Cytokinetics and Novartis’ starcrossed tale
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Is biotech again from its downturn?
Can Nvidia clear up biology? And is it smart to do a deal on a celebration bus? We cowl all that and extra this week on “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast.
Recording from the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Convention, we talk about how a spate of offers and a few intermittent sunshine appear to have brightened the outlook for biotech on the outset of 2024. We additionally speak in regards to the newest twist within the Sarepta Therapeutics saga, a ubiquitous dealmaker, and life on the celebration circuit.
Hear right here.
FDA: GLP-1 medication not linked to suicidal ideas
A preliminary FDA assessment didn’t discover proof that GLP-1 medication like Wegovy and Ozempic trigger suicidality. The company will proceed to probe the problem; it’s additionally inspecting whether or not these weight problems and diabetes medication trigger hair loss or aspiration, during which meals or liquid enter the airway.
The European Medicines Company can also be learning anecdotal cases of suicidal ideas stemming from GLP-1 medicines; final month that company, too, stated it hadn’t discovered a hyperlink.
Many weight-loss medication over time have carried some psychiatric threat, therefore the companies’ warning. For instance, rimonabant was pulled from European markets in 2008 due to issues that it triggered suicidal ideas. A current observational examine in Nature Drugs did discover, nevertheless, that there was a decrease threat of suicidal ideation in GLP-1 medication in comparison with different diabetes and weight problems therapies.
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Novartis reportedly decides to go on Cytokinetics
Novartis has determined it gained’t purchase Cytokinetics in spite of everything, The Wall Street Journal writes — a report that despatched the center drug-maker’s shares down 16% on the day. The Swiss pharma big has been pursuing Cytokinetics for a number of months, however within the final couple days backed down, in keeping with the Journal. Cytokinetics is alleged to have been courted by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson as nicely.
The corporate, whose market cap practically hit $10 billion this week, reported profitable information final month for its experimental drug, aficamten, that treats hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Its shares soared 60% on that information. Some analysts say the drug may generate as much as $3.6 billion in gross sales by 2032, the Wall Street Journal writes. Novartis CEO Vasant Narasimhan informed CNBC earlier this week that its “general M&A technique… is admittedly to concentrate on sub-$5 billion belongings.”
DSM-5 contributors bought $14 million from {industry}
The DSM-5, typically referred to as the bible of psychiatry, could have a little bit of a battle of curiosity drawback. A brand new examine reveals that 55 of the 92 physicians who contributed to the compendium obtained funds from {industry}, totaling $14 million. Of those physicians with pharma ties, 91% accepted meals and drinks, 69% obtained compensation for journey and consulting, and half obtained analysis funding.
One member of the medication-induced motion issues job pressure was notably egregious, the examine identified. This particular person obtained $683,700 in 2019 — getting 202 funds for meals and beverage, and 402 funds for journey and lodging.
“There’s a wealth of analysis demonstrating that industry-funded analysis and researchers draw industry-friendly outcomes and conclusions,” the examine’s writer informed STAT. “Within the case of the DSM, this results in the medicalization of emotional misery, over-diagnosis and over remedy, and the seek for magic bullets.”
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