Pharma News

Scientists have developed a new gene-therapy technique by transforming human cells into mass producers of tiny nano-sized particles full of genetic material that has the potential to reverse disease processes.

University of Houston associate professor of pharmacology Bradley McConnell is helping usher in a new age of cardiac pacemakers by using stem cells found in fat, converting them to heart cells, and reprogramming those to act as biologic pacemaker cells. He is reporting his work in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. The new biologic pacemaker-like cell will be useful as an alternative treatment for conduction system disorders, cardiac repair after a heart attack and to bridge the limitations of the electronic pacemaker.

Novartis announced topline results from its pivotal global Phase III LUSTER-1 and LUSTER-2 studies exploring the efficacy and safety of the investigational oral, once-daily, DP2 receptor antagonist fevipiprant (QAW039). The pooled analyses of the LUSTER trials did not meet the clinically relevant threshold for reduction in rate of moderate -to-severe exacerbation compared to placebo over a 52-week treatment period for either of the doses (150mg / 450 mg). The studies included patients who had inadequately controlled moderate-to-severe asthma (GINA Steps 4 and 5) despite receiving inhaled mid-to-high dose corticosteroids (ICS) and at least one additional controller. The totality of these results do not support further development of fevipiprant in asthma.

AstraZeneca has completed an agreement to divest its commercial rights to Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate immediate release) and Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate extended release) in Europe and Russia to Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH (Cheplapharm).

Taking the fight against the dreaded Nipha disease to a new level, researchers at Pune-based Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) have developed drug targets for the virus that causes the disease, using the molecular modeling approach.

Nipah virus outbreaks have very high mortality rates. They are over 70 per cent in Southeast Asia. The virus spreads via bodily secretions of bats, pigs and infected individuals. It was first detected in human population in 1998 in Malaysia, It made its way into Indian subcontinent with outbreaks in Bangladesh and India a few years later.

Indoco Remedies announced that its sterile manufacturing facility (Plant II) at Verna, Goa, has received EU GMP certification from the UK Health Regulator.

This is an outcome from the last successful inspection conducted by UK MHRA from 16th to 20th September 2019.

Biocon Ltd an innovation-led global biopharmaceuticals company and Equillium Inc, a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging deep understanding of immunobiology to develop products to treat severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, announced that they have expanded their collaboration and license agreement for itolizumab to grant Equillium exclusive rights for developing and commercializing itolizumab in Australia and New Zealand.

Equillium had originally secured exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Biocon’s novel biologic, itolizumab, for the U.S. and Canada markets, in May 2017.

A treatment for neurological disorder, Huntington's disease, could be in the offing. A group of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Indore have identified three chemical molecules that could potentiually be used to arrest its progression.