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Nick Paul Taylor

Nick is a freelance writer who has been reporting on the global life sciences industry since 2008. With a BSc in biology, Nick writes about the science and business of biopharma and medtech for numerous healthcare publications. He can be reached at nick.paul.taylor@gmail.com or on LinkedIn.

Pictured: 3D illustration of a damaged liver/iStoc
Drug Development
Ionis’ Antisense Molecule Hits Primary Endpoint in Phase II MASH Trial
The biotech announced Wednesday that patients on ION224 had histologic improvement in the liver disease without worsening of fibrosis. Ionis’ mid-stage win comes as the FDA is set to decide whether to approve rival Madrigal’s resmetirom by Thursday.
March 13, 2024
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2 min read
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Nick Paul Taylor
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
Business
Merck Bets Potential $1B on Pearl Bio’s Genomically Recoded Organisms
Synthetic biology company Pearl Bio announced Tuesday it has entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Merck to discover biologic therapies comprising non-standard amino acids.
March 12, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb in NJ/iStock, arlut
FDA
BMS Wins FDA Approval for Opdivo in First-line Bladder Cancer
The approval, which Bristol Myers Squibb reported on Thursday, positions the company to compete with Astellas and Pfizer’s Padcev.
March 8, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: GSK laboratories in Dresden, Germany
Drug Development
GSK Advances Blenrep’s Potential Comeback with Second Phase III Win
The antibody-drug conjugate beat the standard of care in second-line multiple myeloma, the company reported on Thursday, as it seeks to get the cancer drug back on the U.S. market.
March 7, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Woman scratching skin lesions on her elb
Alumis Raises $259M Series C, Challenges BMS and Takeda for Autoimmune Markets
The California-based biotech will use the Series C funding to move its TYK2 inhibitor into Phase III in plaque psoriasis this year in a potential challenge to Bristol Myers Squibb and Takeda.
March 6, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Sanofi Distribution Center
Drug Development
Sanofi Gets Phase II MS Win, Eyes $5B in Peak Annual Sales for Pipeline
The French drugmaker Thursday touted trial results in The New England Journal of Medicine showing frexalimab significantly slowed disease activity in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis.
February 15, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Board of directors illustration/Courtesy
Industry Ties to Patient Advocacy Board Members, Execs Raise Concerns
Nearly three-quarters of the highest-revenue U.S. patient advocacy organizations have board members or senior leadership with ties to the pharma or medical device industries, finds study.
August 22, 2023
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Pfizer office in Brussels, Belgium/iStoc
Policy
Pfizer Lawsuit Seeks to Block Generic Copy of Heart Disease Blockbuster
The legal complaint, filed with the Scripps Research Institute, alleges that Dexcel Pharma Technologies’ plan to sell a generic version of Pfizer’s Vyndamax (tafamidis) infringes on three patents.
August 14, 2023
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: a young boy with an oxygen mask/iStock,
Business
Vertex Raises Cystic Fibrosis Sales Forecast Amid Strong Trikafta Demand
The biopharma company reported sales of $2.24 billion in the second quarter for the cystic fibrosis treatment, beating analysts’ estimate, after it won FDA approval in children ages two to five in April.
August 2, 2023
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Gavel with cash bills/Courtesy iStock, a
Business
Alkermes Gets $248M Boost from J&J, Gives Bullish Outlook on Teva Legal Fight
The company reported second-quarter revenue Wednesday that included $248.4 million of back royalties and associated interest related to the successful outcome of an arbitration case with J&J’s Janssen.
July 27, 2023
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: AbbVie sign on a building/courtesy of Ad
Drug Development
AbbVie, Genmab Bi-Specific Lymphoma Data Tee Up Potential Challenge to Roche Drug
Phase I/II data on AbbVie and Genmab’s recently approved bi-specific antibody in a second cancer indication positions them to talk to regulators about filings to challenge Roche’s Lunsumio.
June 29, 2023
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Nick Paul Taylor
FDA Headquarters_Grandbrothers/Adobe Stock
Policy
FDA Warns About Compounded Versions of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, Wegovy
The regulator says drug compounders are selling products that falsely claim to contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as the blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs.
June 1, 2023
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Scientist in lab/Courtesy, Getty Images
Drug Development
Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi Cull Candidates in Q1 Pipeline Reprioritizations
The companies said in first-quarter earnings calls that they want to restructure R&D, cut costs and shift away from high-risk drug development to focus areas.
May 5, 2023
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3 min read
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Nick Paul Taylor
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