News

Responding to renewed interest in cancer vaccines, Merck & Co Inc and Moderna Therapeutics Inc have expanded a 2016 collaboration to develop and commercialise novel personalised messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.

Avacta Group Plc of the UK has shown that it is possible to produce a therapeutic protein in mice by delivering DNA directly into the animal’s muscle tissue. Results of the preclinical proof-of-concept study were reported on 22 May.

A 2016 drug discovery alliance between Germany’s Medigene AG and bluebird bio Inc of the US has been expanded to raise the number of candidate compounds to be developed to six from four. The products are T cell receptor-modified T cell immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.

Novo Nordisk A/S has announced plans to increase its commitment to cell-based therapies following the achievement of preclinical proof-of-concept for a cell therapy to treat Type 1 diabetes. The diabetes therapy, in which pluripotent stem cells are used to generate insulin-producing beta cells, is expected to enter human trials “within the next few years,” the company said on 16 May.

A multi-year study of the asthma drug Nucala (mepolizumab) has shown the treatment to be effective in asthma control and reducing acute episodes of the disease, according to GlaxoSmithKline Plc. The company disclosed the data on 20 May at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society.

Dupixent (dupilumab) has delivered positive results in a Phase 3 trial involving adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The drug is already approved for the same disease in adults and is the first biologic to show a benefit in this patient group.

NOXXON Pharma NV has reported a promising response from a patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer to its RNA oligonucleotide drug that is intended to fight cancer by targeting the tumour microenvironment. The company gave the update on 16 May at the BioEquity Europe conference in Belgium.

AstraZeneca Plc is to use organ-on-chip technology to test drug compounds for safety and efficacy under a new collaboration with the Boston, Massachusetts, US company Emulate Inc. Emulate will co-locate scientists within AstraZeneca’s laboratories in the UK where the chips will be tested across the AZ pipeline.

AstraZeneca Plc expects to return to growth in 2018 as new oncology, diabetes and cardiovascular products boost group sales, offsetting the loss of market share for the statin Crestor which faces generic competition in Europe and Japan.

AstraZeneca Plc’s antibody drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Fasenra (benralizumab), has failed to meet its primary endpoint in the first of two Phase 3 trials of patients with the disease.