Clinical research - Today Stories

Donald Trump has triggered plans to impose 100% tariffs on some imported pharmaceutical products, citing national security concerns and a desire to boost domestic manufacturing. The proposal would target medicines and raw ingredients sourced largely from countries such as China and India, which currently dominate key segments of the global supply chain. If a pharmaceutical product is from the European Union, Japan, Korea, or Switzerland and Liechtenstein, a 15% tariff will apply.  If a pharmaceutical product is from the United Kingdom, a lower tariff will apply (10%), subject to the recently concluded UK pharmaceutical agreement. The tariffs will come into effect in 120 days for certain large companies, and 180 days for smaller companies. The move is intended to reduce US reliance on forei…

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced a strategic collaboration with SHL Medical aimed at delivering fully integrated drug device solutions for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The partnership brings together Thermo Fisher’s capabilities in sterile fill finish and global manufacturing with SHL Medical’s expertise in advanced autoinjector systems. As part of the agreement, Thermo Fisher is expanding its sterile fill finish and final assembly capacity in Ridgefield, New Jersey. This is expected to support growing demand for combination products, particularly in areas such as biologics and self administered therapies. SHL Medical, known for its drug delivery technologies, will contribute device design and large scale autoinjector production capabilities. The collaboration is designed…

ICON and Advarra have formed a partnership to create a connected site network model designed to make clinical trials easier for research sites to run. The agreement links ICON’s trial technology and services with Advarra’s systems already used by many investigators and study teams worldwide. The companies said this should reduce administrative burden, improve study startup, and help more sites take part in complex trials. They also plan to support emerging research sites with tools that simplify workflows and widen access to studies. For sponsors, the model is intended to provide better visibility into trial progress and improve planning, site selection, patient recruitment, and overall delivery.

Panthera Biopartners, the UK’s largest independent Site Management Organisation (SMO), has joined the Association of Multisite Research Corporations (AMRC), a trade body focused on advancing the value of multisite clinical research organisations. AMRC was founded to promote the benefits of the multisite model and to strengthen understanding of its role among sponsors, CROs, policymakers and regulators. The association acts as a link between multisite networks, pharmaceutical companies and regulatory stakeholders, helping ensure the capabilities of large multisite organisations are recognised and effectively used. For Panthera, membership supports closer industry collaboration, broader advocacy and a stronger role in shaping the future of clinical research. Panthera CEO Stuart Young said th…

IQVIA has unveiled IQVIA.ai, a unified agentic artificial intelligence platform designed to enhance decision making and efficiency across the life sciences sector. Announced at NVIDIA GTC, the platform brings together advanced analytics, automation and AI driven insights within a single environment tailored for healthcare applications. Built using IQVIA’s extensive data assets and healthcare focused AI capabilities, alongside NVIDIA technologies, the platform is designed to integrate directly into existing workflows. It enables organisations to coordinate complex tasks, analyse large datasets and generate actionable insights more quickly and securely. IQVIA.ai acts as a central hub where users can access a range of intelligent agents that support clinical development, commercial strategy…

Sumitomo Pharma has received regulatory approval in Japan for a pioneering stem cell based treatment for Parkinson’s disease, marking a major step forward for regenerative medicine. The therapy, known as Amchepry, uses induced pluripotent stem cells that are transformed into dopamine producing nerve cells and transplanted into the patient’s brain. Parkinson’s disease occurs when dopamine producing neurons deteriorate, leading to symptoms such as tremors, stiffness and impaired movement. The new therapy aims to replace these lost cells and restore dopamine production, potentially improving motor function in patients who no longer respond adequately to existing medicines. The approval was granted under Japan’s conditional and time limited framework for regenerative therapies, designed to acc…

France is taking steps to accelerate the generation of clinical trial data through a new fast track authorisation pathway designed to speed up early stage studies. The initiative, led by the French medicines regulator ANSM, aims to reduce approval timelines for certain clinical trials while maintaining scientific and ethical oversight. Under the scheme, selected mono national trials conducted in France may receive regulatory approval within as little as 14 days if no additional questions arise during the evaluation process. Trials that require further review may still be authorised within approximately 49 days. The fast track pathway is expected to focus on early phase studies, first in class therapies, and research targeting serious or rare diseases where limited treatment options exist.…

