Novartis not joining the ‘frenzy’ of weight loss drugs, CEO says

Novartis not joining the ‘frenzy’ of weight loss drugs, CEO says

The CEO of Novartis said Wednesday that the Swiss pharmaceutical giant does not plan to enter into the “frenzy” of weight loss drugs, preferring instead to focus on areas where it can build a “unique position.” Speaking to CNBC, Vas Narasimhan said that the company was researching treatments that deal with the secondary effects of … Read more

Pfizer’s cancer cachexia drug shows positive midstage trial results

Pfizer’s cancer cachexia drug shows positive midstage trial results

Pfizer‘s experimental drug for a common, life-threatening condition that causes cancer patients to lose their appetite and weight showed positive results in a midstage trial, the drugmaker said Saturday.  Patients with the condition, called cancer cachexia, who took Pfizer’s treatment saw improvements in body weight, muscle mass, quality of life and physical function, according to … Read more

Eli Lilly to boost output of weight loss, diabetes, Alzheimer’s drugs

Eli Lilly to boost output of weight loss, diabetes, Alzheimer’s drugs

A sign with the company logo sits outside of the headquarters of Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 17, 2024. Scott Olson | Getty Images Eli Lilly on Thursday said it will invest $1.8 billion to boost manufacturing for its newly approved Alzheimer’s drug and highly popular weight loss and diabetes treatments, among other medicines, … Read more

$1 billion in cost cuts, 10 product launches planned

 billion in cost cuts, 10 product launches planned

Moderna headquarters, exterior view, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.  Plexi Images | GHI | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Moderna on Thursday said it plans to cut around $1.1 billion in expenses by 2027 and win approvals for several new products as it charts a path forward after the rapid decline of its Covid business.  … Read more

Leqembi could give Alzheimer’s patients more time, but road to treatment is long

Leqembi could give Alzheimer’s patients more time, but road to treatment is long

Hannah Yoon | The Washington Post | Getty Images Leqembi, an Alzheimer’s drug from Biogen and Eisai, isn’t a cure for the mind-damaging disease.  But the treatment promises to give patients such as Missie Meeks more time to live their daily lives normally and independently of others. Meeks, an English professor based in Ellisville, Mississippi, … Read more

AstraZeneca staff detained in China amid reported drug-import probe

AstraZeneca staff detained in China amid reported drug-import probe

The office building of biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is being seen in Shanghai, China, on May 23, 2024.  Nurphoto | Getty Images Some employees of British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca have been detained by police in China as part of an investigation, the company confirmed Thursday. “We are aware a small number of our employees in China … Read more

FDA authorizes Novavax Covid vaccine targeting JN.1

FDA authorizes Novavax Covid vaccine targeting JN.1

A vial labelled “Novavax V COVID-19 Vaccine” is seen in this illustration taken January 16, 2022.  Dado Ruvic | Reuters The Food and Drug Administration authorized Novavax‘s updated protein-based Covid vaccine for emergency use in people ages 12 and up on Friday, paving the way for the shot to compete with Pfizer and Moderna‘s jabs … Read more

Eli Lilly releases new, cheaper form of weight loss drug

Eli Lilly releases new, cheaper form of weight loss drug

An injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug, is displayed in New York City on Dec. 11, 2023. Brendan McDermid | Reuters Eli Lilly on Tuesday released a new form of its weight loss drug Zepbound for roughly half its usual monthly list price to reach millions of patients without insurance coverage for … Read more

What is mpox and why has the WHO declared it a public health emergency

What is mpox and why has the WHO declared it a public health emergency

Sebastian Condrea | Moment | Getty Images The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following the spread of an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries. New cases of the virus have since been been identified outside of the continent, … Read more

U.S. will offer free at-home kits starting late September

U.S. will offer free at-home kits starting late September

Images By Tang Ming Tung | DigitalVision | Getty Images The Biden administration on Friday said it will resume offering free at-home Covid-19 tests to American households in late September as the virus has gained a stronger foothold in the U.S. this summer. Americans will soon be able to use COVIDtests.gov to request four free … Read more