This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, FDA approves Gilead’s combination drug for all types of hepatitis C, low prices of vaccines can come at a great cost, priority review for Roche’s MS drug, Pfizer to invest $350 million to build biotech center in China, FDA and industry reach agreement on biosimilar user fees, Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim agree to $25 billion asset swap, and Merck and Moderna to develop personalized cancer vaccines.

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In this webinar series, four renowned subject matter experts will share their insights into four areas of bioprocessing: upstream, vaccines, downstream, and single-use technology. We will present tangible, recently developed data that can help you in developing modern, cost-efficient, and sustainable bioprocesses.

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Headlines:

“Gilead wins U.S. nod for drug for all types of hepatitis C,” Reuters

“U.S. health regulators on Tuesday approved a combination drug by Gilead Sciences Inc that is the first available treatment for all six major forms of hepatitis C, advancing the company’s leadership in the field and sending its shares up more than 4 percent.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Poster: Convert your glass benchtop bioreactors to single-use with minimal capital investment”

“Low Prices for Vaccines Can Come at a Great Cost,” The New York Times

“A $30,000 price tag for cancer drug therapy that extends life only a few weeks is understandably alarming. But a $2,000 price tag for all childhood vaccines — credited with eradicating smallpox, preventing a million or more cases of other diseases and averting thousands of deaths each year — is a bargain. In fact, the price of childhood vaccines may be too low for our own good because it contributes to shortages.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool – Clarification using Acoustic Wave Separation offers Advantages including -Continuous Process Solution”

“Speedy review for Roche/Genentech’s MS drug Ocrevus,” PharmaTimes

“US regulators are undertaking a priority review of Roche/Genentech’s experimental multiple sclerosis therapy Ocrevus, which many believe has the potential to transform treatment of the disease.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Gene Therapy Strengthened by Recent Successes”

“Pfizer to invest $350 million in China biotech hub, first in Asia,” Reuters

“Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) will invest $350 million to build a biotech center in China, the latest in a series of moves by pharma industry giants to set up shop in the world’s no. 2 drugs market with the aim of securing faster approvals for their products.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cell Flask Adapters Can Streamline the Cell Culturing Process”

“Biosimilar User Fees: FDA and Industry Reach Agreement,” Regulatory Focus

“The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and representatives of the biotechnology industry have reached an agreement on the second iteration of the Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA II) following 14 meetings from March through May.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool – Off the Shelf Optimized CHO Media and Feed”

“Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim Agree to $25 Billion Asset Swap,” Bloomberg

“Sanofi agreed to a 22.8 billion-euro ($25.1 billion) asset swap with Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH that will bolster the French drugmaker’s business in selling over-the-counter drugs.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “New Poster: Proving Clonality – A Documented Clonality Report for Regulatory Submission”

“Merck, Moderna to Develop mRNA-Based Personalized Cancer Vaccines,” Genetic Engineering News

“Merck & Co. and Moderna Therapeutics said today they will partner to develop and commercialize novel messenger RNA (mRNA)-based personalized cancer vaccines through a collaboration that will generate at least $200 million upfront for Moderna.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cell Culture and Single Cell Passaging of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Without the Need for ROCK Inhibitor”