Acquisition - November 4, 2014
Medimmune acquires Definiens
AstraZeneca has announced that MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, has entered into an agreement to acquire Definiens, a privately-held company that has pioneered a world-leading imaging and data analysis technology, known as Tissue Phenomics™, which dramatically improves the identification of biomarkers in tumour tissue. Under the terms of the agreement, MedImmune will […]
New Market - November 3, 2014
FDA approves AstraZeneca’s XIGDUO
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved AstraZeneca’s once-daily XIGDUO XR (dapagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride extended-release) for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. XIGDUO XR is the first and only once-daily combination tablet of an SGLT2 inhibitor and metformin HCl extended-release to be approved in the United States. XIGDUO XR is indicated […]
Financing - October 29, 2014
Pfizer buys back billions in stock
Pfizer is to continue buying back stock, with the board authorizing a new $11 billion share repurchase plan, deflating expectations that it will make a new bid for AstraZeneca. Shares in AstraZeneca fell 1.2 percent by 0800 GMT on Friday following the news. Pfizer is in the middle of a strategic transformation, and has split […]
Collaboration - October 17, 2014
AstraZeneca, MedImmune and the University of Cambridge in new collaborations
AstraZeneca, together with its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, has entered into four new collaborations with the University of Cambridge, building further on their existing partnership. The new agreements build on the existing partnership between AstraZeneca, MedImmune and the University of Cambridge, which includes an oncology research programme and co-location of AstraZeneca scientists […]
Regulatory compliance - October 14, 2014
AstraZeneca sued for fraud
The pharmaceutical giant is being sued by the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Abbott claims that AstraZeneca has been illegally marketing its antipsychotic Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) for unapproved uses and paying kickbacks to physicians and state health officials. The Texas AG’s action builds on whistleblower suits that have been filed by two former AZN sales […]
Clinical Trials - October 10, 2014
AstraZeneca presents positive results from asthma study
Positive safety and efficacy data from a Phase IIb study evaluating benralizumab has been published, announces AstraZeneca. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine has published positive safety and efficacy data from a Phase IIb study evaluating benralizumab, a novel investigational monoclonal antibody, in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma and elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of inflammatory […]
