Challenges to ongoing efforts to provide effective aid for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 continued April 8, with two new trial failures reported. A phase III trial testing the Olumiant (baricitinib) vs. placebo, both on top of standard of care, missed its primary endpoint of progression to non-invasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation or death, said drugmakers Eli Lilly and Co. and Incyte Corp. A phase II trial testing Beigene Ltd.'s Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) vs. placebo in patients hospitalized with respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 also fell short, missing its co-primary efficacy endpoints of respiratory failure-free survival or reduction in days on oxygen.
HONG KONG – Covig-19, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune immunoglobulin therapy that Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. developed alongside the Covig-19 Plasma Alliance, has failed to meet its endpoints in a global phase III trial. The multicenter Inpatient Treatment with Anti-Coronavirus Immunoglobulin trial was sponsored and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. It aimed to demonstrate the drug’s safety, tolerability and efficacy in hospitalized adults at the onset of COVID-19 progression, the companies said.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Beigene, Cansino, Cytodyn, Gilead, Immutep, Teva.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Bio-Thera, Biogen, Context, Cytoimmune, Dicerna, DS, Hemostemix, Hyundai, Immunoprecise, Integral Molecular, Medolife, Metriopharm, Moderna, Nuvothera, Oncology, Regen, Talem, Trisalus, Vir.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Algernon, Aurinia, Beigene, BMS, Connect, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Global Blood, GT, Immunitybio, Incyte, Laurent, Merck, Ocuphire, Portage, Secura.
LONDON – The EMA has concluded that the rare cases of serious blood clots with low platelet counts seen after administration of Astrazeneca plc’s COVID-19 vaccine are caused by the vaccine, but said the benefits of its use continue to outweigh the risks. The possibility of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and splanchnic vein thrombosis in the abdomen will now be listed as rare side effects and the EMA’s guidance to health care professionals will be updated.
LONDON – The largest study to date, involving 236,379 confirmed cases, shows that 1 in 3 survivors of COVID-19 was diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric condition within six months of contracting the infection. For 13% of those patients, it was their first such diagnosis.
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting medical devices and technologies, including: FDA hits company for deviations from drug, device GMPs; Stryker undertakes correction for AEDs; MHRA: Creams, ointments may interfere with CGM function; NICE says liver perfusion suffers for want of evidence of efficacy; NIAID testing vaccine allergy hypothesis; EC provides emergency funding for COVID-19 research; Medtronic splits Ninth Appeals’ review of lower court decision; Industry, docs push back on prior authorization.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Bausch + Lomb, Chemence Medical, Nuvasive, Vitro Biopharma.
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