Uniphar has announced a strategic merger between its clinical trial services division, Uniphar | Clinical, and BMclinical, creating a unified global partner for clinical trial supply. The merger strengthens Uniphar | Clinical’s integrated supply platform and brings BMclinical’s deep expertise in comparator sourcing into a single comprehensive offering. This combined service is designed to support every stage of clinical trial logistics, including sourcing, packaging, labeling, storage and distribution of clinical materials, while improving continuity and reducing risk from study initiation to completion. The expanded capabilities aim to streamline global supply chains and help sponsors bring therapies to patients more efficiently as trials grow in complexity. With strategically located fac…

PharmaMar has partnered with Globant to accelerate cancer drug discovery through a new multi-agent artificial intelligence framework. Developed using Globant Enterprise AI, the system delivers over 90% accuracy in complex data retrieval and generates insights up to 15 times faster, enabling researchers to identify high-potential drug candidates more efficiently. The platform analyses vast volumes of scientific, clinical and regulatory data, supporting decision-making across PharmaMar’s R&D ecosystem. More than 20 specialised digital agents operate across preclinical, clinical, regulatory, commercial and strategic functions, working within a secure architecture to process documents, simulate scenarios and rank promising pharmaceutical assets. The system can review over 4,500 research do…

Medica Group, the UK’s largest teleradiology provider and a leader in digital pathology and telemedicine, has agreed to add Axon Diagnostics to the group, expanding access to high-quality remote diagnostic reporting across the NHS and independent sector. The integration brings together Medica’s extensive clinician network and established clinical governance infrastructure with Axon’s agile technology platform and workflow tools. Axon will also welcome sister company MITIS Health, whose Clinical Desktop technology enables secure, high-performance remote reporting widely used by NHS Trusts. Together, the organisations will form the UK’s largest clinical reporting network, serving more than 2.5 million patients across 55% of NHS Trusts. The combined group will offer enhanced capacity across m…

Richmond Pharmacology has formed an Expert Regulatory Advisory Board to strengthen its support for clinical trial sponsors navigating complex and evolving regulatory environments. The new advisory board brings together former senior regulators and industry leaders with deep experience across UK, EU and international authorities and regulatory strategy. It will work closely with Richmond’s clinical and regulatory teams to embed practical regulatory insight early in drug development planning and trial delivery. The board’s expertise spans scientific advice engagement, first-in-human and complex trial design, advanced therapy development, inspection readiness and global regulatory strategy. Chaired by Dr Lisa Campbell, Director of Regulatory Strategy at Richmond Pharmacology and former senior…

DeepHow has introduced PharmaCloud, a cloud-based platform designed specifically for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to improve training, execution, and verification on the factory floor. PharmaCloud provides a GMP-compliant environment that helps teams standardize procedures across sites so operators follow approved methods with greater consistency and fewer errors than traditional training. The platform unifies training content, guided step-by-step execution, and AI-powered verification to ensure critical process steps are completed correctly and according to validated procedures. PharmaCloud also tracks changes and training records so teams always work with current, approved instructions and maintain full audit trails. By bringing visual guidance and AI feedback into dai…

Sanofi has secured European Union approval for Teizeild (teplizumab), a new disease-modifying therapy for people aged eight years and older with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. This decision by the European Commission follows a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use and makes Teizeild the first treatment in the EU shown to delay the onset of stage 3 clinical type 1 diabetes. The approval is based on positive results from the TN-10 phase II study, where Teizeild significantly extended the time patients remained in the presymptomatic stage compared with placebo, effectively slowing progression of the autoimmune attack on insulin-producing cells. Sanofi says the drug offers patients and families a chance to postpone the need for insulin t…

