Spotlight
Updated: Feb 11, 2022
GOLD looks back at the pharmaceutical industry’s top news stories from the past few months, covering topics such as the latest COVID-19 developments, the most prominent drug approvals and the most prestigious mergers and acquisitions
21 October
New report by IndexBox reveals that 2021 global vaccine trade surpasses $42bn.
25 October
Roche and Foundation Medicine launch a genomic profiling kit.
27 October
Takeda acquires London-based biotechnology company GammaDelta Therapeutics.
29 October
Novartis’ Scemblix (asciminib) gains FDA approval for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia.
01 November
Novavax receives its first emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia.
04 November
MHRA authorises Merck and Ridgeback’s oral COVID-19 antiviral Lagevrio (molnupiravir).
05 November
Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral treatment shows 89% reduction in hospitalisation and death risk.
08 November
Sanofi invests up to $60m in retinal gene therapy company Gyroscope Therapeutics.
12 November
Novartis launches unique initiative to supply low- and lower-middle-income countries with affordable access to COVID-19 treatments.
16 November
Pfizer signs deal with Medicines Patent Pool to increase access to its COVID-19 treatment for lower-income countries.
17 November
FDA approves Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for adjuvant treatment for certain patients with renal cell carcinoma.
18 November
Novo Nordisk announces acquisition of Massachusetts-based Dicerna Pharmaceuticals for $3.3bn.
