Industry news

Proposed FDA study on pharma's animated character ads draws suggestions from industry, fire from consumers

Beth Snyder Bulik / FiercePharmaMarketing

The comments are in on the FDA’s proposed study of the effects of spokes-characters in pharma advertising. While six pharma companies offered suggestions on study design and wording, many more consumers took the opportunity to diss the whole idea of animated characters in ads altogether.

Researchers Propose a Flexible Method for Gene Therapy Manufacture

Caroline Hroncich / BioPharm International

A group of researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have challenged traditional gene therapy manufacturing methods by creating a flexible closed system that if approved, could allow researchers to modify cells at an accelerated pace and in a non GMP environment.

“Unique” analgesic with no side effects developed in Siberia

Marchmont Innovation News

Siberians are said to have developed a drug to kill basically all types of pain. The new pain reliever is believed to have no side effects typical for an array of steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that exist in the market. 

Russian University Developes Alternative Cancer Treatment

Yulia Osipova / Sputnik

Scientists at the National Research Nuclear University are developing a new, alternative cancer treatment that promises to be more effective than chemotherapy while minimizing treatment side effects.

Branded drug prices softening big-time, distributors warn

Eric Palmer / Fierce Pharma

Whether this is a short-term reaction to public outrage or the beginning of a sustained trend is not clear. But McKesson CEO John H. Hammergren said “recent customer pricing activities” and “further moderating branded pharmaceutical pricing,” are taking a toll on the company’s earnings.

01 November 2016

Allergan Successfully Completes Tobira Therapeutics Acquisition

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of Tobira Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBRA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other liver diseases. Allergan acquired Tobira for an upfront payment of $28.35 per share, in cash, and additional Contingent Value Rights (CVRs) that may be payable based on the successful completion of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones.

Influenza vaccine market to grow to £4.3 billion by 2025

Matt Fellows / PharmaLife

GlobalData has released new findings which indicate that the seasonal influenza vaccine market is set to be worth $4.3 billion by 2025 across the seven major markets: US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Japan.

Gut bacteria boost action of anticancer drug

Oliver Worsley / Fierce Biotech

Researchers have recently demonstrated a mechanism by which two important strains of bacteria found in the human gut play a role in boosting the effectiveness of a routinely administered anticancer drug. The authors suggest that an intermediate metabolite released from the bacteria might be exerting these effects and understanding this may lead to the development of new drugs to target cancer.

FDA Tackles Cellular, Gene Therapies

Jill Wechsler / BioPharm International

Important scientific advances that promise to yield innovative genetically modified cellular therapies have prompted a reorganization of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), as well as efforts to better define FDA’s authority over emerging cutting-edge treatments. CBER announced on Oct. 19, 2016 that it was creating the Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies (OTAT). The new office expands and replaces CBER’s Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies and will oversee a growing range of cellular and genetic products, including antivenins and all purified and recombinant versions of therapeutic proteins for hematology.

Health care innovation accelerating on different track from other industries

Marie Powers / BioWorld

Addressing the state of health care innovation at the 2016 Medical Innovation Summit sponsored by Cleveland Clinic Innovations, a diverse panel of executives from disparate segments of the health care system agreed on one general principle: The industry is changing rapidly and in ways that look different from the face of innovation in any other industry.