QPS Holdings, LLC, an award-winning contract research organisation focused on clinical trials and bioanalysis, has implemented the Oracle Argus Safety Database to elevate its pharmacovigilance capabilities. This industry-leading safety case management system will support QPS in capturing, managing and reporting adverse event data across clinical trials with greater efficiency and compliance. By adopting Argus, QPS aims to improve patient safety oversight, strengthen regulatory compliance and streamline safety reporting workflows for sponsors. The move reflects QPS’s commitment to operational excellence and advanced technology integration as drug development becomes increasingly complex and data-intensive. Oracle Argus is widely recognised as a comprehensive pharmacovigilance solution that…

PSI CRO has broadened its footprint in Canada by opening a new office in the Toronto area and naming an experienced industry leader to guide its operations there. The office, located in Mississauga, Ontario, builds on the company’s established Canadian presence and commitment to clinical research excellence. PSI CRO has been active in Canada for over a decade, supporting complex clinical trials with a focus on dependable delivery and strong relationships with research sites. As part of this expansion, David Allen, MBA, has been appointed as Country Manager for Canada. Allen brings more than 30 years of experience in clinical research from both sponsor and CRO environments. In his new role, he will lead efforts to enhance the company’s operational capabilities in the local market and ensure…

GlaxoSmithKline announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its twice-annual asthma therapy Exdensur, offering a new option for patients aged 12 and older with severe eosinophilic asthma inadequately controlled by standard treatment. Exdensur, known by its active ingredient depemokimab, is designed as an add-on maintenance treatment that can be administered just twice a year, potentially improving convenience and adherence for patients living with persistent symptoms. The decision follows positive clinical evidence showing significant reductions in asthma exacerbations and hospital visits when added to existing therapies, underscoring its potential impact on this patient population. GSK expects Exdensur to complement current biologics and become an important part of its…

The Publishing group behind the science magazine New Scientist, has closed its dedicated job portal New Scientist Jobs. The site, once a key place for employers to post science and research-oriented vacancies is no longer operating. This however cements PharmiWeb.jobs position as the primary dedicated job board for Life Sciences in Europe. Recruiters and Hiring Managers   Any organisations looking to promote their vacancies with the broadest reach to Life Science professionals across Europe, the USA and Australasia can reach out to PharmiWeb here - https://phrmwb.com/exnewscientistjobs  Job Seekers If you're a job seekers looking for your next Life Science role, PharmiWeb.jobs remains the best place to look - So if if you've not already, register and upload your CV for the best roles. www.…

The Swiss drugmaker Novartis has secured U.S. regulatory approval for Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve), a gene replacement therapy for individuals aged two years and older with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and a confirmed SMN1 mutation. Itvisma represents the first one-time gene therapy available for a broader SMA population beyond infants. The treatment delivers a functional copy of the SMN1 gene via an injection into the spinal fluid, eliminating the need for weight-based dosing. Clinical trials demonstrated statistically significant improvements in motor function and stabilization of disease progression. Novartis emphasises that this approval could reduce or even eliminate the requirement for chronic therapy in older patients. With this milestone, Itvisma becomes a major extensi…

The UK government has announced a sweeping package of reforms and investment designed to put artificial intelligence at the centre of the country’s economic renewal. The measures include billions of pounds in additional funding and new initiatives aimed at supporting UK businesses, researchers and workers. Key elements of the plan include the creation of new “AI Growth Zones” such as one in South Wales which is expected to bring in more than 5 000 jobs over the next decade, including roles from construction to long-term AI research. Free access to computing resources will be expanded so British researchers and start-ups can train new AI models and deliver breakthroughs in science and industry. A dedicated “Sovereign AI Unit” will be backed with nearly £500 million to support high-potential…

Global life sciences company Bayer has unveiled its new “Science Delivers” campaign, designed to highlight how science shapes everyday life and fosters progress across society. Launched on World Science Day, the initiative includes a wide-reaching advertising push, a public “Declaration on Science,” and interactive experiences that invite people to share personal stories of how science has made a difference in their lives. A central video montage showcases individuals in diverse settings while a voiceover narrates how scientific discovery powers medical breakthroughs, cleaner water, sustainable agriculture, and better energy solutions. The message is clear: for every community and for every tomorrow, science truly delivers. The campaign also features installations and a digital hub where p…