Pharma News

Researchers from Umeå University in Sweden have discovered that the single-celled parasite causing African sleeping sickness has a defence mechanism against potential pharmaceuticals under development against the disease. The deadly parasite has an enzyme that can cleave and hence disarm adenosine analogue pharmaceuticals. This according to a study recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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Emergent BioSolutions Inc.  announced that it has submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval of the manufacture of BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) in Building 55, the company’s large-scale manufacturing facility. The sBLA is supported by data that demonstrate that BioThrax manufactured at large scale in Building 55 is comparable to BioThrax manufactured in the currently-licensed facility. This submission follows the company’s successful completion of the re-analysis of data from one of more than 30 comparability assays for BioThrax manufactured in the new facility as requested by FDA.

Sosei Group Corporation (Sosei), a biopharmaceutical company, announced its wholly-owned subsidiary Heptares Therapeutics (Heptares), and Kymab Limited, a leading human monoclonal antibody biopharmaceutical company, have entered into a strategic collaboration to discover, develop and commercialise novel antibody therapeutics targeting a number of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) with an initial focus on immuno-oncology.

Otonomy, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the ear, today announced that it has successfully completed an End-of-Phase 2 review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for OTIPRIO™ (ciprofloxacin otic suspension) in the treatment of acute otitis externa, also known as swimmer’s ear. Based on this review, the company intends to initiate a single Phase 3 clinical trial for OTIPRIO in patients with acute otitis externa during the second quarter of 2016 and expects to complete this trial and report topline results in the fourth quarter of 2016. If the results are positive then Otonomy expects to submit a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the FDA in the first half of 2017.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved folic acid fortification of corn masa flour. The approval allows manufacturers to voluntarily add up to 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound of corn masa flour, consistent with the levels of certain other enriched cereal grains.

Gilead Sciences, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, announced detailed 48-week results from two large phase 3 clinical trials (Studies 108 and 110) evaluating once-daily tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) 25 mg in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced adults with HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Data were presented this week during two oral sessions (GS06 and GS12) at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soligenix Inc announced  that the Chinese Patent Office intends to grant the patent entitled “Novel Peptides for Treating and Preventing Immune-Related Disorders, Including Treating and Preventing Infection by Modulating Innate Immunity.” The newly issued patent claims composition of matter of dusquetide (research name: SGX94) and related analogs.

AbbVie announced that with eight weeks of treatment, 97-98 percent of genotype 1-3 (GT1-3) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients without cirrhosis treated with AbbVie's investigational, once-daily, ribavirin (RBV)-free, pan-genotypic regimen of ABT-493 and ABT-530 achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12).

Neovacs, a leader in active immunotherapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, announced that South Korea health authority approved Neovacs’s Investigational New Drug application for IFN Kinoid in phase IIb development in Lupus.

Shire plc submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new, alternate formulation of Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) as a chewable tablet for patients who may have difficulty swallowing or opening a capsule. Vyvanse capsules can be swallowed whole or consumed by opening and mixing the entire contents into water, orange juice or yogurt. Vyvanse chewable tablets will offer an additional administration option for patients.