Pharma News

In an advance towards an effective treatment against the deadly Ebola virus disease, researchers have found that an antiviral compound that blocks the virus's ability to replicate can fully protect monkeys when treated three days after infection.

AstraZeneca announced that it has entered into an agreement with ProStrakan Group, a subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd., for the rights to Moventig (naloxegol) in the European Union (EU), Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Moventig is the first once-daily, oral peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) approved in Europe for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to laxative(s).

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Announced that BMN 270, an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of patients with hemophilia A, has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). BioMarin is currently conducting a Phase 1/2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BMN 270 gene therapy in up to 12 patients with severe hemophilia A and will provide a program update in April.  BMN 270 is an AAV 5 factor VIII vector, designed to restore factor VIII plasma concentrations, essential for blood clotting in patients with hemophilia A.

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Edwards Lifesciences Corporation announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to expand use of the Edwards SAPIEN XT transcatheter heart valve for pulmonic valve replacement procedures.

Roche announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) plus bendamustine chemotherapy followed by Gazyva alone as a new treatment for people with follicular lymphoma who did not respond to a Rituxan® (rituximab)-containing regimen, or had their follicular lymphoma return after such treatment. Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of indolent (slow-growing) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and accounts for approximately one in five cases of NHL.

Researchers have found that a protein involved in the breakdown of glucose a process known as glycolysis plays an important role in coordinating cellular processes crucial to cancer metabolism and brain tumour formation.

Researchers have identified a brain inflammation marker in patients at early asymptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease.This molecule may provide clinicians with a rapidly detectable biomarker for the transition from preclinical Alzheimer's disease to cognitive impairment and progression to full dementia.

Scientists have discovered a new kind of stem cell one that could lead to advances in regenerative medicine as well as offer new ways to study birth defects and other reproductive problems.

The World Health Organization has set up a Newborn and Birth Defect Surveillance network, a initiative to keep a track of newborns with defects across the globe.

The CPI-M on Thursday expressed deep concern that 76 life saving drugs have been taken off the customs duties exemption list and urged the government to review the decision.