Today Stories

Initiative to support a new generation of leaders in mRNA therapeutics and vaccine research CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Oct. 6, 2021-- Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, today announced the launch of the Moderna Fellowship Program. The goal of the program is to support the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals as they innovate in the field of mRNA research towards improving patient care and population health. Prospective fellows may be clinicians and scientists who are interested in advancing mRNA research and innovation and the program underpins Moderna’s commitment to supporting independent research. The fellowship program will select approximately 50 global fellows in the first year with a focus on…

Historic RTS,S/AS01 recommendation can reinvigorate the fight against malaria 6 October 2021 - News release - Geneva The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. The recommendation is based on results from an ongoing pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800 000 children since 2019. “This is a historic moment. The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Using this vaccine on top of existing  tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of y…

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 5, 2021 -- Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, public health laboratories and researchers have been developing surveillance methods using wastewater to control the spread of COVID-19. The effort has helped identify asymptomatic carriers on college campuses to monitor regional spread among communities and capture emerging mutations ahead of potential future outbreaks. To support these efforts, Thermo Fisher Scientific today introduced the MagMAX Wastewater Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit. Unlike other testing methods, which require nasal swabs or saliva samples, wastewater testing can assess infection rates among a general population up to two weeks earlier than individual or pooled testing. The MagMAX Wastewater Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit offers a flexible, eas…

- Cardio-renal-metabolic conditions are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for up to 20 million deaths in the U.S. annually RIDGEFIELD, Conn. and INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 4, 2021 -- Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) today announced the launch of CRMSynced™, an educational initiative that uses gamification to encourage healthcare professionals (HCPs) to prioritize a holistic approach to care for cardio-renal-metabolic (C-R-M) conditions. Accounting for up to 20 million deaths in the U.S. annually, C-R-M conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and chronic kidney disease, are the leading causes of death worldwide. "Recent innovations in treatments and guidelines for those with C-R-M conditions have put a new level of responsibility on all members of the…

ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority-owned by GSK, with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, has announced it has made a regulatory submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of  a new dispersible tablet formulation of the fixed dose combination of abacavir, dolutegravir and lamivudine and, to extend its current approval for Triumeq (abacavir/ dolutegravir/ lamivudine) to lower the minimum weight at which a child can be prescribed this medicine, from 40kg and above to 14kg and above. If approved, this approval will result in further treatment options for younger children living with HIV. Paediatric HIV remains a global issue, with children disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Latest statistics show there are 1.7 mi…

Acquisition Complements and Strengthens Merck’s Cardiovascular Pipeline Sotatercept is a Potentially First-In-Class Therapy in Phase 3 Development for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension REBLOZYL ® (luspatercept-aamt) is a First-In-Class Erythroid Maturation Recombinant Fusion Protein Approved for the Treatment of Anemia in Certain Rare Blood Disorders Merck to Host Investor Call at 8 a.m. ET Today KENILWORTH, N.J. & CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Acceleron Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: XLRN), a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire Acceleron for $180 per share in cash for an approxima…

Breast Cancer Survivor, U.S. Olympian & High Jump American Record Holder Chaunté Lowe joins Komen, Lilly in taking action to improve breast cancer health equity Partnership to expand support services for Black women in the Midwest and across the U.S. to help close the 40% mortality gap in breast cancer INDIANAPOLIS and DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2021 -- Today, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Susan G. Komen®, the world's leading breast cancer organization, launched a new multiyear program to address breast cancer health disparities experienced by Black women in the U.S. Through the partnership, Lilly and Komen will expand existing resources that provide direct support to Black women facing breast cancer to meet their psychosocial needs, provide guidance to credible health information, a…

AstraZeneca will advance and accelerate ongoing Phase III clinical development of CAEL-101, a potential first-in-class medicine for AL amyloidosis AstraZeneca’s Alexion has exercised its option to acquire all remaining equity in Caelum Biosciences for CAEL-101, a potentially first-in-class fibril-reactive monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the treatment of light chain (AL) amyloidosis. AL amyloidosis is a rare disease in which misfolded amyloid proteins build up in organs throughout the body, including the heart and kidneys, causing significant organ damage and failure that may ultimately be fatal.1,2 Approximately 20,000 people across the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK live with AL amyloidosis classified as Mayo stage IIIa or IIIb disease.3 CAEL-101 is currently being evalu…

Influenza results in approximately 5 million cases of severe illness and 290,000 to up to 650,000 deaths worldwide every year,1 with current seasonal vaccines preventing 40% to 60% of the disease in the best-matched seasons 2 mRNA-based vaccine design requires only the genetic sequences of the viruses, enabling more flexible, rapid manufacturing and the potential opportunity to improve upon the efficacy of current flu vaccines NEW YORK -- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced today that the first participants have been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a single dose quadrivalent mRNA vaccine against influenza in healthy adults. Pfizer’s mRNA influenza vaccine program is the first in a planned wave of programs leveraging mRNA technol…

AZD7442 long-acting antibody combination Phase III PROVENT trial prevention data to be presented in late-breaker session Vaxzevria Phase III analysis investigating asymptomatic infection and duration of viral shedding in infections will also be presented AstraZeneca will present data across its COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pipeline at the 10th Annual IDWeek Virtual Conference, 29 September to 3 October 2021, illustrating its commitment to advancing innovative science in infectious diseases. Data featuring AstraZeneca’s investigational long-acting antibody (LAAB) programmes – AZD7442 for COVID-19 and nirsevimab for RSV – as well as its COVID-19 vaccine Vaxzevria, will be presented as three late-breaking oral presentations. Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, B…

