Top ten stories in the pharmaceutical industry this week

It's Friday, and that means it's time for another run-down of the biggest stories on Pharmafile.com over the last week. From one of the industry's biggest players saying goodbye to its long-serving CEO to some rather baffling regulatory decisions, it's been another busy week.

10. ABPI welcomes Roche back into the fold eight years after suspension

Roche was initially suspended for ethical breaches in 2008, and then refused an offer of readmission in 2009.

9. Lars Rebien Sørensen to retire as CEO of Novo Nordisk

Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen appointed as his successor, effective 1 January.

8. Teva suffers EpiPen generic setback after FDA rejection

The news is a real boost for Mylan whose sales of EpiPen were expected to suffer when the new drug became available in 2017.

7. Celgene and Agios to file FDA application for “first-in-class” cancer drug

The new drug application will be based on an ongoing Phase I/II study of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia

6. Eisai “cannot understand” German agency’s recommendation to reject Halaven

Compelling Phase III data has been ignored by the German’s equivalent of NICE, according to Eisai.

5. Cloud on the horizon: Cloud computing and the clinical trial

With clinical trials becoming increasingly unfeasible as financial costs and time expenses rise, Matt Fellows investigates how cloud computing may just be the answer the industry is looking for.

4. European Commission approves new RA treatment from BMS

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Orencia (abatacept) is the first biologic with a specific EU indication for the treatment of methotrexate-naïve rheumatoid arthritis patients.

3. GSK announce positive results for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment

The drug saw a reduction in the rate of moderate or severe exacerbations compared with ‘usual care.’

2. AZ’s first respiratory biologic meets primary endpoints in Phase III trials

Results presented at the European Respiratory Society international congress shows the potential of benralizumab to be added to standard-of-care severe asthma treatment.

1. Up to 120 jobs set to go as Novartis closes down Cell and Gene Therapies unit

The company confirmed that it will integrate its operations into the broader organisation.