Sean Whooley

Medincell and AbbVie today announced a collaboration to co-develop and commercialize up to six therapeutic products across several areas. The partnership spans multiple therapeutic spaces and indications. Under the agreement, Medincell will use its commercial-stage, long-acting injectable technology platform to formulate innovative therapies. It plans to conduct formulation activities and preclinical studies, including supportive CMC…

Ypsomed announced today that it entered into a partnership with ten23 health to develop therapeutics for the YpsoDose wearable injector. Burgdorf, Switzerland-based Ypsomed designed YpsoDose for the subcutaneous self-injection of large-volume doses. ten23 health, a Swiss CDMO, offers drug development, filling and device assembly expertise to contribute to the product offering. The strategic collaboration sees…

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) announced today that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Versanis, a private, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Versanis focuses on the development of new medicines for the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases. Its lead asset, bimagumab, is a monoclonal antibody. Bimagumab binds activin type II A and B receptors to block activin…

Researchers say they developed a biodegradable brain implant capable of helping to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to tumors. Medscape News reported that the research marks another step toward using ultrasound to combat cancer. According to the team, led by Thanh Nguyen, these drugs can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to reach these brain tumors. Nguyen serves…

AstraZeneca and the Bellvitge University Hospital plan to launch the first pilot program for the Cordio Medical HearO app. The HearO smartphone app provides widespread access to medical-grade technology for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). It enables the patient to monitor symptoms, manage treatment and improve quality of life. Astrazeneca said the pilot program aims to…

Engineers at MIT designed a new way to trigger cells that could lead to targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases. Using an RNA sensor for the trigger, the researchers ensure that synthetic genes activate only in specific cells. They demonstrated that the sensor could accurately identify cells expressing a mutated version of the p53…

ARS Pharmaceuticals announced today that the FDA accepted its new drug application (NDA) for neffy, its intranasal epinephrine. The offering covers the emergency treatment of severe type I allergic reactions in children and adults weighing 30 kg (66 pounds) or more. The company set an anticipated target action date of mid-2023 for its PDUFA (Prescription…

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) announced today that it successfully completed its acquisition of Akouos (Nasdaq:AKUS). Indianpolis-based Eli Lilly’s acquisition expands its efforts in genetic medicines. Akouos offers a portfolio of potential first-in-class adeno-associated viral gene therapies. The gene therapies treat inner ear conditions, including sensorineural hearing loss. The company initially announced the acquisition in…

Fujifilm announced today that it invested $188 million to establish a cell culture media manufacturing facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Tokyo-based Fujifilm said it plans for its Fujifilm Irvine Scientific subsidiary to operate the new site. The subsidiary offers the development and manufacturing of advanced cell culture solutions for life science research, bioproduction,…

Illumina (Nasdaq:ILMN) announced that it commenced a headcount reduction totaling approximately 5% of its global workforce. The company said yesterday that it is proactively realigning its core operating expenses in response to the current macroeconomic environment. It seeks to maintain its focus on its innovation roadmap and sustainable long-term growth, according to an SEC filing. Earlier…

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) today announced positive topline data from a Phase 3 clinical trial for its bivalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion vaccine candidate. The MATISSE (Maternal Immunization Study for Safety and Efficacy) study investigates Pfizer’s RSVpreF vaccine candidate. It observed the vaccine when administered to pregnant participants to help protect their infants from RSV disease…

Olympus‘ Evident announced that it opened its new Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore as it looks to expand in the APAC region. In April, Olympus completed the separation of its Scientific Solutions Division into a wholly-owned subsidiary called Evident. The move aimed to provide more room to focus on the continued growth of the company’s Medical Business. Get the…

Illumina (Nasdaq:ILMN) announced last week that it launched its new NovaSeq X series of production-scale sequencers. San Diego-based Illumina said its new sequencers “push the limits of what is possible with genomic medicine.” NovaSeq X and NovaSeq X Plus offer faster, more powerful and more sustainable sequencing. The latter can generate more than 20,000 whole…

Eisai and Biogen (Nasdaq:BIIB) today announced positive topline data from a Phase 3 trial of lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease. BIIB shares are skyrocketing on the back of the data today. They are up 37.6% at $272.12 apiece in mid-afternoon trading. Lecanemab is an investigational anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody. The global Phase 3 confirmatory Clarity…

UBS recently issued a report upgrading Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) to a “Buy” rating as its diabetes and Alzheimer’s drugs present lucrative opportunities. According to the report, the pharmaceutical giant’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) “could be the biggest drug ever.” The type 2 diabetes treatment received FDA approval in May. GlobalData said at the time that tirzepatide could…

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced today that it appointed Lidia Fonseca to its board of directors as an independent director. Fonseca, who serves as EVP and chief digital and technology officer at Pfizer, will become a director effective today. She will serve on the board’s Compensation Committee and Science and Technology Committee. Get the full story on our…

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) announced today that it completed its previously announced $525 million acquisition of ReViral. ReViral, a biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and commercializes novel antiviral therapeutics designed to target respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Its portfolio includes the sisunatovir oral inhibitor for blocking the fusion of the RSV virus to the host cell. Sisunatovir has fast track…

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it formed a new research project agency for health. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced the formal establishment of the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA-H) as an independent entity within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Adam H. Russell was appointed as acting deputy…

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) shares rose today on first-quarter financial results that came in ahead of the consensus forecast. The New York-based pharmaceutical company posted profits of $7.9 billion, or $1.37 per share, on sales of $25.7 billion for the three months ended April 3, 2022, for a 61.2% bottom-line gain on sales growth of 76.8%. Adjusted…

The FDA today issued a new draft guidance outlining plans for increased diversity in clinical trials in the U.S. Expanding upon previous guidances for improving clinical trial diversity, this latest draft guidance — “Diversity Plans to Improve Enrollment of Participants from Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Subgroups in Clinical Trials” — recommends that sponsors of medical…

Moderna (Nasdaq:MRNA) announced today that it appointed Jorge Gomez as its new chief financial officer. Gomez resigned as CFO of Dentsply Sirona (Nasdaq:XRAY), effective May 6, to assume the same role at Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna. He will join effective May 9. Dentsply Sirona said in a news release that it is initiating a search process…

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) announced today that it entered into an agreement to acquire biopharmaceutical company ReViral. ReViral discovers, develops and commercializes novel antiviral therapeutics designed to target respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). “At Pfizer, we have a strong heritage in, and commitment to, fighting infectious diseases, most recently evidenced by our delivery of the first authorized vaccine…

Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE:JNJ) Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies recently announced analysis data on the benefits of Xarelto. The Phase 3 Voyager PAD clinical trial evaluated the Xarelto (rivaroxaban) vascular dose (2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg once daily) in reducing severe vascular events in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) after lower-extremity revascularization (LER).…

Johnson & Johnson has a potential alternative to eye drops with its drug-eluting Acuvue Theravision contact lens. As far back as the early 1960s, researchers toyed with the idea of delivering medication through contact lenses. Johnson & Johnson Vision (NYSE:JNJ) Director of Clinica Science Dr. Brian Pall told Drug Delivery Business News that patents back then disclosed how…

PhysIQ announced today that it will collaborate with CellCarta to undertake a study using AI in vaccine development. Enrollment is now complete in the VIII (Vaccine-induced inflammation investigation), which will monitor individual differences in physiologic changes associated with immune system activation in patients receiving vaccinations, including those developed to combat diseases like COVID-19. According to…