Pharma

AstraZeneca Collaborates with RenalytixAI to Develop Precision Medicine for Chronic Diseases Shots: The two companies will develop and launch precision medicine strategies for CV, renal, and metabolic diseases. The first stage in the collaboration will use KidneyIntelX to improve outcomes for patients with CKD and its complications, in coordination with the Mount Sinai Health SystemThe first stage will assess the impact of AI-enabled in vitro diagnostic solutions to optimize the utilization of therapies in CKD under current SOC protocols. The study will evaluate uptake and adherence to new potassium-binding agents in patients with CKD and hyperkalemia with its anticipated results in 2021The stud...

(This story originally appeared in on Aug 24, 2020)More than four years after the government told Parliament that it had decided to make the uniform code for pharmaceutical marketing practices mandatory because the voluntary code hadn't worked, the department of pharmaceutical (DoP) is still holding meetings with the industry on implementation of the voluntary code. The code aims to end unethical practices like companies bribing doctors in cash or kind to prescribe their medicines. On Friday, the secretary held a meeting with industry associations. The minutes of the last meeting on February 17 recorded that he "showed his displeasure at the status of implementation of UCPMP". None of these meetings included civil society groups representing patient interests. "If groups such as citizens ...

German pharmaceutical company Merck has appointed Thomas Möller as its new head of group communications.Most recently responsible for corporate communications, Möller has worked at Merck since 2017, when he joined as head of external communications.Prior to that he served as head of media relations at BASF and held various corporate communications positions in Germany, the US and Switzerland.In his new role Möller takes over from Constantin Birnstiel, who is leaving Merck, will like his predecessor Möller will report directly to chairman of the executive board and CEO Stefan Oschmann.Oschmann said: “I cordially thank Constantin Birnstiel for his engagement and the results achieved in positioning Merck as a science and technology company, as well as in purposefully advancing our communicati...

A smartphone-based app that uses facial analysis technology to spot chronic pain in people with dementia, called PainChek, is being rolled out in the UK by its Australian developer.The artificial intelligence-powered tool can help care workers and clinicians to identify and manage pain in patients with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease that can make it difficult for them to communicate.The app is available to download from Apple’s App Store and Google Play by registered users such as healthcare professionals, and PainChek says it has already made direct sales to dementia care units in the UK.At last count, licenses had been taken to the app by care providers representing some 50,000 beds in the UK. The app is already used in around 80% of the 180,000 aged care beds in Australia, accordin...

COVID-19 has disrupted traditional healthcare person-to-person communication and accelerated digital options, such as telehealth and remote patient-clinician contacts, digital therapeutics that deliver remote patient monitoring, and interventions through the use of software. But is this really the future? Medscape conducted some research in May to find out. Face-to-face meetings between health professionals and pharmaceutical representatives have all but ended and a recent survey of consumers by Medscape reveals that 76% of respondents have had to cancel a dental procedure, and 56% have canceled health screenings. Office visits are severely affected; 70% of consumers are concerned about maintaining a safe distance from other patients or office staff. Fourteen percent of US cons...

QUICK READ: Today Trump suggested that the FDA is part of a “deep state” conspiracy to delay a COVID-19 vaccine until after the election. This is beyond irresponsible and clearly shows that he is unfit mentally to hold office. “The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” the president wrote. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!” Can you imagine the level of paranoia that would let someone who is in a position of power think this? It’s more than an embarrassment it’s criminal and shows a level of ignorance that baffles the mind. According to STAT news the response was swift “politics must ...

As the NY Times recently reported, obesity is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Obesity costs the nation $1.72 trillion every year. In the United States, where at least 4.6 million people have been infected and over 165,000 have died, the promise of a vaccine is hampered by a vexing epidemic that long preceded Covid-19: obesity. More than 107 million American adults are obese, and their ability to return safely to work, care for their families and resume daily life could be curtailed if the coronavirus vaccine delivers weak immunity for them. Obesity has long been known to be a significant risk factor for death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. But scientists in the emerging field of immunometabolism are finding obesity also interferes with the body’...

Junshi and Impact to Establish Joint Venture for Senaparib (IMP4297) in China Shots: The two companies will co-develop and conduct clinical trials for senaparib across multiple cancer indications in China. Junshi to invest $43.4M in cash, representing 50% of the JV while Impact will supply senaparib in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau representing the other 50%The JV will focus on the research, development & commercialization of the therapy in the territory. Both the companies will leverage the team’s strength to expedite the clinical development of IMP4297 and explore additional indications with the therapySenaparib is a PARP inhibitor, currently being evaluated in multiple P-I & II...

BioMarin Reports NDA Submission to the US FDA for Vosoritide to Treat Children with Achondroplasia Shots: BioMarin has submitted an NDA to the US FDA for vosoritide to treat children with achondroplasiaThe company also reported that EMA has begun validation of MAA for the therapy on 13 Aug, 2020Vosoritide is an investigational, once-daily injection analog of C-type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) and is potentially the first treatment for achondroplasia in the USClick here ­to­ read full press release/ article | Ref: Biomarin | Image: Fierce Biotech Post Views: 2

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) Receives MHLW’s Approval for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Shots: The approval is based on P-III CASPIAN study assessing Imfinzi + etoposide and either carboplatin/ cisplatin CT or Imfinzi & CT+ tremelimumab vs CT as monothx. as 1L treatment in 805 patients with ES-SCLC. The trial used an FD of Imfinzi (1,500mg, q3w for 4 cycles) while in combination with CT and then q4w until disease progressionResults: the study met its 1EPs of OS in Jun’2019, demonstrated a 27% reduction in risk of death with m-OS (13.0 vs 10.3 mos.); ORR (68% vs 58%). An updated analysis demonstrated sustained efficacy after a median follow up 2+ yrs., m-OS (12.9 vs 10.5 mos....