Biopharma News
Roche to Acquire Foundation Medicine for $2.4 Billion
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Roche’s personalized healthcare strategy.
Bayer Completes Monsanto Acquisition for $63 Billion
Bayer completed its acquisition of Monsanto, the largest in Bayer’s history.
Gilead Sciences, Hookipa in $410-Million Partnership for HIV, Hepatitis B Immunotherapies
The companies will partner in research for HIV and hepatitis B immunotherapies, and Hookipa will manufacture arenavirus-based vectors for clinical development by Gilead.
WuXi Biologics to Build US Biologics Production Facility
WuXi Biologics will invest $60 Million to establish a biologics production facility in Massachusetts.
Alexion, Complement Partner to Treat Neurodegenerative Disorders
Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Complement Pharma will partner to develop a preclinical C6 complement inhibitor to treat neurodegenerative disorders.
GE Healthcare Equips China Cell Therapy Manufacturing Plant with FlexFactory
The company will provide the first FlexFactory manufacturing platform for cell therapy manufacturing.
FDA Approves First Biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta
The agency has approved Mylan’s Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb) as the first US-approved biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) to reduce infection risk during cancer treatment.
EMA Recommends Approval of Migraine Biologic
EMA has recommended marketing authorization for Aimovig (erenumab), a new treatment for migraine.
EMA Recommends Four Biosimilars for Approval
The agency has recommended approval of three biosimilar adalimumab products from Novartis, referencing AbbVie’s Humira, and a biosimilar trastuzumab from Pfizer, referencing Roche’s Herceptin.
Bayer Gets US Approval for $66-Billion Acquisition of Monsanto
Bayer received conditional approval from the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice to acquire Monsanto in a deal worth $66 billion.
GE and CCRM Partner with DiscGenics on New Cell Therapy
GE Healthcare and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) will support scale-up efforts by DiscGenics for a new cell therapy intended to treat back pain.
Novartis Gains EC Approval for Infliximab Biosimilar
The European Commission has approved Zessly (infliximab), a biosimilar to Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster Remicade (infliximab).
Novartis’ AveXis to Invest $55 Million in New Gene Therapy Manufacturing Facility
The gene therapy company is expected to invest $55 million in a new manufacturing facility that will produce therapies for rare neurological genetic diseases.
WuXi Biologics to Invest $60 Million in New Singapore Biomanufacturing Facility
WuXi Biologics will build a biologics manufacturing facility in Singapore that will use both fed-batch and continuous perfusion-based single-use bioreactors.
Vectalys, FlashCell Merge to Form Gene Therapy Company
The new company will develop proprietary RNA-based therapeutics and will provide broad lentiviral development and manufacturing expertise and support.
Gilead’s Kite Expands Cell Therapy Facilities in US, Europe
The company has leased and purchased facilities in the United States and Europe to expand its cell therapy pipeline.
FDA Approves First Preventive Treatment for Migraine
The agency approved Amgen and Novartis’ Aimovig (erenumab-aooe), the first FDA-approved preventive treatment for migraine in adults.
FDA Approves Pfizer’s Epoetin Alfa Biosimilar
The agency has approved Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx) by Pfizer’s Hospira, which is a biosimilar to Amgen’s anemia drug, Epogen/Procrit (epoetin alfa).
Novartis Acquires AveXis for $8.7 Billion
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Novartis’ gene therapy pipeline.
Catalent to Develop Biosimilars for Valerius Biopharma
Valerius Biopharma will use Catalent’s GPEx technology to produce cell lines for biosimilar drugs.
Lilly to Acquire ARMO BioSciences for $1.6 Billion
Eli Lilly will acquire ARMO BioSciences to strengthen Lilly's immuno-oncology program.
GlobalData Reports on Barriers Impeding Biosimilar Entry into US Market
Barriers impede biosimilar market entry into the United States despite the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act.
Precision Medicines Speed Development and Reduce Healthcare Costs
The use of more targeted therapies is expanding as the public gains access to low-cost genetic testing, and more advanced computer systems are offering data from healthcare systems.
Merck, Moderna Expand mRNA Cancer Vaccines Partnership
The companies expanded their partnership to develop and commercialize messenger RNA (mRNA) cancer vaccines to include shared-antigen mRNA cancer vaccines such as mRNA-5671.
J&J’s Janssen to Acquire BeneVir for $1 Billion
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Biotech will acquire biotechnology company BeneVir Biopharm to strengthen Janssen’s immunotherapy platform.
Takeda to Acquire Shire for $62 Billion
Takeda expands its global and therapy base with announced acquisition of Shire.
Novartis’ Sandoz Receives CRL for Biosimilar to Roche’s Rituximab
The company received a complete response letter from FDA in response to the biologics license application for a proposed rituximab biosimilar.
GlobalData Reports on Humira Biosimilars Uptake in EU
The data and analytics company reports on the anticipated uptake of Humira (adalimumab) biosimilars in the EU once they are launched in 2018.
Biogen, Ionis Expand $1-Billion Neurological Disease Alliance
The companies plan to advance programs for dementia and other neurological conditions.
Astellas Sells Research Facilities to Gilead’s Kite Pharma
As Astellas Pharma winds down its Agensys research operations, the company sells the Santa Monica, CA, facility to Gilead.
