Catch up on the top stories to come from the pharmaceutical industry over April, including new collaborations set to improve treatments for patients, the latest approvals and more
Words by Jade Williams
03 April
J&J reveals its collaboration with over 100 community-led health organisations to address race-based and ethnicity-based health disparities in the US. This new initiative, part of the company’s multi-million dollar efforts to improve health equity, includes partnerships with initiatives such as ‘It Takes Philly’ and the ‘Black Women’s Health Imperative’.
16 April
AbbVie partners with Medincell, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, to develop up to six long-acting injectables across multiple therapeutic areas. Medincell will receive an upfront payment of 35m (USD), with a potential 1.9bn (USD) on the horizon in milestone payments.
22 April
After backing them in a recent funding round, BMS announces it will expand its partnership with cell therapy contract manufacturer Cellares. The pair have signed a capacity reservation and supply agreement that is valued at up to 380m (USD). This will enhance BMS’ capacity to manufacture its cell and gene therapies for multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphoma, as well as any candidates currently in the pipeline.
24 April
Moderna partners with OpenAI to further embed generative AI in the development of its mRNA drug development and manufacturing operations. The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of the mRNA heavyweight’s drugs, with the goal of bringing up to 15 new products to market over the next five years, including an RSV vaccine and personalised cancer treatments.
26 April
FDA approves Pfizer’s one time gene therapy for adults with haemophilia B, making it the company’s first FDA-backed gene therapy. Pfizer will price the therapy at 3.5m (USD), matching the price of CSL Behring’s Hemgenix, the first therapy approved for this indication and previously the world’s most expensive drug.
29 April
Merck KGaA launches a bladder cancer treatment companion app in the UK in partnership with Huma Therapeutics. The app is designed to provide reliable information and support to patients. Built in collaboration with HCPs and patient organisations, the app aims to help patients understand their treatment pathway, self-track their health state and have better conversations with their healthcare teams.
30 April
A collaboration is being launched between the CPI, a UK-based technology innovation centre, pharmaceutical companies including GSK and AstraZeneca, and academic institutions to bring new medicines to patients more quickly. Taking the form of a new manufacturing facility, this project will use AI and machine learning to accelerate the development of new medicines by up to one year and reduce operational costs by up to 30%.
