Author: IQ TIMES MEDIA
By Mariam Sunny and Michael Erman (Reuters) -Merck said on Monday it expects a commercial opportunity exceeding $5 billion from Cidara Therapeutics’ experimental flu drug, and does not anticipate it to require a review by the U.S. CDC’s vaccine advisory panel before launch. The U.S. drugmaker announced a nearly $9.2 billion deal last week to acquire Cidara, aiming to gain access to its long-acting antiviral, CD388, currently in late-stage trial. CD388 is not a vaccine and is designed to be effective regardless of a person’s immune status and could offer single-dose, universal protection against all flu strains. Vaccine policy in…
By Ludwig Burger FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Roche’s (ROG.SW) experimental oral drug giredestrant has been shown to cut the risk of recurrence of a common form of breast cancer after surgery, boosting the company’s shares and underpinning its traditional credentials in oncology. The Swiss drugmaker said on Tuesday that a scheduled interim analysis of a late-stage trial showed the experimental pill resulted in a clinically meaningful improvement in keeping patients disease-free after surgery compared with standard endocrine therapy. More details are to be published at a medical conference to be announced as Roche works towards regulatory approval, the company added. The prospect…
(Reuters) -Moderna said on Wednesday it would now operate full end-to-end manufacturing for its mRNA medicines in the U.S., marking a major step in strengthening the company’s domestic production network. The Cambridge-based company plans to invest more than $140 million to add the final manufacturing step to its existing facility in Massachusetts. The move will support both commercial and clinical supply as the company seeks to reduce reliance on contract manufacturers. Construction has begun at the Moderna Technology Center in Norwood, with the company targeting completion by the first half of 2027. The expansion is expected to create hundreds of…
By Steven Scheer JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said on Wednesday it was calling on startups to join its new platform to develop technologies to deal with a host of challenges facing Teva and the global pharmaceuticals industry. Called Teva Rise, the company’s open innovation platform aims to accelerate innovations such as AI, digital health, smart manufacturing and biotech, and will connect startups and tech companies with Teva’s business units, it said. Under the programme, Israel-based Teva – the world’s largest generic drugs company that also has its own branded treatments – seeks to create solutions for seven challenges in…
ZURICH (Reuters) -Novartis will expand its operations in North Carolina and build a manufacturing hub there as part of a planned $23 billion of U.S. infrastructure investment over the next five years, the Swiss pharmaceuticals company said on Wednesday. The expansion is projected to create 700 new positions at Novartis and more than 3,000 indirect jobs across the supply chain by 2030, the company’s statement said. The announcement follows a preliminary deal struck by the U.S. and Swiss governments last week to cut U.S. tariffs on Switzerland to 15% from 39%. Central to the deal is a pledge by Swiss…
(Reuters) -Eli Lilly hit $1 trillion in market value on Friday, making it the first drugmaker to enter the exclusive club dominated by tech giants and underscoring its rise as a weight-loss powerhouse. Here are some reactions to Lilly joining the trillion dollar club: EVAN SEIGERMAN, ANALYST AT BMO CAPITAL MARKETS “The current valuation points to investor confidence in the longer-term durability of the company’s metabolic health franchise. It also suggests that investors prefer Lilly over Novo in the obesity arms race. Taking a step back, we’re also seeing money rotate into the sector as investors may be worried…
(Reuters) -Eli Lilly said on Friday it plans to roll out an employer-focused obesity care model early next year, aiming to expand access to its blockbuster weight-loss drug through partnerships with third-party firms. The program would give employers flexible cost-sharing options and integrate clinical support, Lilly said, bypassing traditional drug sales channels. “Obesity care is the next frontier in employer health benefits,” said Ilya Yuffa, Lilly executive vice president. “Companies that act now will lead the way, closing coverage gaps and building healthier, more resilient workforces.” Separately, companies, including digital health firm Waltz Health and cardiometabolic care provider 9amHealth announced…
(Reuters) -AstraZeneca said on Friday it will invest $2 billion to expand its manufacturing footprint in Maryland as part of its previously announced $50 billion plan to expand manufacturing and research capabilities in the U.S. by 2030. Global pharmaceutical companies have been ramping up investments in the United States to expand production capacity, following President Donald Trump’s call for the industry to make more medicines domestically instead of importing active ingredients or finished products. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker’s $2 billion investment will help expand its biologics manufacturing facility in Frederick and construct a new state-of-the-art facility in Gaithersburg for the development…
(Reuters) -Shares of U.S. health insurers jumped on Monday following a media report the White House was preparing to unveil a policy framework that would extend Affordable Care Act premium subsidies – also known as Obamacare – for two years and add new eligibility limits. Shares of Centene (CNC) jumped about 7% and Molina Healthcare (MOH) gained around 4%, while Elevance Health climbed more than 2% in early trading. “I think this is a bit of a relief rally as the fate of ACA subsidies came under significant doubt after the government shutdown was resolved without an extension,” said James…
A higher Medicare premium set to go into effect in 2026 will push the monthly charge above $200 for the first time, with the increase likely to erode next year’s cost-of-living increase for millions of Social Security recipients. The premium for Medicare’s Part B, which covers doctor visits and other outpatient services, will rise 9.7% to $202.90, an increase of $17.90 from the current $185 monthly cost, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said earlier this month. It’s the largest increase since 2022, when the Part B premium jumped 15%. The Part B deductible — the amount seniors must…