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If ultimately confirmed, Makary’s planned departure, broken by The Wall Street Journal Friday afternoon, would follow a controversial tenure in which his deputy and constant co-author Vinay Prasad riled biopharma feathers with myriad unexpected drug rejections. Prasad stepped down as biologics chief last week.
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The Department of Health and Human Services is spinning its wheels, unable to establish steady leadership at three major divisions—the CDC and the FDA’s two primary review units.
FDA
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health department has consistently touted radical transparency as being key to its mission. Recent instances—the FDA’s decision not to disclose the recipients of three Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers and FDA and CDC choices not to publish vaccine-related papers—call this intent into question.
In Salt Lake City, biotech founders new and seasoned reflect on ways to ride out the industry’s challenges, such as sending cold emails to investors and learning to address leadership weaknesses.
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Gene editing technologies are advancing rapidly in the clinic, with the potential first approval later this year, but challenges remain.
Phase III trial data published Thursday show significant survival benefit as a first-line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients not fit for standard platinum-based doublet chemotherapy.
Following the FDA’s full approval of the Alzheimer’s drug Thursday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed broader coverage of Leqembi and released more details on a registry.
FDA
Thursday, Eisai and Biogen’s Leqembi also became the first disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s to win traditional approval. CMS coverage is expected to begin immediately.
The European Medicines Agency recently flagged a safety signal related to GLP-1 receptor agonists and sent a list of questions to manufacturers including Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Sanofi and AstraZeneca.
The layoffs are a result of Sumitomo’s decision announced in April to combine its seven subsidiaries into one company.
The companies have signed two other pacts over the last year. In the latest deal, Takeda gains access to F-star’s platform to produce tetravalent antibodies for undisclosed oncology targets.
The Inflation Reduction Act could put an end to blockbuster runs like that of Merck’s Keytruda, experts told BioSpace. In the meantime, the drug keeps picking up more indications and positive clinical results.
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding and land collaboration agreement to develop medicines exclusively for Chinese use.
The pharmaceutical giant is tapping the world’s largest biomanufacturing facility operated by Samsung Biologics for biosimilar production.