AstraZeneca closes mega $39B Alexion buyout despite antitrust fears, making a splash in rare diseases

Biotech (General), Corporate News, Pharma
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Share:AstraZeneca’s mega $39 billion takeover of Alexion Pharmaceuticals has come to a close, delivering the British pharma a lucrative portfolio of immunology medicines and a towering presence in rare diseases. AZ on Wednesday announced the completion of its Alexion acquisition, a week after securing a pivotal nod from the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Industry watchers were concerned […]

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Provention Bio brought back down to earth as FDA panel narrowly backs diabetes prevention drug

Biotech (General), Clinical Trials, Diabetes
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Share:Provention was flying high on Tuesday when an FDA advisory panel seemed to back the efficacy of its diabetes prevention drug, even after the agency flagged some issues with the data package supporting the therapy’s application a month earlier. But the company is not out of the woods yet, with the final vote only narrowly […]

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NGM’s closely-watched NASH prospect flops, cutting shares in half and spurring R&D rethink

Biotech (General), Clinical Trials
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Share:A phase 2b trial of NGM Biopharmaceuticals’ aldafermin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has missed its primary endpoint, sending shares in the biotech tumbling. NGM has pulled plans to enter phase 3 in light of the midstage failure of the FGF19 analog. California-based NGM ramped up expectations for aldafermin last year when it delivered midphase data linking […]

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DoorDash to stock COVID-19 test kits for home delivery

COVID-19
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Share:The people who bring you lunch can now also deliver a COVID-19 diagnostic test, as screening for the pandemic disease continues to become a more ubiquitous part of everyday life. DoorDash has partnered up with the home-testing companies Everlywell and Vault Health to make sample collection kits available on-demand through its app, alongside sandwiches, pizza […]

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Russia’s Sputnik V nabs first Twitter-verified vaccine handle, but is it PR or propaganda?

Biotech (General), COVID-19
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Share:A blue check for Sputnik V—and a cautionary marketing tale for the pharma industry? The Russian-developed coronavirus vaccine nabbed verified status from Twitter last week, doubling down on its broadcasting wave of tweets, retweets and plenty of American-style attitude. But is the now-authenticated social media account a pharma influencer case study or a cautionary tale of disinformation? While […]

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Woman of the Week: A 2020 Anthology

Biotech (General), Other
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Share:A full-year of amazing women leaders — 53 unique career journeys and 53 lessons in courage, perseverance, and strength. This e-publication features healthcare and life-science industry executives and their stories of leadership, lessons learned, and wow moments. Each profile includes a link to the original WoW podcast and full manuscript. In honor of International Women’s […]

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Cara Therapeutics and Vifor Pharma announce U.S. FDA acceptance and Priority Review of NDA for KORSUVA™* injection in hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe pruritus

Biotech (General), Biotech Stocks To Watch
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Share:STAMFORD, Conn, and ST. GALLEN, Switzerland, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cara Therapeutics (Nasdaq:CARA) and Vifor Pharma today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted Priority Review for the New Drug Application (NDA) for KORSUVA™ (difelikefalin) solution for injection for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pruritus in hemodialysis patients. The […]

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