GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) has demerged from its consumer healthcare division to create the publicly-traded company Haleon Group. Haleon is now one of the world’s largest consumer healthcare companies, while GSK will focus on growing its prescription drug and vaccine businesses. The company announced the “Haleon” name in February. In hindsight, GSK would have fared…
HHS makes 144,000 more doses of Jynneos monkeypox vaccine available
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said it would make available an additional 144,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine doses available to states and jurisdictions. Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX:BAVA) is the manufacturer of the vaccine. Jynneos won FDA approval for both smallpox and monkeypox in 2019. There have been approximately 700…
Merck moves forward with Seagen acquisition plans
Executives from Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) and Seagen (Nasdaq:SGEN) are reportedly considering a $40 billion acquisition deal. Readington, New Jersey–based Merck has offered to spend about $200 per share for Seagen, according to The Wall Street Journal. Executives from the company aim to finalize the deal before Merck announces its Q2 earnings on July 28, according…
Novartis mulls sale of $25 billion Sandoz generics arm
On the heels of announcing a restructuring plan that would do away with approximately 8,000 positions, Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) is reportedly considering spinning off its Sandoz generics arm. The company is likely to make a final decision by the end of the year, according to Bloomberg. Given the sluggish state of the economy, Novartis is likely…
Pfizer seeks to comply with voluntary Net-Zero Standard by 2040
The voluntary Net-Zero Standard asks organizations to reduce emissions to near-zero levels by 2050 and neutralize any residual emissions. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has announced its intent to meet that benchmark by 2040. Pfizer intends to reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 95% and its value chain emissions by 90% from 2019 levels by 2040. To…
Fujifilm to spend $1.6B to bolster cell culture manufacturing services
The multinational conglomerate Fujifilm will invest $1.6 billion to improve and ramp up the cell culture manufacturing services of its CDMO subsidiary Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies. Most of the investment will focus on a site in Hillerød, Denmark. A site in College Station, Texas, will also benefit from a funding injection. The investment will increase the…
First Zantac trial slated for February 2023
The California State Court Judge overseeing litigation related to Zantac (ranitidine) issued a pretrial order scheduling the first of four bellwether trials for Feb. 13, 2023, in Oakland. Honorable Judge Evelio M. Grillo for the California Superior Court of Alameda County will preside over the litigation. Before the cases head to trial, Judge Grillo will…
Bausch Health gets new chair
The chair of Bausch Health (NYSE:BHC), Joe Papa, has resigned. The company has named the billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson to assume the role. In an announcement, Bausch Health noted that the decision for Papa to resign was “not due to any dispute or disagreement” with the company or board. In May, Bausch Health…
FDA prevented 317 drug shortages in 2021
FDA worked with pharma companies to avert a record number of drug shortages in 2021 based on a recent report to Congress that tracked data starting in 2012 when the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) was passed. In 2021, 115 manufacturers notified the FDA of 777 potential drug and biologic shortages. Ultimately, the agency worked to…
2022 Pharma 50: The 50 largest pharmaceutical companies
2021 was a bright year for many pharmaceutical firms, especially those able to find widespread support for COVID-19 vaccines and therapies. But it would be wrong to take a myopic view of the pandemic as a chief growth driver for leading drug developers. The most significant impact of the pandemic may be how it changed…