Industry Update

Abstract

This Industry Update covers the period from 1 January through 31 January, 2015, and is based on information sourced from company press releases, scientific literature, patents and various news websites. This month saw drugs from Shire and Janssen win fast track approval status from the US FDA which reduces the target time for the Agency to take action from 10 to 6 months. Sanofi and Regeneron also heard that they have won fast track approval for alirocumab a PCSK9 inhibitor for cholesterol lowering following their purchase of a ‘Priority Review Voucher’ from BioMarin. This is significant in their race to approval with Amgen. In the devices area, Unilife announced a new deal for their electronic autoinjector and Pari got approval for the use of their electronic eRapid to deliver Genentech's pulmozyme which is used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Following safety and tolerability studies, 3M announced that its Hollow Microstructured Transdermal System is now available for partnering. Medtronic announced the roll out of its new MiniMed insulin delivery system taking it a step closer to being able to offer a complete artificial pancreas. GSK expanded to four, the number of respiratory drugs that it provides in its new Ellipta inhaler in the US market. The University of Warwick announced a new means of targeting the delivery of drugs using nanoparticles which combine at the target site and release their drug payload. Adamis received a patent on its dry powder inhaler technology, acquired from 3M and TiGenix a patent in Europe for its tempo cell technology.