Arlene Weintraub
FiercePharma
Jersey City, NJ, United States
Contact Arlene
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Past articles by Arlene:
2022 forecast: Cell, gene therapy makers push past regulatory, payer hurdles to set up high hopes for next year
Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb and Gilead are among the companies expected to bring in high revenues from their cell and gene therapies in 2022. And the late-stage pipeline could produce several more cancer CAR-Ts and gene therapies to treat a range of diseases. → Read More
Could Viagra prevent and treat Alzheimer's? Cleveland Clinic team shows its potential
Using stem cell models derived from Alzheimer's patients, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic discovered that the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil) targets tau, one of the proteins implicated in the disease. They're now planning a phase 2 trial of Viagra in Alzheimer’s patients. → Read More
Duke and UC scientists find a potential remedy for chronic pain from a 'junkyard of cancer drugs'
Researchers from Duke and the University of California at Irvine screened a library of more than 1,000 compounds and discovered that an old, experimental cancer drug called kenpaullone enhances the expression of the gene KCC2, which is essential for silencing pain signals. The drug was effective in treating mouse models of pain from nerve injury and bone cancer, they reported. → Read More
The top 10 antibody drug conjugate contenders in 2021
After decades of trial and error, the development of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) is poised for a renaissance. Here are our top picks. → Read More
Biopharma M&A set for a strong H2 despite political noise—and Biogen and Gilead look like buyers: analysts
Biopharma and medical devices chalked up 201 deals in the first half of 2021, double the life sciences M&A during the same period a year ago, PwC found. All signs suggest that'll continue, despite an FTC crackdown, and several Big Biotechs—plus Merck, J&J and Bristol Myers—are likely shoppers, analysts said. → Read More
FDA panel questions benefits of Roche’s Tecentriq-Abraxane combo in breast cancer, threatening conditional nod
A panel of external experts summoned by the FDA spent the afternoon questioning Roche on the merits of combining Tecentriq with Abraxane in PD-L1-positive metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Roche has been downplaying the significance of this meeting, but any setback for Tecentriq would be unwelcome news for the company. → Read More
Biogen’s Alzheimer’s hopeful aducanumab faces ‘less than a coin flip’s chance’ of FDA approval: analysts
As the June decision date draws near for Biogen’s controversial Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab, analysts at RBC Capital Markets are raising concerns about the drug's prospects for approval. They considered eight recent developments—some specific to the drug and others more generally related to the Alzheimer’s market environment. → Read More
Activist investor Elliott takes ‘significant’ stake in GlaxoSmithKline amid string of setbacks: report
Hedge fund Elliott Management, which has a history of agitating for change at troubled biopharma companies, has reportedly taken aim at GlaxoSmithKline. The move comes amid a major restructuring at GSK initiated by CEO Emma Walmsley and a series of pipeline setbacks that have concerned investors. → Read More
Merck CEO Frazier joins army of Black execs speaking out on restrictive voting-rights laws
Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier is among a large group of African American executives protesting a voting-rights law passed last week in Georgia. In a letter—and a full-page New York Times ad—they're urging corporations to use their cash, lobbyists and other resources to oppose laws that restrict voting rights for Black people. → Read More
GSK cuts ties with Slaoui over sexual harassment allegations as CEO Walmsley vows to rename R&D site
GlaxoSmithKline has fired company veteran Moncef Slaoui from the board of its majority owned Galvani Bioelectronics, following allegations from a GSK employee of sexual harassment. GSK CEO Emma Walmsley told employees she is "shocked and angry" and that the company will rename its Slaoui Center for Vaccines Research. → Read More
Regeneron, Roche COVID-19 antibody cocktail slashes hospitalizations and tackles variants in phase 3
A combination of two antibodies, casirivimab and imdevimab, lowered the risk of hospitalization or death by 70% in a phase 3 trial in high-risk patients with COVID-19, Regeneron and its partner Roche said. The drug combo also retained its potency against five major variants of concern. → Read More
FDA could reject AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine on efficacy and manufacturing shortfalls: analyst
It's not just the worrisome data showing AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine was largely ineffective against the aggressive South African variant that worries some analysts. Inconsistent manufacturing could complicate the company's bid to win over the FDA for a U.S. launch. → Read More
Fujifilm triples down on viral vector manufacturing with new $40M Boston site
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies will plow $40 million into a new manufacturing facility for viral vectors in Watertown, Massachusetts, answering the growing demand from biopharma companies working in the burgeoning gene therapy field. It's Fujifilm's third manufacturing facility dedicated to viral vectors. → Read More
Pfizer, Moderna urge calm as they launch tests of vaccines against mutated COVID-19
Pfizer and Moderna are launching new studies designed to prove their mRNA-based shots will fend off the new coronavirus strain that recently emerged in the U.K., while simultaneously expressing confidence this new vaccine technology is ideal for protecting against rapidly mutating viruses. → Read More
2021 forecast: M&A poised to rebound in 2021, fueled by pharma's $1.47T in deal-making firepower: analysts
The cumulative value of biopharma M&A deals plummeted 61% in 2020 to just $141 billion. Dealmaking is expected to turn around big time next year, as companies look to deploy pent-up capital towards boosting their presence in hot areas like oncology and gene therapy, analysts predict. → Read More
Production at Teva API plant halted until next year
Teva Pharmaceuticals is having issues with its API plant in Italy serious enough that it has had to stop production. → Read More
2020 Election: How The Democrats Say They'd Lower Drug Prices
Assessing the Democratic candidates' plans to lower drug prices → Read More
Will President Trump's Hospital Price Transparency Plan Lower Costs?
Why some analysts are dubious of President Trump's plan to lower hospital costs → Read More
Pfizer, Merck, J&J well-positioned for M&A and Biogen and BioMarin are prime targets: report
M&A will help the biopharma industry deal with significant new challenges, Morningstar said in a new report, including pressure from lawmakers and payers to lower prices. As companies look for deals to boost their pipelines, oncology, neurology and rare-disease therapeutics will emerge as sought-after assets, the analysts predicted. → Read More
Activist Starboard wants to know if Bristol investors support Celgene buy: report
Activist hedge fund Starboard Value has reportedly hired a proxy solicitor to survey the level of support for the $74 billion Celgene buy. Starboard's interest may be in thwarting the deal by trying to find another buyer for BMS, some analysts have speculated. → Read More