Gilead-Galapagos deal rescues a slow licensing year
Up-front fees paid out by biopharma companies to seal licensing deals noticeably dipped in the second quarter of the year – then Gilead and Galapagos came along.
Through Gilead, Galapagos secures an independent future
For $5bn up front Gilead has effectively gained access to the Belgian company’s pipeline, in a deal that will tie the US biotech to Galapagos for many years to come.
Neon shines, but larger trials needed to illuminate full effect
Neon's cancer vaccine makes a decent early showing, but overall survival remain a crucial measure.
Medtech
De novo device clearances fall out of fashion
The overall rate of device approvals in 2019 is holding steady on last year – but the types of approvals are different.
Company Events
Medicines Company goes on the hunt for heartening Orion data
The Medicines Company needs to show decent efficacy and pristine safety with its long-lasting PCSK9 inclisiran to stand a chance of disrupting the market.
FDA adcom to pronounce on paclitaxel-coated devices
The recent disappointing sales of drug-coated devices for peripheral arterial disease look likely to become the norm.
Keytruda looks to secure a June double play
Merck & Co faces two US FDA decisions in June, and neither is an obvious guarantee of success.
Interviews
Probiodrug changes its name but remembers its roots
Probiodrug changes its name to Vivoryon and expands its focus to include oncology, but insists that it is still first and foremost an Alzheimer’s company.
Emmaus tries to move forwards by reversing
The company insists that its sickle cell disease therapy Endari still has a future, despite questionable efficacy and the approach of new treatments.
Liquid biopsies: the future of cancer diagnosis?
Blood tests could be faster and cheaper than tissue biopsies, but a Thermo Fisher exec argues they are likely to be more of an add-on technique.