Takeda's third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor Iclusig decisively beat Novartis' Gleevec in a type of leukemia. Biogen returned a BTK inhibitor to China's InnoCare Pharma after paying $125 million upfront to get access to the medicine. Astellas made its first ad appearance during the Super Bowl.
Takeda’s Iclusig has topped Novartis’ aging standard of care Gleevec in newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After 12 weeks of induction treatment, 34.4% of patients who received Iclusig showed no signs of cancer, compared with 16.7% of Gleevec recipients.
2. Biogen bails on BTK race just 19 months after placing $125M bet
Under new CEO Chris Viehbacher, Biogen has started reevaluating its pipeline to focus on growth drivers. As part of the overhaul, the company has ditched a BTK inhibitor from China’s InnoCare Pharma. Biogen purchased ex-China rights to the drug, called orelabrutinib, a year and a half ago for $125 million.
3. Astellas turns up the heat with Super Bowl spot
Astellas ran an ad for the first time during the Super Bowl. The “Heat on the Street” disease awareness campaign features a reporter asking women whether they know about vasomotor symptoms (VMS). Most people don’t recognize the disease name but know about the hot flashes and night sweats associated with it. The company is awaiting an FDA decision on fezolinetant in VMS.
4. Biocon's proposed Avastin biosim hit with FDA rejection after failed plant inspection
After the FDA flagged issues at Biocon manufacturing facilities, the agency has rejected the Indian company’s proposed biosimilar to Roche’s Avastin. The rejection follows a separate rejection for a proposed insulin biosimilar from Biocon. Both complete response letters said the company needs to make corrections at its manufacturing sites.
5. Eli Lilly strikes 2nd deal to boost affordable insulin access, this time in Bangladesh
After striking a deal to help provide affordable insulin in Africa, Eli Lilly has signed an agreement with Bangladesh’s International Agencies to supply insulin active pharmaceutical ingredients at an undisclosed “reduced price.” The new pact is part of Lilly’s initiative to improve healthcare access for 30 million people annually in limited-resource settings by 2030.
6. Sun Pharma recalls generic for high blood pressure after failed FDA lab test
Sun Pharma is recalling more than 34,000 bottles of generic diltiazem hydrochloride after the drug failed stability testing and dissolution testing, the FDA said. Sun made the drug at is troubled Halol plant in India.
7. Merck, Glenmark headed to trial after judge scraps early dismissal bid in Zetia antitrust case
Merck & Co., and Glenmark must face a jury trial in a lawsuit that alleges they violated antitrust laws with a pay-for-delay deal back in 2010. Drug purchases, payers and retailers filed their suit in 2018, saying Merck made an “unlawful reverse payment” to Glenmark to delay the generic launch to former cholesterol blockbuster Zetia.
Other News of Note
8. On the turnaround trail, tiny Corbus pays $7.5M for rival to Seagen's oncology ADC Padcev
9. Cullinan sets sail toward US with novel bispecific from Harbour BioMed for $25M in cash