Catch up on the top pharma news stories from August in our monthly round-up. From the latest on the spread of mpox to new treatment approvals, there’s plenty to discover
Words by Jade Williams
2 August
Eli Lily’s weight loss drug is found to show further promise in heart failure, reducing the risks of hospitalisation, death and other negative outcomes for adults with obesity and a common form of heart failure. In a trial, the drug was found to be associated with a 38% reduction in the risk of heart failure-related urgent care visits, hospitalisations, use of oral diuretics and cardiovascular death compared with placebo.
6 August
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s biotechnology company, successfully inserted its brain implant into a second patient – giving them the potential to use digital devices through brain power alone. This second implantation of a brain-computer interface marks a step forward in the company’s clinical trial progress, which it began seeking patients for in May 2024. Neuralink aims to expand the cohort ti include eight additional patients before 2025.
12 August
Financial results from Q2 2024 roll in, with many leading companies reporting substantial year-over-year (YoY) sales increases. AstraZeneca leads the pack with an 18% increase fuelled by sales in oncology and cardiovascular care, followed closely by GSK reporting a 13% rise credited to its expanding specialty medicines portfolio. Novartis reports an 11% increase YoY, attributed to flagship drug success, with Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi closing off the top five with 11% and 10% increases respectively.
13 August
The FDA approves ARS Pharmaceuticals’ innovative epinephrine nasal spray, making it the first needle-free emergency treatment for fatal allergic reactions. This novel drug delivery system is poised to compete with traditional autoinjectors, which have dominated the anaphylaxis market for years. “Some people, particularly children, may delay or avoid treatment due to fear of injections,” said Kelly Stone, Associate Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. The availability of this new product may therefore help reduce barriers to treatment.
15 August
Following the escalating mpox situation in Africa, the World Health Organization makes an urgent call to pharmaceutical companies producing mpox vaccines to submit expressions of interest for Emergency Use Listing. This follows mpox being declared a global public health emergency just days before – marking the second time in two years the disease has become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
20 August
The FDA approves Johnson & Johnson’s chemotherapy-free combination treatment for lung cancer, which could be set to replace the current standard of care for patients. This combination of Amivantamab and lazertinib could act as a first-line treatment for those with a form of non-small cell lung cancer, with the approval based on robust data from a pivotal Phase 3 trial.
22 August
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) releases a report urging the UK’s NHS to accelerate preparations for a new wave of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). The healthcare system has already adopted therapies for rare diseases such as haemophilia, spinal muscular atrophy and certain forms of hereditary blindness, but there are many more on the horizon. ATMPs are poised to target more common conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, and the Association is encouraging the NHS to rethink its approach to managing and funding these costly therapies.
27 August
Roche secures European Commission approval for its drug crovalimab, making it the first EU-approved therapy for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria that can be administered by monthly subcutaneous injection. This approval celebrates more patient-centred alternatives to existing treatments and an expanded global footprint for the drug, having already gained approval in China, Japan and the US. This approval could present a strong challenge to established PNH therapies – particularly those requiring more frequent clinic visits.
