Pharmaceutical and biotech news covering drug approvals, clinical trials, FDA decisions, and pharmaceutical industry developments.
NHS England approved mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere) for advanced ovarian cancer patients with FRĪ± protein and platinum resistance. The drug extends average survival from 12.8 months on chemotherapy to 16.5 months, with fewer side-effects and given every three weeks instead of weekly. Up to 400 women per year could benefit.
A clinical trial found that AD109, a new pill, reduced breathing interruptions by 44% in sleep apnea patients, compared to 18% for placebo. Over 40% of patients saw improvement, and 18% achieved normal sleep. The drug could offer an alternative to CPAP machines, which many patients find uncomfortable.
AstraZeneca will stop supplying the breast cancer and endometriosis drug Zoladex 3.6mg in Australia from November 2026, removing it from the PBS and private market. Patients call the decision 'cruel' and 'soul-destroying'. The company will offer six months of free access for those without alternatives.
Legend Biotech shares surged over 40% on Wednesday after the company disclosed early data on its in vivo CAR-T therapy showing promise in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The rise occurred during a broad selloff in biotech stocks.
The US FDA expanded the indication for Agilent Technologies' PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx test to aid in identifying patients with four additional tumor types who may benefit from Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda. The test helps determine PD-L1 expression levels to guide treatment decisions.
A phase 1 trial of GRWD5769, which strips cancer cells of their ability to hide from the immune system, shrank tumours by at least 30% in 15 of 83 patients with cervical, bladder, liver, bowel, lung, or head and neck cancers. Patient Pat Brogan, 68, from Scotland, saw his lung tumours shrink by almost a third after prior treatments failed.
Japan's Shionogi received FDA approval for its oral antiviral to prevent COVID-19 in adults and children following exposure. The drug is authorized for post-exposure prophylaxis.
Akeso's ivonescimab reduced death risk by 34% in a phase three non-small cell lung cancer trial. Two-year survival was 64.7% vs 48.6% for controls. The experimental drug could potentially replace Keytruda as a backbone therapy.
Kelonia Therapeutics presented an in vivo CAR-T update at ASCO26, showing all 18 multiple myeloma patients responded. Eli Lilly agreed to acquire Kelonia in April for up to $7 billion.
AstraZeneca reported data from a new study showing its triplet combination of a targeted treatment and two immunotherapies benefited patients with certain liver cancers. The data was presented at the ASCO 2026 conference in Chicago.