Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) shares ticked up today on first-quarter results that were mixed compared to the consensus forecast. The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company posted profits of $5.1 billion, or $1.93 per share, on sales of $23.4 billion in the first quarter for a 16.9% bottom-line slide on sales growth of nearly 5%. Get the…
CMS will limit coverage of Aduhelm to people in clinical trials
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a national policy regarding coverage for Aduhelm (aducanumab). Controversy has surrounded the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm from Biogen (NSDQ:BIIB) and Eisai (TYO:4523) since the FDA’s fast track approval last year. Three members of an FDA advisory committee resigned after the approval. About a week later, nonprofit watchdog group Public Citizen called for high-profile resignations of…
FDA approves Novartis’ Vijoice for to treat rare PROS genetic diseases
Novartis announced that it received FDA approval for its Vijoice (alpelisib) PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum (PROS) treatment. Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis said in a news release that Vijoice is the first FDA-approved treatment for PROS, a spectrum of rare conditions characterized by overgrowth in blood vessel anomalies. FDA approval followed real-world evidence from the EPIK-P1 retrospective chart…
Novartis’ Sandoz, Ares Genetics seek better antibiotics deployment
Sandoz, a Novartis division, announced today that it extended and expanded a strategic collaboration agreement with Ares Genetics. Basel, Switzerland-baed Sandoz’s collaboration with Ares, aimed at driving innovation to develop solutions in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), was extended through January 31, 2025. According to a news release, the companies agreed to an extension…
Engineered yeast could be key for more affordable COVID-19 vaccines
Researchers at MIT and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are exploring a yeast-based alternative to RNA vaccines. A new paper highlights a vaccine, which comprises fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein arrayed on a virus-like particle, that reportedly elicited a strong immune response and protected animals against viral challenge, according to a post on MIT’s…
Countries in need will have access to Moderna COVID-19 vaccine tech
Moderna (Nasdaq:MRNA) announced four new initiatives within a global public health strategy for advancing mRNA vaccines. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna plans to expand its global public health portfolio, accelerate research in an effort to advance additional vaccines, expand its patent pledge to never enforce COVID-19 patents in the Gavi COVAX AMC for 92 low- and middle-income…
Johnson & Johnson inks agreement to have its COVID-19 vaccine manufactured in Africa
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced today that it completed an agreement for the manufacturing of its COVID-19 vaccine in Africa. The landmark agreement, made between Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals and South Africa-based Aspen SA Operations, allows for the first COVID-19 vaccine to be manufactured and made available by an African company for people living…
Purdue Pharma, Sacklers reach a new $6B opioid settlement deal
Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family will pay $6 billion to settle lawsuits with a host of states over their role in the opioid epidemic. Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family — the founders and owners of the company — will pay the $6 billion to victims, survivors and states as a result of their…
Ember Technologies, Cardinal Health partner on self-refrigerated, cloud-based shipping box
Ember Technologies and Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) announced that they are partnering on the Ember Cube digital shipping box. The two companies will collaborate to offer what they are touting as the world’s first self-refrigerated, cloud-based shipping box, according to a news release. They will work together to deliver a cold chain solution designed to ensure product integrity and…
DHL invests $400M in its pharma and medtech supply chain
DHL Supply Chain announced today that it will invest upwards of $400 million to expand its pharmaceutical and medical device distribution network footprint. Westerville, Ohio-based DHL Supply Chain’s life sciences and healthcare (LSHC) sector will make the investment to expand the supply chain footprint by 27% this year, amounting to nearly 3 million additional square…