Plus, Masimo to split off consumer tech businesses

Today’s Big News

Mar 25, 2024

Novo Nordisk inks $1B Cardior buyout to pump up heart failure plans


In banner year, Lilly rewards CEO David Ricks with 24% boost in total pay to $26.6M 


Masimo to hive off consumer business, including FDA-cleared baby monitor, health smartwatch


#FierceMadness: Big wins for Pfizer, AstraZeneca as others fight it out until the end; now vote for round 2 


#FierceMadness: The Best Biotech Name Tournament—The Round of 32 is OPEN 


AstraZeneca’s rare disease unit overcomes FDA snub to expand Ultomiris in NMOSD 

 

Featured

Novo Nordisk inks $1B Cardior buyout to pump up heart failure plans

Novo Nordisk is pumping up its heart failure plans. The drugmaker, dripping with its GLP-1 billions, has agreed to buy Cardior Pharmaceuticals and its midphase prospect in a deal that could top out above 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion).
 

Top Stories

In banner year, Lilly rewards CEO David Ricks with 24% boost in total pay to $26.6M

Eli Lilly’s revenue is tracking upward, its share price has climbed and its market cap has skyrocketed to the highest in the biopharma industry. It's little wonder, then, that the company's executives are raking in the rewards. In 2023, Lilly CEO David Ricks received a 24% boost in overall compensation.

Masimo to hive off consumer business, including FDA-cleared baby monitor, health smartwatch

Masimo said it will form a new company to house its home audio brands plus its high-tech Stork baby monitor system and its line of health-focused smartwatches.

#FierceMadness: Big wins for Pfizer, AstraZeneca as others fight it out until the end; now vote for round 2

It’s March, so it’s time for some #FierceMadness. Last year, we channeled the NCAA tournament for the best pharma ad campaigns, but this year we’re looking for the best of the best in drug names.

#FierceMadness: The Best Biotech Name Tournament—The Round of 32 is OPEN

What's the best biotech name? It's time to vote in the Fierce Madness #biotechbracket.

AstraZeneca’s rare disease unit overcomes FDA snub to expand Ultomiris in NMOSD

Nearly five years after an FDA approval for Soliris in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), AstraZeneca’s follow-on C5 drug Ultomiris has entered the rare neurological disease, as well.

FDA blocks approval of Regeneron's blood cancer drug over confirmatory trial enrollment

Regeneron may have gotten ahead of itself with the early filing of bispecific antibody odronextamab to regulators. In a move that might not surprise keen FDA watchers, the agency has issued two complete response letters over the timelines of ongoing phase 3 confirmatory trials for the drug.

BioNTech hit with 'notice of default' from NIH in COVID-19 vaccine royalty dispute

Even as Germany's BioNTech deals with ongoing declines of its revenue and share price, it's facing another serious concern: U.S. officials are pressing the company to pay royalties linked to the commercialization of its lucrative Pfizer-partnered COVID-19 vaccine.

AstraZeneca steps up to show Fasenra helping patients step out in ad push for asthma drug

AstraZeneca is stepping back into Fasenra promotion to show how its asthma treatment can help people with asthma step back out.

BD boosts U.S. production as FDA warns against using plastic syringes from China

The FDA last week re-upped its recommendations that healthcare providers avoid using plastic syringes made in China wherever possible, while it continues to investigate growing quality concerns. In response, BD said it would be increasing U.S. production of the ubiquitous drug delivery hardware to help cover the gap.

FTC weighs in on Teva's inhaler litigation against Amneal amid far-reaching patent crackdown

After filing a challenge in November against more than 100 patents in the FDA’s Orange Book—and persuading several drugmakers to retract their intellectual property (IP) protections in the process—the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is now calling out uncooperative companies in court.

AbbVie grabs a wrench to add immunology-focused Landos Biopharma for $137.5M

AbbVie has grabbed a wrench to add on some new autoimmune disease options to its pipeline via the acquisition of Landos Biopharma. The deal values the oral therapeutic-focused biotech at $137.5 million.

SK Life Science marks Purple Day for epilepsy awareness by highlighting patient support programs

SK Life Science is in a purple haze this week to help raise awareness around epilepsy.
 
Fierce podcasts

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'The Top Line': A closer look at European biotech investment in 2024

This week on “The Top Line,” we explore the European biotech investment landscape. Fierce Biotech’s James Waldron sits down with Maina Bhaman, a Partner at Sofinnova Capital Strategy, who provides insights into how investors are approaching the European biotech sector. 
 

Resources

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Pediatric Clinical Trials: Considerations for Enrollment and Retention

Explore the nuanced approaches necessary for successful pediatric drug development.
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CNS Market Outlook, 2024

This paper assesses the current state of the broad CNS market, reviewing key expectations for 2024. It addresses Alzheimer’s disease, biomarkers, and advances in psychiatry in detail. It also provides a high-level look at the pain market and the evolving regulatory environment.

 

Industry Events

Drug Development Boot Camp® VIRTUAL | Spring 2024

April ‌10-11, ‌2024

On Helix

Date: ‌4 ‌July ‌2024 ‌- ‌Location: ‌Babraham ‌Research ‌Campus, ‌Cambridge ‌UK

 

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