In this issue of GOLD, we highlight some of the top news stories from the pharmaceutical industry that have come to light over the past few months. The COVID-19 pandemic is still dominating headlines, as vaccines go to trial and research funds are launched, but amid all of this, other partnerships, acquisitions, and appointments are also emerging.
20 April
Novartis reach an agreement with the FDA to sponsor Phase III hydroxychloroquine clinical trials in COVID-19 patients
27 April
ViiV Healthcare announce a £3 million Global HIV and COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for research into COVID-19 in people living with HIV
04 May
Italian pharmaceutical company Menarini agrees to buy Stemline Therapeutics in a $677 million acquisition
06 May
Gilead announce collaborations with generics firms to fast-track production of remdesivir amid suggestions that the drug may be approved for COVID-19 patients
08 May
AbbVie’s acquisition of Allergan completes, expanding the company’s portfolio in immunology and haematologic oncology
19 May
Moderna announce plans to raise $1.34 billion to fund Phase III trials of a mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine
21 May
AstraZeneca receive over $1 billion from BARDA to develop, produce, and deliver Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine, promising to supply 400 million doses
22 May
Roche’s Tecentriq® is recommended by NICE for treating patients with triple negative breast cancer that has spread across the body
29 May
Sanofi’s former Executive VP of Vaccines, David Loew, is announced as new Ipsen CEO, effective 1st July, replacing David Meek
01 June
FDA grants approval for AstraZeneca’s Brilinta drug for patients with coronary artery disease who are high risk for a first heart attack or stroke
02 June
CSL Behring announce partnership with Seattle Children’s Research Institute, developing stem cell gene therapies for patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases
03 June
The American Thoracic Society announces AstraZeneca’s donation of $500,000 to the organisation’s Crisis Fund for COVID-19 research