Industry news

Pharma market in Russia to be more accessible to foreign generics

Remedium

Generic medicines, which are equivalent to brand-name products but do not carry a well-known name, are quite popular in Russia. Last year, the share of generics amounted to 64% of the market in monetary terms. It is likely to increase further due to new requirements that make drug registration process easier.

Pfizer’s dacomitinib bests Iressa in NSCLC overall survival showdown

Nick Paul Taylor / FierceBiotech

A phase 3 trial has linked Pfizer’s dacomitinib to better overall survival (OS) than Iressa in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results suggest Pfizer’s EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor is more effective than its aging rival but leave ample room to doubt its ability to outcompete AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso.  

New drugs, new money: Surge in cancer DTC ads follows wave of I-O debuts

Beth Snyder Bulik / FiercePharma

As more oncology treatments have flooded the market, so has cancer DTC advertising. But as the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2018 meeting neared, Syneos Health wanted to know just how big that wave has been, so its researchers analyzed Kantar data for oncology products going back to 2008.

Russian-Japanese cooperation results in a project between R-Pharm and Mitsui

GMP News

As part of the Russian-Japanese cross-year, the preliminary results have been reported for the activities implemented under the 8-point plan adopted in May 2016 during the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Pharmaceuticals: Commission refines intellectual property rules

European Commissio

The Commission is proposing a targeted adjustment to intellectual property rules to help Europe's pharmaceutical companies tap into fast-growing global markets and foster jobs, growth and investments in the EU.

Small molecule silences cancer-driving RNA, opens up previously undruggable targets

Amirah Al Idrus / FierceBiotech

Despite all the excitement gene-editing systems like CRISPR have generated, there have been challenges when it comes to delivering the technology. Viral vectors are commonly used but can lead to off-target editing and side effects such as cancer. Researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have been working on an alternative: a small molecule that can selectively target RNA and could pave the way to a pill that can treat genetic diseases. 

A study on prevalence of antibiotic resistance was conducted in Russia

GMP News

Data collected in the Russian Federation showed that the sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae to amoxicillin/clavulanate was 95% and 97.5%, respectively (100% under EUCAST and CLSI criteria). Russia also continues to demonstrate high sensitivity of both pathogens to fluoroquinolones (98.6% of Haemophilus influenzae isolates and up to 100% of S. Pneumoniae isolates are sensitive to anti-bacterial drugs of this class).

New tuberculosis drug with proven efficacy developed

GMP News

Infectex, a Russian biomed company, is offering a new drug candidate, designated SQ109, which is “unparalleled elsewhere in the world,” as the developers said. Clinical trials for the candidate were completed in 2017. 

Pharma ads are sunnier than they used to be. But are they better?

Beth Snyder Bulik / FiercePharma

Pharma TV ads are happier than ever, according to new research, but that may not be a good thing for patients. Researchers found that DTC product ads on TV are now more likely to focus only on the post-medication mood, health and social benefits of prescription drugs.

Supplies of technical API to Russia declined for the first time in three years

GMP News

In Q1 2018, Russia imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for 22.0 billion rubles (in prices set for release for free circulation, including VAT). In ruble-denominated terms, the supplies increased by 28% compared to the same period of 2017. In physical terms, the growth was also high, as the supplies of API to Russia rose by 11%. Overall, 2.68 thousand tons of API have been imported since the beginning of 2018.