Today Stories

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cognate BioServices, Inc., a premier, cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), for approximately $875 million in cash, subject to customary closing adjustments. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory requirements and customary closing conditions. James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Laboratories, commented, “Cognate BioServices presents a unique opportunity to expand into a high-growth, value-added sector of the CDMO market and enhance our ability to meet our clients’ needs in emerging areas of scientific innovation. Th…

GSK has announced aspirational targets to make further progress on its gender and ethnic diversity representation in senior leadership. As a result of work to increase female representation in senior roles, GSK has already exceeded its target of 37% of VP-level and above roles being filled by women. The company will now extend this to increase female representation in VP level and above roles to at least 45% by 2025. To drive greater racial and ethnic diversity in senior roles in its two biggest employee populations in the US and UK, new targets have been introduced in these countries, reflecting demographics in these countries. In the US, a new target of at least 30% ethnically diverse leaders by the end of 2025 is now in place to increase representation from the current level of 23%. In…

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has been granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by the World Health Organization (WHO) for active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older, including those over 65. The authorisation of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca manufactured by AstraZeneca, and COVISHIELD manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), enables global access to the vaccine during the pandemic. The EUL allows for two doses of the vaccine to be administered at a four to 12-week interval. This regimen was shown in clinical trials to be safe and effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, with no severe cases and no hospitalisations more than 14 days after the second dose. The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommended a do…

The University of Glasgow has entered into a research collaboration with pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company, that aims to discover and validate the next generation of drug targets for immunological diseases. The £4.6million research collaboration, due to last four years, will work across four diseases – psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibrosis and vasculitis – and will be led by the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation. The collaboration will allow scientists from UofG and Lilly to work together in order to drive the research forward – a move researchers hope will help enable the identification of first-in-class therapeutics for people suffering with these devastating and costly conditions. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis alone a…

The ABPI is delighted to announce that the ABPI Board has unanimously elected Ben Osborn, UK Country Manager, Pfizer, as President-elect of the ABPI. Ben has over twenty years of experience across a wide range of leadership roles at Pfizer, where he began his career in 1998. Prior to his appointment as UK Country Manager in 2018, Ben held the role of Chief Marketing Officer, Pfizer Innovative Health where he led the marketing organisation across Europe, Japan, Korea and ANZ. Ben will formally take over the ABPI Presidency from Haseeb Ahmad on 1 May, following our AGM on 30 April. Until then, Haseeb will remain ABPI President. Further information will follow, and Ben will be available for interview from May 1.

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Caribou Biosciences, Inc., a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome editing biotechnology company, announced today that they have entered into a collaboration and license agreement for the research and development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapeutics. Although allogeneic, "off-the-shelf" CAR-T cell therapies have shown early promise in some cancer patients, the need for overcoming the rejection of allogeneic CAR-T cells by the host immune system remains a key challenge to their broader development. Employing Caribou's CRISPR genome editing platform to engineer CAR-T cells to withstand host immune attack would enable the development of the next-generation of "off-the-shelf" cellular therapies to benefit a broader patient population.   Under the…

Continued partnership will enhance experience for customers and colleagues and help accelerate cloud innovation on next-generation network BT today announced a new, multi-year agreement with Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) to continue to be the company’s network partner in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Under the agreement, BT will work to transform WBA’s networking and enhance the customer and colleague experience with the deployment of next-generation technology.Steve Rempel, senior vice president and international chief information officer, WBA, said, “We chose BT because we share a focus on delivering standout customer experiences. Our digital plans demand full visibility, control and security of applications and data crossing our network so we can join up in-store and online experienc…

FDA BDD acknowledges the importance of GDF-15 testing in identifying eligible cachexic patients with solid tumours to be treated with Pfizer's investigational drug PF-06946860 Unintentional weight loss (cachexia) is a highly prevalent complication of cancer, affecting more than half of all cancer patients worldwide, potentially leading to significant functional impairment and increased risk of death Successful cachexia treatment can potentially contribute to improved cancer treatment worldwide Basel, 8 February 2021 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Device Designation to their Elecsys® GDF-15 assay as a companion diagnostic (CDx) in cancer treatment. This in vitro diagnostic immunoassay is intend…

4D pharma plc (AIM: DDDD), a pharmaceutical company leading the development of Live Biotherapeutic products (LBPs), a novel class of drug derived from the microbiome, today announced a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Inc. for BAVENCIO® (avelumab), the first and only immunotherapy approved as a first-line maintenance treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. BAVENCIO is co-developed and co-commercialized by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Inc. Under the collaboration, 4D pharma intends to commence a clinical trial in 2021 to evaluate BAVENCIO in combination with MRx0518 as a first-line maintenance therapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that…

Researchers from the UCL Division of Infection & Immunity will lead on two collaborative projects with AstraZeneca. The projects’ long-term aim is to contribute to the development of new cancer treatments. These research collaborations will investigate immune checkpoints which are key biochemical pathways that regulate our body’s immune responses. These are important in a number of conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases.  Immune checkpoints carry out the important role of keeping our immune response at normal levels, and therefore not harming healthy cells. However, they can also ‘block’ specialist cells within our immune system from attacking and destroying cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitor drugs, a type of immunotherapy, have revolutionised cancer treatment in the last…

On 4th February we celebrate World Cancer Day 2021 – a day that unites people, communities and entire countries to raise awareness and take action. Show your support for life-saving research by wearing your Unity Band®, or making a donation. What is World Cancer Day? World Cancer Day is led by the UICC, the Union for International Cancer Control. Cancer Research UK is one of its thousand members from across 172 countries, and we also sit on the board. World Cancer Day is one singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fights against the global cancer epidemic. Cancer is a global challenge. In 2018, 18 million people world-wide were diagnosed with cancer. Today, thanks to research, 2 in 4 people in the UK survive their cancer for 10 years or more. The prospect…

