In this issue of GOLD, we reflect on the pharmaceutical industry’s key developments over the last few months, guiding you through all the latest COVID-19 vaccine announcements, as well as FDA-approval updates, acquisitions, and significant appointments.
23 November
Pharma’s R&D spending shows a 6.9% increase, reaching an 8-year high
24 November
The EU secures up to 160 million doses of Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
01 December
The FDA approve use of Genentech’s Xolair for adults with nasal polyps
10 December
Sanofi and GSK announce delay of COVID-19 vaccine until end of 2021 due to insufficient immune responses
12 December
AstraZeneca extend rare diseases portfolio with $39 billion acquisition of Alexion
06 January
Redesigned logo for Pfizer sees the introduction of DNA double helix emblem
07 January
Amgen’s Corinne Le Goff announced to join Moderna as Chief Commercial Officer
07 January
Roche’s Actemra and Sanofi and Regeneron’s Kevzara show to significantly improve survival in patients with COVID-19
08 January
Data suggests Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine still effective against South Africa and UK variants
12 January
1.25 million doses of Regeneron’s Casirivimab and Imdevimab antibody cocktail sold to US government for $2.63 billion
21 January
FDA gives approval to GSK’s long-acting HIV injectable, Cabenuva
25 January
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is found to still offer sufficient protection against variants first identified in the UK and South Africa