt, Germany – 7th January 2020: PharmaLex Group, one of the most experienced and most successful specialist providers of Development Consulting, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Epidemiology & Risk Management, and Quality Management & Compliance worldwide, have completed the merger with CompliMed in the United Kingdom. CompliMed is the UK’s leading Healthcare Compliance Consultancy specialising in the ABPI Code of Practice. Their services include training, e-learning, outsourcing, audits, SOPs, medical review and final signatory support. By joining forces with CompliMed, PharmaLex will extend its services in healthcare compliance, further enabling its customers to maximise promotional effectiveness whilst complying with legislation and codes of practice during their en…

Happy New Year! Here's to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2020 from everyone at PharmiWeb!

Freeline, a biotechnology company focused on developing curative gene therapies for chronic systemic diseases, today announces Syncona Ltd (“Syncona) has made an $80.0 million (£61.1 million)[1] commitment in a Series C financing and has funded the first tranche of this commitment, amounting to $40.0 million (£30.6 million)[2]. This financing augments the previous £88.4 million Series B investment and the £34.8 million Series A investment previously made into Freeline by the founding investors, led by Syncona. The first $40 million tranche will enable Freeline to expand its team, continue to develop its robust manufacturing platform, including commercial supply capability, generate further data in its clinical programmes for Haemophilia B and Fabry Disease, and continue to progress its pip…

Craigavon, N.I., 04 December 2019 - Almac Group, the global contract pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organisation, has been awarded $200K by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to develop novel biosynthetic routes with the aim of substantially lowering the cost of selected steroidal Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and enable their use in developing world aid programs. The programme of work will see the development of novel biocatalytic routes to Etonorgestrel and Levonorgestrel APIs by Almac Sciences’ established team of biocatalysis experts based in Ireland.  Etonorgestrel is a highly potent material currently made with mid-twentieth century chemistry which makes it very expensive at almost $200k/kg and therefore unaffordable to women in the developing wor…

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has launched its General Election 2020 Manifesto for Medicine. The industry body is calling on all parties to ensure that their policies support UK science and research and help maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in medicines and vaccines development into the future. Pharmaceutical companies in the UK collectively employ 63,000 people and invest £4.3 billion in UK R&D – more than any other sector. The ABPI says the next Government should capitalise on the UK’s world-leading life science industry and improve the health of NHS patients by: 1. Prioritising patients and health security in the future UK – EU relationship​ The UK’s membership of the EU has shaped and enforced much of the scientific, regulatory and trade infras…

Erada Technology Alliance receives 3,000 EUR for its world’s first saliva-based malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Erada Technology Alliance’s ambition to eradicate malaria moved a step closer this week after scooping 3,000 EUR on winning the 2019 Africa Challenge. In doing so, it has booked its ticket to the Paris Global Summit in March 2020, where it will pitch again against 1,000 fellow start-ups from across the world in front of 300 investors and international media for the opportunity to receive 100,000 EUR. The South African start-up saw off 5,000 applicants from across Africa to win the Hello Tomorrow Africa Challenge award. This announcement came at the AfricArena conference in Cape Town, which brought together tech start-ups from all over Africa. Erada’s RDT, known as SALVA!, de…

LONDON – 12 November, 2019 – Charity Parkinson’s UK today announced an international partnership with US-based organisation, The Parkinson’s Foundation who have granted £200,000 towards a potential new therapy for people with Parkinson’s as part of the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, led by the charity. Each year, Parkinson’s UK, their supporters and partners invest more than £4 million into the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech to rapidly develop and test the most promising research findings with the aim of turning them into treatments that will transform the lives of people with Parkinson's. The Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech focuses on the projects that matter the most to the Parkinson’s community and is powered by collaborations with world-leading research organisations that are best placed to del…

Abingdon, UK, 8 November 2019: – OBN (UK) Ltd., the membership organisation that supports the life sciences industry, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2019 OBN Awards. The Awards, which are in their 11th year, celebrate the best of UK life sciences – from outstanding scientific innovation within Biotech, Medtech and Digital Health, to the companies that support the industry and the fundraisers that make it happen.  This year’s event hosted an audience of over 250 life sciences industry leaders at the Oxford Examination Schools. John Harris, CEO of OBN, said: “We received an incredible number of entries yet again this year, so competition has been really tough for all nominees.  All our winners and finalists are truly innovative, at the very top of their respective sectors, and s…

Combining two major forces in HEOR, market access, medical affairs and healthcare communications 4th November, 2019, London, UK and Bethesda, USA – OPEN Health has today announced the integration of Pharmerit International, a global leader in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), into its group of companies. Joining the Pharmerit business with the OPEN Health Group establishes a new unique entity equipped to be a global leader in HEOR, market access, medical affairs and healthcare communications. The merger enhances and supports OPEN Health’s positioning – deep, broad and connected: Deep in that integration will expand the company’s global footprint and capabilities in the HEOR and market access space – across four integrated centres of excellence: Strategic market access Modell…

London, UK - Some of the UK’s leading Harley Street outpatient clinics specialising in delivering expert mental health support have partnered with medical device company Flow Neuroscience to offer patients a new medically approved brain stimulation headset to treat depression. The type of brain stimulation used in the headset has been shown in independent clinical studies to have a similar impact to antidepressants but with fewer and less-severe side effects. Clinics within London’s esteemed medical district, including the NHS-connected private therapy clinic The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, will now offer patients the new brain stimulation headset as an add-on treatment in combination with their traditional therapy and psychiatrist services. An additional 10 clinics are trialling the headse…

Scientists from the University of Nottingham have discovered an easy, cost-effective and safe method of sending cells and small living samples worldwide, which could revolutionise conventional practice. Cultured cells are currently transported using dry ice - the solid form of carbon dioxide - which keeps them frozen at -80oC. However, dry ice shipping is expensive, voluminous and hazardous, so much so that many couriers refuse to handle it. Also, if it evaporates before a shipment reaches its destination, cellular recovery is jeopardised, as the cells get crushed and the cryoprotectant needed for their storage at low temperatures, is toxic to cells at ambient temperatures.   Dry ice is also damaging to the environment, with 5kg, (the quantity typically used in a consignment of frozen ce…

Grant will support researchers from King’s College London and King’s College Hospital to test a personalised treatment approach for Aplastic Anaemia patients who have not responded to available therapies 21 October 2019 - LifeArc, a UK-based medical research charity, and the Aplastic Anaemia Trust (AAT) have jointly awarded a £1.15m research grant to King’s College London and King’s College Hospital to investigate the potential of a novel type of “personalised cellular therapy” to reverse the ultra-rare condition aplastic anaemia (AA). The results of this research could give new hope to people living with a severe, life-limiting form of this condition. The grant will fund a clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of using a patient’s own T-reg cells to restore the blood-makin…