News of the Day

Many in the industry might welcome the flexibility that led to positive outcomes for oral contraceptives. Still, it might be worth objectively assessing the factors contributing to the outcome.

“The approval of VYVGART for gMG patients in Australia is an important milestone for patients who are seeking access to a treatment with the potential to allow them to return to normal activities of daily living,” said Kathryn Evans, the general manager of argenx Australia.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has appointed a consulting firm to support the work of the Health Technology Assessment Review Implementation Advisory Group.

Seventy-one experts from 54 organisations in Australia’s cell and gene ecosystem have been appointed to Cell and Gene Catalyst’s four expert working groups to action strategic projects that will benefit the industry.

Pharma Cup teams have continued to build their totals this week, now about to pass $170,000. Medicines Australia is sponsoring the Pharma Cup.

CEO Christine Cockburn said, “To have certainty of funding for the next four years for this valuable online referral service is wonderful and I commend the Albanese Government, and the partners of the ARC Portal, for working together to ensure its future for the sake of all people living with rare or less common cancers regardless of postcode."

Officials acknowledged that 25 conditions "have been on the list for some time." They did not acknowledge that growing the list from 25 to 32 mostly involved some jurisdictions catching up and that the addition of spinal muscular atrophy resulted from intervention by the previous health minister, Greg Hunt.

"This bipartisan legislation will eliminate the pill penalty and help ensure science and researchers – not government bureaucrats – determine the possible treatments innovator companies pursue," said BIO CEO and president John Crowley.

In response to questions at yesterday's Senate Estimates hearing, officials said the previous challenge with recommending oral contraceptives at a viable price was the fault of companies for failing to include quality-of-life data in their submissions.

Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:TLX) has announced that the US FDA has accepted its Biologics License Application for its breakthrough investigational kidney cancer PET imaging agent TLX250-CDx (Zircaix, 89ZrDFO-girentuximab).

Arovella Therapeutics (ASX:ALA) has announced that it has received firm commitments from institutional and sophisticated investors to raise approximately $15 million under a new placement.

MTPConnect, Australia’s life sciences innovation accelerator, has announced changes to its board, with the appointment of Professor Ian Meredith AM as a non-executive director.