CHMP with new Chair – 13 meds recommended

The CHMP elected Harald Enzmann as its new Chair on Friday, and recommended thirteen medicines for approval, three thereof orphan medicines.

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European biotech companies enter IPO prep course

European stock exchange operator Euronext kicked off its fourth annual capital markets training programme for non-listed companies – this time also including companies from Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

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Novo Nordisk reveals details about its R&D transformation

Novo Nordisk A/S (NOVOB:DC) said it plans to restructure its entire Research & Development (R&D) organization. Consequently, the company will lay off 400 employees from R&D roles in Denmark and China.

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Pharming receives complete response letter from FDA

The FDA has requested additional clincal data demonstrating that Pharming Group’s recombinant C1 esterase blocker Ruconest can prevent hereditary angioedema attacks (HAE).

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CRISPR Therapeutics and Viacyte launch diabetes partnership

CRISPR Therapeutics AG announced a development partnership with ViaCyte Inc to develop genome-edited pancreatic islet cells, which do not require immunosuppression, to treat diabetes.

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Sanofi preparing label extension for dupilumab

Positive Phase 3 results with Sanofi/Regeneron’s IL4/IL-13-targeting antibody dupilumab (Dupixent) in adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis will form the basis of a regulatory submission in this new patient population, according to announcements of Sanofi.

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Calcium does not contribute to heart failure

Slowing the leak of Calcium leak into cardiomyocytes does not improve the pumping malfunction in heart failure, German cardiologists report in Science Translational Medicine.

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Boehringer Ingelheim bags ViraT in €210m deal

EMBL Ventures has announced that its portfolio company ViraTherapeutics is set to be acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in a €210m million (US$245m) transaction.

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EU approves Shire’s van Willebrand factor

Orphan drug leader Shire plc has been granted EU marketing authorization for its recombinant van Willebrand factor (rVWF) vonicog alfa  as second-line treatment for van Willebrand disease, the most common blot clotting disorder..

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PD1/PD-L1blockers trigger metastases

Drug Developers dealing with PD1-PDL1 checkpoint inhibitors must consider new safety problems associated with the hyped cancer meds. 

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