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) and GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: GWPH) today announced the companies have entered into a definitive agreement for Jazz to acquire GW for $220.00 per American Depositary Share (ADS), in the form of $200.00 in cash and $20.00 in Jazz ordinary shares, for a total consideration of $7.2 billion, or $6.7 billion net of GW cash. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021. Upon close of the transaction, the combined company will be a leader in neuroscience with a global commercial and operational footprint well positioned to maximize the value of its diversified portfolio. GW is a global leader in discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercial…

Destiny Pharma Plc (AIM: DEST) a clinical stage innovative biotechnology company focused on the development of novel medicines that can prevent life threatening infections, today announces the appointment of Professor Mark Wilcox to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Professor Wilcox is a consultant microbiologist and Head of R&D in Microbiology at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals and is Lead on Clostridium difficile infection for Public Health England (PHE). He also has advisory roles to UK SAGE (COVID-19), NHS England’s Infection Prevention & Control national team and PHE’s Rapid Review Panel (reviewing the utility of infection prevention and control products for the NHS), and is a member of the UK NHS Antimicrobial Resistance Programme Board. Dr Bill Love, Chief Scientific Officer…

AstraZeneca has agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, to divest its 26.7% ownership in Viela Bio, Inc. (Viela), as part of the proposed acquisition of Viela by Horizon Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: HZNP). AstraZeneca is anticipating to receive cash proceeds and profit of c.$760-$780m upon closing for the sale of the holding, which will be recorded in Reported and Core Other Operating Income and Expense in the Company’s financial statements. The divestment is expected to complete by the end of the first quarter of 2021. The divestment does not impact the Company's financial guidance for 2020. Guidance for 2021 is anticipated to be issued with full-year 2020 results on 11 February 2021. VielaViela (Nasdaq: VIE), headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a biotechnology company dedicat…

First of multiple agreements being explored by Novartis to leverage manufacturing capacity and capabilities to address pandemic, supporting global supply of COVID-19 vaccine Initial agreement signed with BioNTech to use Novartis manufacturing plant in Stein, Switzerland, to support production of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine Production to commence in the second quarter for estimated delivery commencing in the third quarter 2021 Basel, January 29, 2021 — Novartis announced today that it has signed an initial agreement to leverage its manufacturing capacity and capabilities in order to address the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting the production of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The agreement will see Novartis utilizing its aseptic manufacturing facilities at its site in Stein, Switzerland. U…

Ingelheim, Germany, January 25, 2021 – The Top Employers Institute awarded Boehringer Ingelheim for the first time as a “Global Top Employer”, one of the world’s 16 best employers. The award shows that the research-driven pharmaceutical company is strongly oriented to the needs and well-being of its employees. Boehringer Ingelheim has been listed among the top employers in many countries and regions for the past seven years. This year, Boehringer Ingelheim will receive the award in 27 countries, as well as  in Europe and the Latin America and Asia-Pacific regions. The independent Top Employers Institute certifies employers worldwide who wish to offer their employees excellent working conditions and support their development. Certification is based on a multi-level program to examine human…

London, England, January 27, 2021 - ADVANZ PHARMA Corp. Limited (“ADVANZ PHARMA” or “the Company”), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on complex medicines in Europe, today announced that its board of directors has reached an agreement on the terms of a cash offer, to be made by a subsidiary (“Bidco”) of Nordic Capital, pursuant to which Nordic Capital will acquire the entire issued and to-be-issued limited voting share capital of ADVANZ PHARMA (the “Acquisition”). “This offer highlights the value that our employees around the world have collectively contributed towards building ADVANZ PHARMA into the strong and diverse company it is today,” said Graeme Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of ADVANZ PHARMA. “In addition, this Acquisition will significantly help the busine…

£0.5M investment in mass spectrometry support accelerates biologics development and approval   Craigavon, Northern Ireland – 26 January 2021 – Almac Sciences, a member of the Almac Group, has announced additional  expansion of its biologics testing laboratory with significant investment in mass spectrometry equipment. The new high-resolution mass spectrometer has been installed at Almac’s global headquarters, located in Northern Ireland, and will support its biologics offering for the analysis of peptides, proteins, glycoproteins and antibody products. This adds to the existing industry support at its new biologic testing laboratory based in Athlone, Ireland, announced just three months ago, which supports QC release and characterisation of biologics. The £500,000 investment in a Thermo Or…

21st January 2021 – St. Andrews, Scotland – Pneumagen Ltd, focused on preventing and treating respiratory infections by targeting the human glycome, today announced a further GBP2.5 million investment from existing investors plus a new undisclosed global corporate investor, based in the US. The investment will be used to support the clinical development of Neumifil™ in 2021 as an intra-nasal formulation for the prevention and treatment of influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID-19. This additional investment follows on from last year’s announcement of a GBP £4 million investment, and brings the total amount of financing raised to circa £9.5 million. Neumifil™ is a first-in-class Carbohydrate Binding Module (mCBMs), generated using the Company’s proprietary GlycoTarge™ platfo…

Laval, Quebec, and Marburg, Germany, January 20, 2021. Nexelis, a portfolio company of Ampersand Capital Partners, and a leading provider of advanced assay development and laboratory testing services in the infectious, oncologic, and metabolic diseases fields, has signed an asset purchase agreement with GSK to acquire its GCLP-certified clinical bioanalytical laboratory located in Marburg, Germany. The Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) team in Marburg, consisting of approximately 80 scientists and analysts, will be transferred to Nexelis.  The CLS team in Marburg will continue to keep a strong relationship with GSK and support the development of future GSK vaccine candidates through a 5-year strategic collaborative agreement. This is the fifth acquisition by Nexelis in the last three years…