Enhertu, a breast cancer drug from AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, is now FDA approved for treating patients whose tumors express low levels of the protein HER2. The decision makes the infused therapy the first targeted treatment for this new category of breast cancer patients.
AstraZeneca is acquiring TeneoTwo in a $100 million bet on that biotech’s lymphoma drug candidate, which is designed to go after two targets. It’s the latest deal made by a big pharmaceutical company looking to get its hands on a new type of cancer therapy called a T cell engager.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
The planned FDA submission follows the report from AstraZeneca and Ionis Pharmaceuticals that their partnered drug, eplontersen, met the main goals of a pivotal study in treating nerve pain caused by hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis. The data come one week after rival Alnylam Pharmaceuticals won FDA approval for its second drug for this rare disease.
Breast cancer drugs and cell therapies were prominent in this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Here’s a recap of some of the news highlights from the biggest cancer conference of the year.
During the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo reported pivotal clinical trial data showing that their partnered cancer drug Enhertu can treat a group of patients previously thought to be out of reach for a targeted therapy. The results suggest use of this FDA-approved drug could significantly expand to more breast cancer patients.
AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 antibody drug Evusheld reduced the risk of infection by 83% after six months. These results published in the New England Journal of Medicine are the latest clinical data supporting the durability of Evusheld, which was designed to offer longer-lasting protection.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
AstraZeneca’s partnership with Scorpion Therapeutics will focus on transcription factors that are known to play a role in cancer but have been difficult to target with small molecule drugs. Depending on the progress of the research, Scorpion could receive up to $1.5 billion in option fees and milestone payments.
Ovid Therapeutics is acquiring global rights to AstraZeneca molecules that address a novel target to treat epilepsy. The AstraZeneca deal comes 10 months after Takeda Pharmaceutical paid $196 million up front to acquire Ovid’s rights to a Phase 3 ready molecule for two rare forms of epilepsy.
With FDA approval for its atopic dermatitis drug Adbry, LEO Pharma will reach the U.S market ahead of an Eli Lilly atopic dermatitis drug that addresses the same target. LEO will also able to offer patients an alternative to the blockbuster Sanofi/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals drug Dupixent.
FDA authorization of AstraZeneca drug Evusheld makes it the first antibody therapy for preventing infection before exposure to Covid-19, providing an option for immunocompromised patients who won’t mount a strong immune response to vaccination. The antibodies that comprise the AstraZeneca drug are engineered with technology that makes the therapy long lasting.
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Entasis Therapeutics, the former anti-infectives unit of AstraZeneca, has positive Phase 3 data for its lead program, an antibiotic that could address drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii that contribute to hospital-acquired infections. The biotech plans to seek FDA approval in 2022.
An AstraZeneca antibody drug for Covid-19 has clinical data showing the drug reduced the risk of infection by 77%. With the results, the pharmaceutical giant pulls ahead of other companies developing injectable versions of antibody drugs for Covid-19 prevention.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals drug Ultomiris is already approved to treat a rare blood disorder, but the company hoped the antibody’s approach could also work in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Despite failing in ALS, Alexion, recently acquired by AstraZeneca, brings additional clinical-stage programs for rare diseases.
An AstraZeneca lupus drug has been awarded FDA approval for treating the most common form of the autoimmune disorder. The regulatory decision gives AstraZeneca a product that can compete head-to-head with GlaxoSmithKline’s lupus drug, Benlysta.
The FDA approved Apellis Pharmaceuticals drug pegcetacoplan (Empaveli) as a treatment for a rare blood disorder that is currently treated with medicines sold by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, a biotech being acquired by AstraZeneca. But Apellis’s drug beat Alexion drug Soliris in a head-to-head test, and the smaller company aims to steal market share from its larger rival.