Joining forces to further strengthen our omnichannel capabilities September 23, 2021, London, UK – OPEN Health has today announced the acquisition of London-based agency ARK. ARK has a unique approach to delivering data-driven, digital-first creative campaigns. Integrating the ARK business with the OPEN Health Group further strengthens our global creative, digital-first resources, and our ability to offer our global clients measurable omnichannel campaigns. In terms of scale, the acquisition means OPEN Health will now consist of approximately 875 people in 16 locations across 6 different countries including the USA, UK, The Netherlands, Germany, India and China. Dominic Marchant, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of ARK, said, "Over the past three years, we have proudly grown both the cor…

AstraZeneca has reached an agreement to collaborate with VaxEquity for the discovery, development and commercialisastion of the proprietary self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) therapeutics platform developed at Imperial College London. The strategic, long-term research collaboration aims to optimise and validate VaxEquity’s saRNA platform and apply it to advance novel therapeutic programmes. AstraZeneca will support VaxEquity with research and development funding and should AstraZeneca advance any of the research programmes into its pipeline, VaxEquity could receive development, approval and sales based milestones totalling up to $195 million and royalties in the mid-single digits per programme. AstraZeneca has the option to collaborate with VaxEquity on up to 26 drug targets and will also make an…

Boehringer Ingelheim aims to develop novel cancer therapies by leveraging Abexxa’s unique technology and breakthrough antibody-based drugs.    Abexxa’s focus is on the development of specific antibodies to intracellular antigens presented by the non-classical MHC Class I molecule, HLA-E (human leucocyte antigens), enabling the development of cancer immunotherapies potentially benefiting a broader range of patients and cancer types. The addition of Abexxa’s expertise complements Boehringer Ingelheim’s current approaches to the treatment of difficult-to-treat solid cancers and especially those resistant to available immunotherapies. Ingelheim, Germany, and Arlington, Texas, USA – 21 September 2021 – Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the acquisition of…

Investment will transform development and commercialisation of new medicines AstraZeneca is planning on establishing a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility for small molecules near Dublin, Ireland to ensure the Company’s global supply network is fit for future growth. The new plant will allow for late-stage development and early commercial supply, adopting state of the art process technology and digital innovation that is designed to meet the needs of the Company’s new medicines pipeline with speed and agility.  The $360m planned investment at the Alexion Campus in College Park, Dublin, is expected to create about 100 highly skilled direct jobs, including scientists and engineers, and further indirect jobs. The project, which will provide an i…

World Mitochondrial Disease Week raises awareness of mitochondrial disease (mito) on a global scale through educational, fundraising and advocacy activities. What is Mitochondrial Disease? Most people have never heard of mitochondrial disease. Once considered rare, it is now thought to affect 1 in 5000 people, making it the second most commonly diagnosed, serious genetic disease after cystic fibrosis. Researchers have discovered links between mitochondrial dysfunction and other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cardiac issues and some cancers. Scientists believe that in focusing on mitochondrial dysfunction, they may be able to devise effective treatments and potential cures for mito and help the millions of people who suffer from the above-men…

PARIS – September 14, 2021 - Sanofi announced today the completion of its acquisition of Translate Bio, further accelerating the company’s efforts to develop transformative vaccines and therapies using mRNA technology. The acquisition adds a critical pillar to the company’s mRNA Center of Excellence which aims to unlock the potential of next-generation mRNA vaccines and other strategic areas such as immunology, oncology, and rare diseases. The tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Translate Bio common stock expired as scheduled at one minute after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, September 13, 2021. The minimum tender condition and all of the other conditions to the offer have been satisfied and on September 14, 2021, Sanofi accepted for payment and will promptly pay for al…

- AbbVie and REGENXBIO form a strategic partnership combining eye care and gene therapy expertise- Companies will develop and commercialize RGX-314, an investigational gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other chronic retinal diseases- REGENXBIO to receive $370 million upfront payment AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced a partnership to develop and commercialize RGX-314, a potential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other chronic retinal diseases. RGX-314 is currently being evaluated in patients with wet AMD in a pivotal trial utilizing subretinal delivery, and in patients with wet AMD and DR in two separate Phase II clinic…

AbbVie GK (Headquarters: Tokyo, President: James Feliciano, "AbbVie"), Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai"), and EA Pharma Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Yuji Matsue, "EA Pharma”) announced today that, on September 13, 2021, the companies launched “Humira® Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients” an initiative intended to improve patients’ adherence to Humira® therapy. “Humira Support Tool Ordering Service for Patients” is a free-of-charge service that assists patients on Humira therapy by directly delivering support tools to their home or other requested location. Patients can use this service by applying on the website or using a designated form to request support tools such as containers for disposal of used syringes, bags for disposal of used pens,…

South San Francisco, Calif., USA and Ingelheim, Germany – September 9, 2021 – Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ:TWST), a company enabling customers to succeed through its offering of high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform, today announced a broad-based research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to use Twist’s proprietary antibody libraries to discover therapeutic antibodies against multiple targets provided by Boehringer Ingelheim. “Boehringer Ingelheim believes Twist’s ability to generate potent, diverse therapeutic antibodies by mining its comprehensive libraries, combined with our extensive capabilities and experience  in drug discovery and development, will enable us to deliver breakthrough opportunities to patients,” said Clive R. Wood, Ph.D.…

COVID-19 highlights urgent need for national respiratory strategies to drive improvements in patient outcomes and healthcare system resilience The European Respiratory Society (ERS), the Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP), AstraZeneca, Amgen and leading respiratory clinicians have launched the International Respiratory Coalition, a new partnership to transform post-pandemic respiratory healthcare. The Coalition aims to support governments and healthcare systems in their recovery from COVID-19 by strengthening respiratory care. The Coalition will seek to improve outcomes for people living with respiratory diseases by supporting the creation of ambitious national-level respiratory strategies and by building resilience in managing pandemics. Membership is open to organi…