Industry news

Why Big Pharma Wants to Switch Billions of Farm Animals to Vaccines From Antibiotics

Jared S Hopkins / Bloomberg

A sparkling and sprawling 48,000-square-foot two-story structure, decorated with artwork of animals etched onto interior glass walls, recently opened its doors 23 miles outside Indianapolis with one sole purpose: to keep the globe’s 70 billion farm animals healthy.

As big pharma reports earnings, is it a big deal or no deal?

Marie Powers / BioWorld

Second-quarter earnings season wrapped up for big pharma with a sales miss by Sanofi SA as it sought to modify its tactical pursuit of Medivation Inc., which reports its financial results after the market close on Aug. 9.

Top Clinical Investigators Seek To Dampen Impact Of Data Sharing

Larry Husten / Cardio Brief

Despite earlier concerns by its editors about “data parasites,” the New England Journal of Medicine has now published 4 articles offering support in some form for data sharing. But two of the articles— written by many of the most prominent clinical trial researchers in the United States and Canada— express grave concerns about data sharing and propose limitations and safeguards that could significantly limit its impact.

Ethically speaking: What’s the right thing to do?

Lynn Yoffee / BioWorld Perspectives

The challenges of drug development are vast and demanding. Keeping up with scientific advances, the competition, clinical trial roller coasters, global regulatory hurdles, financing innovation, pricing … the list is endless. But have the myriad responsibilities distracted us from the assumed main reason for developing new medicines? Is improving the human condition in a way that prioritizes the largest problems first too lofty a goal? What risks should sick patients take in the name of science and who is protecting the vulnerable? Who decides what’s right and safe in tinkering with our genetic makeup?

Wrangling the right talent to tackle big data can be tough

Michael Fitzhugh / BioWorld

The NIH has a serious problem, and it's not alone. Even as big datasets driving new threads of biomedical progress proliferate, a critical shortfall is showing up in another realm: "There is a desperate need for individuals who can develop creative approaches to bioinformatics problems." the NIH told members of the National Science and Technology Council last year.

Research: Innovation Suffers When Drug Companies Merge

Justus HaucapJoel Stiebale / Harvard Business Review

We know that mergers and acquisitions are challenging for the companies involved. But we spend less time thinking about the challenge they pose for antitrust authorities. This regulator has to decide whether to approve a merge based on its predicted outcome for the businesses and society as a whole. Generally, if consumers are likely to be harmed, authorities prefer to block the merger. If not, it gets the nod. Sometimes, approval is granted on certain conditions.

Calls grow for China to bring in newer HCV therapies

EJ Lane / Fierce Pharma

A sharp drop in the price of hepatitis B therapy Viread (tenofovir) in China following negotiations sets the stage for a similar effort for cutting-edge hepatitis C therapies still not approved but nearing the finish line.

Regeneron leaps into the blockbuster race to develop off-the-shelf immune cell cancer therapies

John Carroll / ENDPOINTS

A year ago, Sanofi agreed to pay Regeneron $1.8 billion-plus to partner on its anti-PD1 checkpoint program. Today, biotech heavyweight Regeneron is jumping into CAR-Ts and TCR tech, determined to leap directly into a blockbuster brawl with a plan to emerge as a leader in the fast-growing immuno-oncology field. And it’s made the latest in a handful of rare biotech deals to partner on the technology it needs.

Four expert tips for social media marketing as pharma finally embraces the new norm

Beth Snyder Bulik / FiercePharmaMarketing

Social media was once scary territory for the heavily regulated pharma industry, but today it’s becoming old hat, according to Tamara Littleton, CEO and founder of London social media agency Emoderation. Big Pharma players have realized they can no longer ignore the space where many of their target audiences--patients, families, physicians and even payers--congregate.

Hospira gives Pfizer big Q2 revenue boost as new brands Ibrance, Xeljanz offset Prevnar fall

Tracy Staton / Fierce Biotech

Pfizer’s second-quarter results got a big boost from its Hospira buyout: The biosims-and-generics-focused acquisition helped drive an 11% revenue increase to $13.15 billion, beating analyst expectations.