Pharma News
17 Mar 2024 to 23 Mar 2024
Mar 23, 2024
Bayer Pharmaceuticals makes progress in developing new line of successful drugs - PharmaBiz
Bayer showcased advancements in its pharma business at its annual Pharma Media Day 2024, highlighting progress in pipeline growth and expansion in key therapeutic areas. The company has focused on cardiovascular diseases, oncology, immunology, neurology & rare diseases, and has strengthened its innovation engine through collaborations and acquisitions. Additionally, Bayer reported positive clinical data for elinzanetant, a potential treatment for menopausal symptoms, and discussed its efforts in precision oncology, cell therapy, gene therapy, and other therapeutic areas. The company also emphasized its commitment to patient care and addressing unmet medical needs.
Mar 22, 2024
Experts explain how Ozempic can lead to weight gain and become ineffective
Comedian Tracy Morgan revealed that he gained 40 pounds while taking the weight loss drug Ozempic, contradicting the usual weight loss claims associated with the drug. Ozempic contains the drug semaglutide and is known to suppress hunger hormones. Experts suggest that weight gain is possible on the drug and that the body may adjust to its effects, necessitating diet and exercise choices to maintain weight loss. While studies have shown that over 86% of patients lose weight on Ozempic, individual treatment plans may be necessary for optimal results.
Mar 22, 2024
Bayer's Nubeqa, a Drug for Prostate Cancer, Expected to Achieve Significant Sales in 2024.
Bayer predicts that its prostate cancer drug, Nubeqa (darolutamide), will achieve blockbuster status this year and generate over €1 billion in sales by 2024. The drug, which saw a nearly double increase in sales last year, is hailed as the fastest-growing androgen receptor inhibitor in the US. Bayer highlighted upcoming clinical trial results and potential label expansions as drivers for further growth. The growth of Nubeqa may help Bayer offset the anticipated loss of exclusivity for its anticoagulant medication, Xarelto.
Mar 22, 2024
Bayer projects that sales of prostate cancer drug will surpass $1 billion in 2024, as reported by SaltWire.
Bayer predicts $1 billion in sales for prostate cancer drug Nubeqa in 2024. The drug is expected to play a significant role in the company's growth prospects following the failure of an anti-blood-clotting therapy. Nubeqa, which achieved sales of €869 million ($948 million) last year, is on track to reach blockbuster status. Bayer also confirmed that a study testing its experimental anticoagulant asundexian in stroke patients is progressing rapidly.
Mar 21, 2024
Medicare Drug Plans are now able to include Wegovy for treating heart disease, reports Bloomberg.com.
Medicare prescription drug programs will now cover Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug, Wegovy, for heart disease. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has given approval for Part D plans to include anti-obesity medications if they are approved for additional uses.
Mar 21, 2024
Wegovy now eligible for coverage under Medicare drug plans for heart disease - CNBC TV18
Medicare can now cover Novo Nordisk A/S's weight-loss drug Wegovy for heart disease, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Part D plans have been notified that anti-obesity medications approved for additional uses can be covered for those indications. However, it remains uncertain whether major Part D plans will start covering Wegovy. It is unlikely that Medicare will widely cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss due to the high costs and limited savings.
Mar 21, 2024
Potential Blockbuster on the Horizon for Radiopharmaceuticals - BioCentury
Novartis' radiopharmaceutical drug, Pluvicto, is expected to generate over $1 billion in sales this year. Radiopharmaceuticals are gaining traction as more companies invest in next-generation technologies. Novartis, an early player in the field, acquired Advanced Accelerator Applications and received FDA approval for its drug Lutathera in 2018, which has already generated $2.6 billion in sales.
Mar 21, 2024
Patients with heart conditions may be eligible for Medicare coverage of Wegovy, according to The Washington Post.
Medicare plans will now cover the weight-loss drug Wegovy, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, to treat seniors with a history of cardiovascular disease. Previously, federal law prevented coverage of anti-obesity medications, but the recent decision by the FDA to broaden the approved use of Wegovy to reduce the risk of heart failure has prompted the change. However, Medicare will not cover the drug for weight management alone. The move is expected to influence commercial insurers to also provide coverage for Wegovy, although the drug's high cost may pose challenges.
