Drug sales in 2020 proved more resilient than many experts anticipated in the early days of the pandemic. Still, the impact on many injectable drugs was tangible in the first half of the year as hospitals initially dissuaded patients from seeking in-person treatment. But sales were generally strong for the full year. AbbVie’s injectable biologic […]
Pharma’s top 20 R&D spenders in 2020
The past year has been an unprecedented time for the pharmaceutical industry. On the one hand, the pandemic resulted in substantial delays to clinical trials while also forcing sponsors to rethink clinical trial design to protect participants. But on the other hand, the pandemic underscored the importance of the pharma industry in society. While the […]
FDA OKs Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for younger adolescents
The FDA has authorized the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX) for adolescents as young as 12. The agency had previously authorized the vaccine for people 16 and older in December 2020. The FDA came to its decision after Pfizer demonstrated in a Phase 3 trial that the vaccine showed 100% efficacy in preventing symptomatic […]
Insulet shares down after Q1 miss
Insulet (NSDQ:PODD) stock is down today — a day after the wearable insulin delivery system developer posted break-even Q1 results that were lower than analysts’ expectations. The company, however, yesterday evening raised the low end of its revenue guidance range to 16–20%. The range was previously 15–20%. The Acton, Mass.-based company a net loss of […]
FDA could soon authorize Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for younger adolescents
The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX) appears to be on the cusp of winning regulatory authorization for use in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15, according to several media reports. FDA has authorized the vaccine for people aged 16 and up. In March, Pfizer submitted clinical trial results to FDA, suggesting the efficacy of the […]
Pfizer and BioNTech seek EMA nod for younger adolescents
After announcing that its vaccine was 100% efficacious in a Phase 3 trial involving adolescents aged 12 to 15, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX) are seeking authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to distribute the vaccine to that age group. BioNTech’s CEO, Uğur Şahin, estimated that the vaccine would be available to early adolescents in 27 European countries […]
Side effects relatively rare for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, study says
A recent study found that only 13.5% of recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX) had systemic side effects after the first dose. That figure climbed to 22.0% after the second dose. Conversely, just over one-third (33.7%) of recipients of the first dose of vaccine from AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) had systemic side effects, according to the […]
Hologic earnings miss Wall Street expectations for Q2
Hologic (NSDQ:HOLX) posted second-quarter results today that trailed the consensus forecast, but the company forecasts a strong third quarter fueled by robust COVID-19 test revenue. The Marlborough, Mass.-based company posted profits of $1.09 billion, or $2.38 per share, on sales of $1.54 billion for the three months ended March 27, 2020. Sales growth in the […]
Scientists create first human-monkey embryo
A group of scientists from the U.S. and China injected human stem cells into 132 macaque embryos, which then developed for up to 20 days. While the research holds promise for organ transplants, studying disease and testing new drugs, it also prompts controversy. Get the full story from our sister site, Drug Discovery & Development.
More than 5 million skipped getting second COVID-19 vaccine dose
The percentage of people who failed to get the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines is growing, according to recent CDC data. Some five million people, or almost 8% of people who got the first vaccine dose, missed getting the second. In mid-March, 3% of people were overdue for their second dose. People […]
Israel investigating heart inflammation cases in Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine recipients
Israel’s Health Ministry is researching “tens” of cases of myocarditis, or heart inflammation, in people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX). More than five million people in the country have received the vaccine. The agency, however, has not yet established a causal relationship between the events and the vaccine. Get the […]