Clinical trials offer clinicians a unique opportunity to lead advances in medicine, granting access to cutting-edge therapies that address unmet patient needs. They are a cornerstone of clinical practice that enhance patient outcomes, particularly for those with complex or refractory cases who have exhausted standard treatment options. Clinicians understandably prioritize the well-being and interests of…
Eicos Sciences’ FDA-approved Aurlumyn promises to drastically reduce frostbite amputations
Imagine scaling a mountain only to later lose digits or an entire hand to the unforgiving ravages of frostbite. For climbers, explorers, adventurous backcountry skiers, and even those caught in unexpected winter storms, severe cold exposure carries a devastating risk — amputation. Today, thanks to a potentially landmark FDA approval, the prospect of losing one’s…
New HHS initiatives put spotlight on long COVID
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced two major initiatives to shed light on long COVID, a condition affecting millions. First, the agency plans to establish the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice. HHS is also set to launch new long COVID-19 clinical trials through its RECOVER initiative. Jointly, the…
Pfizer drops one weight loss drug, bets on another
Pfizer has made a strategic decision in the battle against obesity and diabetes. The pharmaceutical giant has chosen to discontinue its GLP-1 RA candidate, lotiglipron, to focus resources on the development of another – danuglipron. This Pfizer weight loss drug is now the lead candidate in late-stage trials for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.…
How 11 Big Pharma companies are using AI
Pharma companies are ramping up their reliance on AI in drug discovery, clinical trials and manufacturing. Bloomberg recently frame the technology as providing a $50 billion opportunity to the sector. GlobalData noted that the pandemic played a role in stoking interest in AI. But given the hype often surrounding the technology, it can be difficult…
Pfizer explores combining COVID-19 vaccine with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) is enrolling subjects in a study combining an investigational pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with a booster dose of its Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. At present, COVID-19 and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are among Pfizer’s bestsellers. The company expects COVID-19 vaccines to pull in $26 billion this year. Last year, the company’s Prevnar 13 pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate…
FDA authorizes J&J’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine
Americans will start receiving Johnson & Johnson‘s COVID-19 vaccine within the next 24 to 48 hours, J&J CEO Alex Gorsky told NBC’s Today this morning. FDA issued an EUA for J&J’s Ad26.COV2-S vaccine on Feb. 27, a day after an advisory panel unanimously recommended that the agency authorize the vaccine for adults 18 and over.…
4 things to keep in mind as COVID-19 vaccination efforts scale
In the early days of the pandemic, hopes were high that a vaccine could return society to normalcy. But now that FDA has authorized two vaccines, much of the general public is waiting for them to become broadly available. Some 4.5% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated as of Feb. 17, according to…
Using technology to improve efficiency and safety in pharma manufacturing
The pandemic has amplified the pressure pharmaceutical companies face to improve operational performance while also forcing them to accelerate innovation, clinical trials and production. All of this requires employees to work as efficiently as possible. Technology is available to meet these needs while also helping pharma companies respond to new worker safety challenges. Within pharma…
India authorizes 2 COVID-19 vaccines
India is allowing reserved emergency use of the AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) COVID-19 vaccine and another from the domestic firm Bharat Biotech. The country is producing both vaccines internally. Serum Institute of India has a contract to manufacture the AstraZeneca vaccine and has stockpiled between 40 and 50 million doses. Covaxin, the vaccine from Bharat Biotech, was…