Outlook “Gloomy” for TB Investment
The approval last year of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) treatment for tuberculosis (bedaquiline) - at the time the first TB drug approval in 40 years - “remains an exception to the generally gloomy outlook” for investment in TB R&D, writes Andrew Ward in this week’s Financial Times.
The approval last year of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) treatment for tuberculosis (bedaquiline) - at the time the first TB drug approval in 40 years - “remains an exception to the generally gloomy outlook” for investment in TB R&D, writes Andrew Ward in this week’s Financial Times.
AstraZeneca’s decision in January to close a laboratory in India that was conducting early-stage research into TB is more typical of Big Pharma’s current approach to TB, says Ward.
TB is “particularly unattractive as a commercial proposition” because of its heavy concentration in poorer countries.
J&J is not expected to profit from bedaquiline, but the company has been “rewarded” by U.S. regulators for developing the TB treatment with a scheme enabling it to put a potentially more lucrative new drug through an accelerated review process.
Although, Ward points out, Japan’s Otsuka has also since won provisional approval in Europe for its delamanid treatment for MDR-TB, few in Big Pharma are following the example of these companies.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/417dee98-a52a-11e3-8988-00144feab7de.html#axzz2wyWoEh2V
FDA Outlines Updated Requirement for Placebo-Controlled Trials in Vaccine Research
May 21st 2025In an article recently published by The New England Journal of Medicine, FDA higher-ups Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH; and Martin A. Makary, MD, MPH, wrote that any new COVID-19 vaccine must now be evaluated in placebo-controlled studies.
Addressing Disparities in Psoriasis Trials: Takeda's Strategies for Inclusivity in Clinical Research
April 14th 2025LaShell Robinson, Head of Global Feasibility and Trial Equity at Takeda, speaks about the company's strategies to engage patients in underrepresented populations in its phase III psoriasis trials.
Beyond the Prescription: Pharma's Role in Digital Health Conversations
April 1st 2025Join us for an insightful conversation with Jennifer Harakal, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Canopy Life Sciences, as we unpack the evolving intersection of social media and healthcare decisions. Discover how pharmaceutical companies can navigate regulatory challenges while meaningfully engaging with consumers in digital spaces. Jennifer shares expert strategies for responsible marketing, working with influencers, and creating educational content that bridges the gap between patients and healthcare providers. A must-listen for pharma marketers looking to build trust and compliance in today's social media landscape.