Mar 21, 2024
Bayer projects that sales of its prostate cancer medication will surpass $1 billion by 2024, reported by WTVB.
Bayer projects sales of at least $1 billion by 2024 for its prostate cancer drug Nubeqa, following the failure of an anti-blood-clotting therapy. Last year, Nubeqa generated sales of €869 million ($948 million). The company also confirmed that the Oceanic study, which is testing a potential anticoagulant, is progressing rapidly.
Mar 20, 2024
Investing in 5 Pharmaceutical Stocks with High-Potential Drugs in Development, U.S. News Reports
Pharmaceutical stocks have the potential for big gains if a company successfully develops a new and effective drug. Here are five potential blockbuster drugs in the pipeline from pharmaceutical companies: Vertex Pharmaceuticals' three-drug combination treatment for cystic fibrosis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' odronextamab for lymphoma, Bristol-Myers Squibb's myeloma drug Abecma, AstraZeneca's immunotherapy drug Imfinzi, and BioNTech's ONC-392 for multiple cancer types. These drugs have reached late-stage clinical trials or have received FDA approval, which could lead to significant commercial success for the companies and potential gains for investors.
Mar 20, 2024
Acelyrin's new eye medication advances to late-stage testing following successful trial outcome, according to BioPharma Dive
Los Angeles-based biotechnology company Acelyrin plans to move its experimental medicine for thyroid eye disease, lonigutamab, into late-stage testing after positive results from a small study. The company's Phase 2b/3 trial is expected to begin later this year. Lonigutamab showed clinically meaningful responses in terms of effectiveness, with patients tolerating the drug well and no serious adverse events reported. If approved, Acelyrin's drug would compete with Tepezza, an already approved treatment for thyroid eye disease. Viridian Therapeutics is also developing a similar type of medicine. Shares of Acelyrin rose 6% following the news.
Mar 20, 2024
Boryung aims for its highest sales ever in 2024, reports KED Global
South Korean pharmaceutical company Boryung Corp. aims to reach sales of 1 trillion won ($748 million) this year and become the country's top pharmaceutical company by 2032. Boryung has seen growth from its combination drugs, particularly the hypertension drug Kanarb. The company expects new momentum from HK inno.N's reflux esophagitis treatment K-CAB tablets. Boryung's CEO, Daniel Chang, stated that the company will focus on strengthening its prescription drugs for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, cancer, and diabetes. Boryung's operating profit is projected to increase by 24% to 85 billion won with sales reaching 1 trillion won.
Mar 19, 2024
Could Novo Nordisk be Close to Releasing Another Highly Successful Drug? - Source: Nasdaq
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, known for its diabetes and obesity treatments, could be on the brink of developing another blockbuster drug. The company recently published phase 1 clinical trial results for its oral obesity drug amycretin, which could potentially augment the success of its existing obesity treatment, Wegovy. With the weight loss market booming, Novo Nordisk's expertise in the field puts it in a strong position for growth. However, investors should take a long-term approach and wait for further clinical trial data before making any investment decisions in the stock.
Mar 19, 2024
New research suggests that a breast cancer drug could benefit a larger number of women than initially estimated
Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, could be effective in treating a wider range of breast cancer patients than previously thought, according to research. The drug, which targets a specific protein on immune cells to seek out and destroy cancerous cells, was found to be effective when used alongside chemotherapy in treating early-stage breast cancer. This could mean that thousands more women with breast cancer, specifically oestrogen-receptor positive (ER-positive) and HER2 negative, could benefit from the drug. The findings were presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Milan.
Mar 19, 2024
Bayer prepares competitor to Astellas menopause drug using fresh data
Bayer plans to seek regulatory approval for its drug, elinzanetant, which has shown positive results in reducing hot flashes and improving sleep in menopausal women with moderate-to-severe symptoms. The company intends to share the findings with global health authorities. If approved, elinzanetant will compete with Astellas Pharma's Veozah. Despite previously signaling a shift away from women's health, Bayer sees elinzanetant as a potential blockbuster and aims to transform the way menopausal symptoms are treated. However, the drug may face commercial challenges due to competition and concerns about demand and insurer reimbursement.
Mar 19, 2024
Could Novo Nordisk be close to launching another highly successful drug?
