News of the Day

Pfizer and its German-based partner BioNTech SE have announced positive preliminary data from an early trial of the most advanced of the four COVID-19 vaccine candidates they are developing.

Melbourne-based Affinity Biosciences, a privately held company focused on antibody discovery for cancer therapeutics, has announced the discovery of potent antibodies it said have therapeutic potential against COVID-19.

According to Sanofi Genzyme Australia and New Zealand general manager, Fiona Clark, “We are passionate about ensuring these treatments become available to people living with haemophilia. The announcement reflects our continued commitment to helping improve the lives of all Australians living with rare blood disorders.”

New data from market intelligence firm IQVIA suggests a dramatic decline in the number people initiated on cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An FDA official has told a US Senate hearing the regulator will only approve COVID-19 vaccines that are 50 per cent more effective than placebo.

“We refer to our new organisational design as a system rather than a structure, as a system is a group of interconnected parts that form a unified whole,” said Roche Australia managing director Stuart Knight.

The creation of a major new generics company is one step closer after 99.6 per cent of Mylan shareholders approved its merger with Pfizer's Upjohn.

“This is welcome news as it means some of those Australian infants and children at a higher risk of contracting this rare but potentially devastating disease can now access free MenB immunisation,” said GSK Australia Vaccines medical director Dr Bishoy Rizkalla.

Pharmaceutical companies are not charities. They use shareholder funds to invest in R&D with the goal of developing what need to be commercially viable products. This is a basic principle that some seem not to understand, or conveniently choose not to understand.

The report shows 51 per cent of New Zealanders would consider moving to Australia in order to access a prescription medicine if it meant prolonging, improving or saving their life.

The prospects for one reform that was scheduled for full implementation today - with a single year impact of over $2 billion - remain unclear.

Gilead chairman and CEO, Daniel O’Day, said the pricing of remdesivir took into account the company's "full scope" of responsibility, balancing the need to ensure access while being able to continue investing in its development.