Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Serialisation: Time is running out

Drug makers have only until two years from now to make their drugs and packaging counterfeit-resistant. By 9 February, 2019, every prescription drug pack must carry a 2D data matrix code that can be tracked by wholesalers and pharmacists along each stage of the value chain. Additionally, each pack must be sealed with an anti-tampering device. If companies and the NMVOs that handle national databases can’t manage the task, their drugs cannot be sold after the deadline. 

Biomanufacturing: The smell of success

Until recently, aroma compounds were either sourced directly from plants or made from petrochemicals with the help of chemical synthesis processes. Now a handful of biotechnological production approaches are making headway and inroads into the key sector. There haven’t been real breakthroughs in big F&F markets yet, but biotech companies look poised to change the industry forever.

Norgine to acquire Merus

Dutch Norgine BV will take-over Merus Labs International Inc. Under the agreement, Norgine will acquire all outstanding shares for US$1.65 per share in cash.

Cheap Avastin as effective as Eylea in CRVO

A study conducted by an NIH institute proves Roche’s Avastin is as effective as Regeneron’s Eylea, a drug that costs 30 times more than Roche’s antibody. The rub: Avastin is not approved for use in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Roche’s anti-PD-L1 fails in bladder cancer

Fiasco in Phase III: Roche’s conditionally approved PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor did not meet the endpoint of overall survival vs chemotherapy in a confirmatory study with pre-treated patients with metastatic urothelial cancer. 

GMO acreage growing

GMO world market adoption is further growing. GMO cultivation area in 2016 increased to 185.1 million hectares versus 2015 (179.7m hectares), 3% up globally, and from 116,870 in 2015 to 136,363 hectares, 17% up, in the EU. 

Another great year for Swiss biotech

With an impressive 11.7% growth in sales compared with 2015, the Swiss biotech sector has grown more strongly in 2016 than the years before. However, after three years of growth, Swiss biotech companies collected almost CHF100m less than in the previous year, according to the most recent Swiss Biotech Report.

German biotech on the rise

The Biotechnology in Germany is a growth engine. According to a new report, all key figures such as employees, turnover and R&D expenditure were at an all-time high in 2016.

€37.5 million for Vivet Therapeutics

The french biotechnology company Vivet Therapeutics has raised €37.5 million in a Series A financing round. Amongst others, Novartis Venture Fund and Roche Venture Fund were involved.