A version of this article was previously published in the Journal of mHealth. The field of oncology is rapidly growing and evolving. In 2022, global spending on cancer medicines was approximately 196 billion USD, and this number is forecasted to reach $375 billion by 2027. In fact, for the past five years, the number of treated patients with cancer has seen an average annual increase of 5% globally (1). However, with rapid growth comes growing pains. Specific challenges facing the oncology field 1. Increased competition and evolving standard of care New competitors are entering the market ..read more

WATERTOWN, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mariana Oncology, a fully integrated biotechnology company pioneering a new era of radiopharmaceutical innovation to treat people with cancer, today announced it will be acquired by Novartis for $1 billion upfront and up to $750 million in potential milestone payments. The acquisition brings together Mariana Oncology’s innovative radiopharmaceutical pipeline and platform with the proven clinical development and commercialization expertise of Novartis. Mariana Oncology has developed a robust portfolio of novel peptide based-radiopharmaceuticals targeting a broa ..read more

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Epsilogen, a global leader in the development of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to treat cancer, today announces the appointments of Ashley Nagle as Chief Business Officer (CBO) and Peter Finan, currently a Non-Executive Director, as Non-Executive Chairman. The changes are made with immediate effect as part of a broader company expansion. Ashley brings over 25 years of experience leading business and strategy development, licensing and deal-making within the biopharmaceutical industry. Most recently, Ashley served as VP of Business Development at RemedyBio, a discove ..read more

ROCKVILLE, Md. & EDMONTON, Alberta–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In recognition of Lupus Awareness Month, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AUPH) (Aurinia or the Company), today announced several initiatives to improve understanding of the seriousness of lupus nephritis (LN) and the need for frequent screening and appropriate management, including an innovative disease state education campaign for rheumatologists. Aurinia is on a mission to tackle the toughest challenges that the LN community faces through collaborative efforts with key stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem, including patien ..read more

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the “Company”) today announced a proposed Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) by its subsidiary, LLT Management LLC (“LLT”), for the comprehensive and final resolution of all current and future claims related to ovarian cancer arising from cosmetic talc litigation against it and its affiliates in the United States. “The Plan is the culmination of our consensual resolution strategy that we announced last October,” said Erik Haas, Worldwide Vice President of Litigation, Johnson & Johnson. “Since then, the Company has wor ..read more

MONTREAL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Innovaderm, the leading medical dermatology and aesthetics Contract Research Organization (CRO), today announced that it has been selected by Clinical Leaders CRO Leadership Awards for the fourth consecutive year, excelling across core categories of Expertise, Capabilities, Quality, and Reliability. Clinical Leaders CRO Leadership Awards, which include a collaboration with ISR Reports, provide readers with accurate and reliable customer feedback to assist them in choosing a reputable CRO partner. This year, more than 40 CROs were assessed on approximately 20 performan ..read more

FORT LEE, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Luxa Biotechnology (LuxaBio), a joint venture between Y2 Solution Co. Ltd, Seoul, South Korea and the Neural Stem Cell Institute (NSCI) in Rensselaer, New York, today announced receipt of a $4 million grant from the California Institute for Regeneration Medicine (CIRM) to support the ongoing Phase 1/2a study (NCT04627428) of RPESC-RPE-4W transplantation for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD). The funding will accelerate manufacturing and clinical activities based in California. RPESC-RPE-4W is a cell product derived from adult retina ..read more

WILMINGTON, Del.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AstraZeneca will showcase new clinical and real-world data across its leading inhaled, biologic and early science respiratory portfolio at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, in San Diego, CA from May 17 – 22, 2024. The company will present 59 abstracts, including 12 late-breaking posters, with a focus on unmet needs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), as well as other chronic respiratory diseases. Sharon Barr, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, BioPhar ..read more

RAHWAY, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-811 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with trastuzumab and fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy met its dual primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) for the first-line treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Based on results from KEYNOTE ..read more

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IRWD), a GI-focused healthcare company, announced today that the company will present new data from studies evaluating apraglutide in adults with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF), a condition in which patients are dependent on parenteral support (PS), during the 2024 Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) meeting. DDW is held from May 18-21, 2024, in Washington, D.C. SBS-IF, a rare chronic debilitating malabsorptive condition in which patients are dependent on PS, affects an estimated 18,000 adult patients in the U.S ..read more