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is dominating the weight-loss market with its diabetes medications Ozempic and Rybelsus and obesity treatments Wegovy and Saxenda. With the obesity care market still heavily untapped, Novo Nordisk is developing a new drug called amycretin, an oral supplement that could further expand its reach in the weight-loss sector. However, investors are advised to consider the long-term prospects and future clinical trials before investing in Novo Nordisk.
Mar 19, 2024
Analyst updates Eli Lilly stock price prediction for weight loss medication - Yahoo Finance
Eli Lilly's new diabetes and obesity drug, Zepbound, is driving the company's growth. With more than 40% of adults in the US suffering from obesity, Zepbound is expected to be the top-selling drug in history. The drug has already surpassed its main competitor, Wegovy, in terms of new prescriptions. JPMorgan analysts have raised their share price target for Lilly due to the strength of Zepbound. However, Morningstar analyst Damien Conover believes the stock is overvalued, despite the company's robust growth.
Mar 19, 2024
Could Novo Nordisk Be Close to Releasing Another Highly Successful Drug? - sharewise
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, known for its diabetes and obesity treatments, is on the verge of potentially releasing another blockbuster drug, following the success of its medications Ozempic, Rybelsus, Saxenda, and Wegovy. The company's expertise in these markets has contributed to its record growth in 2023, with shares rising 91% over the past year. Investors are optimistic about Novo Nordisk's future prospects.
Mar 19, 2024
Could Novo Nordisk Be Close to Releasing Another Successful Drug? - Yahoo Finance
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, known for its development of diabetes medications and obesity treatments, could be on the verge of creating another blockbuster weight loss drug. Novo Nordisk's existing drugs, including Ozempic and Rybelsus, have seen record growth, and its obesity treatment, Wegovy, has been approved by the FDA. The potential new drug, amycretin, recently showed encouraging results in a phase 1 clinical trial. However, investors should consider the long-term prospects and subsequent trials before making investment decisions.
Mar 19, 2024
Experts provide insights on the implications of the US antitrust legal action concerning cancer medication Revlimid for Dr. Reddy's
Pharma companies including Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Celgene, Natco, and Teva are facing an antitrust lawsuit in the US over the generic version of the cancer drug Revlimid. Retail giants Walgreens and CVS are seeking compensation, alleging that these companies implemented measures to limit competition in the generic market until 2026. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the litigation, the market has remained unfazed, possibly due to the expectation of a lengthy settlement process. Dr Reddy's, which launched the drug in September 2022, has generated significant profits from Revlimid.
Mar 18, 2024
Merck's extensive plan over six years may result in success if hypertension drug is approved in the current month
Merck is expecting an FDA decision next week for its blood pressure drug, soÂtatercept. If approved, the drug could generate $1.9 billion in sales by 2025.
Mar 18, 2024
Johnson & Johnson exceeds expectations for the quarter due to a surge in drug sales, leading to a rise in shares.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has reported better-than-expected second quarter profit, with sales of pharmaceuticals surging 20% despite a decline in arthritis drug Remicade. J&J expressed confidence that a recent jury verdict that its talc-based products caused cancer and resulted in a $4.69bn fine would not stand. Sales of Stelara for autoimmune diseases increased by 36%, while sales of prostate cancer drug Zytiga soared by 63%. J&J's net earnings rose to $3.95bn from $3.83bn, and total sales reached $20.83bn.
Mar 17, 2024
Eli Lilly partners with Amazon for distribution of its popular weight management drug. Should investors consider purchasing shares?
Eli Lilly's weight management drug, Zepbound, which is on track to outperform Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, is set to benefit from a new distribution partnership with Amazon Pharmacy. The collaboration is expected to accelerate sales of Zepbound and position Eli Lilly as a potential smart stock to buy. Wall Street analysts anticipate that total sales of tirzepatide, the generic name for Zepbound, could exceed $50 billion annually at its peak.
Mar 17, 2024
BeiGene's therapy for esophageal cancer approved by US FDA, according to Yahoo News Canada
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved BeiGene's drug, Tevimbra, for the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer in patients who have previously undergone chemotherapy. The therapy will be available to U.S. patients in the second half of 2024. Tevimbra is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, similar to Merck's Keytruda, that helps the immune system detect and attack tumors.
