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☆ AstraZeneca, AI biologics firm Absci tie up on cancer drug - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The AstraZeneca logo is pictured outside the AstraZeneca office building in Brussels as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign, Belgium, January 28, 2021. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Absci Corp FollowAstraZeneca PLC FollowDec 3 (Reuters) - Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) has signed a deal worth up to $247 million with U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) biologics firm Absci (ABSI.O) to design an antibody to fight cancer, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The collaboration aims to harness Absci's AI technology for large-scale protein analysis to find a viable oncology therapy, a leading focus of AstraZeneca, the report said. Absci and AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a Reuters requests for comment. Absci applies generative artificial intelligence to design optimal drug candidates based on target affinity, safety, manufacturability and other traits.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Sean McClain, Absci’s, Shivani Tanna, William Mallard Organizations: AstraZeneca, REUTERS, U.S, Financial Times, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Swedish, Bengaluru

[1/2] British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the opening session of the Global Food Security Summit at Lancaster House in London, Britain November 20, 2023. Years of political churn - with five prime ministers and a non-stop ministerial carousel since the 2016 Brexit vote - have shaken Britain's reputation for stability among investors. Some executives say the country, long a magnet for FDI, has simply taken them for granted. But companies and investors say that a focus by regulators on limiting costs for bill-payers in sectors such as water, telecoms and energy has crimped investment. British investment minister Dominic Johnson said the government would be in listening mode at the gathering on Nov. 27 to hear how it can remove hurdles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Dan Kitwood, Sunak, Emanuel Macron, Jack Paris, Paris, Jeremy Hunt, EY, Alina Osorio, Mikhail Taver, Richard Harrington, Harrington, Dominic Johnson, Johnson, Kate Holton, Sinead Cruise, Andy Bruce, Alexander Smith Organizations: British, Global Food Security, Lancaster House, Hampton Court, Partners, Reuters, European Union, United, Labour Party, India's Tata Group, Britain, AstraZeneca, Ireland, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Hampton, France, Versailles, European, Germany, United States, Europe, Delaware

☆ AstraZeneca shares fall 3.6% to 7-1/2 week low
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The company logo for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is displayed on a screen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, U.S., April 8, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Shares in London-listed drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) declined as much as 3.6% on Monday, falling to their lowest since July 19. Reuters could not independently verify the information. AstraZeneca declined to comment on the report. Reporting by Samuel Indyk and Maggie Fick; Editing by Amanda CooperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Pascal Soriot, Samuel Indyk, Maggie Fick, Amanda Cooper Organizations: AstraZeneca, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Traders, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London

☆ AstraZeneca shares fall 4% to 7-1/2 week low
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The company logo for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is displayed on a screen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, U.S., April 8, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies AstraZeneca PLC FollowLONDON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Shares in London-listed drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) fell more than 4% on Monday, sliding to their lowest since July 19. An AstraZeneca spokesperson declined to comment on the report. Two of the analysts and the shareholder also mentioned that an article published on Monday in Britain's Times newspaper could have affected the shares, though it appeared to contradict the Mail on Sunday report. The Times' article focused on the retirement of Mene Pangalos, the long-time biopharmaceuticals head of research at AstraZeneca, which was announced in July.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Pascal Soriot, Mene Pangalos, Pangalos, Pascal, Maggie Fick, Samuel Indyk, Amanda Cooper, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: AstraZeneca, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, drugmaker's, Reuters, Britain's Times, Times, Thomson Locations: London

FILE PHOTO: The company logo for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is displayed on a screen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, U.S., April 8, 2019. The drug price negotiation program is part of President Joe Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The program faces several other court challenges, including from leading industry groups and other drug companies. ‍AstraZeneca said it was filing a legal challenge in a bid to "protect timely access to medicines for orphan indications" in the United States. Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Joe Biden's, AstraZeneca, Bhanvi, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: AstraZeneca, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, drugmaker AstraZeneca, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) dipped 0.2%, reversing gains of some 0.4%, to kick off the first day of the second half of the year on the back foot. The broader healthcare index (.SXDP) fell 2.0%, leading falls among sectors. The moves helped Italy's financials-heavy benchmark FTSE MIB (.FTMIB) climb 0.8%, a bright spot among other bourses in the region. The broader STOXX 600 had gained 8.7% in the first half of the year, largely due to strong gains early into 2023. "A muted atmosphere prevails across stock markets this afternoon," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG.

Persons: Assicurazioni, Delfin, Italy's, Chris Beauchamp, Amruta Khandekar, Shreyashi Sanyal, Matteo Allievi, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Janane Venkatraman, Conor Humphries Organizations: Miners, AstraZeneca, Generali, British, MIB, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Bengaluru, Gdansk

☆ UK's FTSE 100 edges higher on mining boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.2%, FTSE 250 adds 0.3%July 3 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 gained on Monday led by mining stocks on higher metal prices, while shares of other Chinese-exposed firms gained on rising hopes of more policy support in the world's second-largest economy. By 0715 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) gained 0.2%, while the more domestically-focussed FTSE 250 midcap index (.FTMC) rose 0.3%. Industrial metal miners (.FTNMX551020) advanced 1.3% as prices of base metals rose, buoyed by improved sentiment. China-exposed banks HSBC (HSBA.L) and Standard Chartered (STAN.L) rose 0.5% and 1.2%, respectively, while insurer Prudential (PRU.L) added 0.9% as hopes of more policy support grew after another weak data point and commentary from Chinese officials. Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Drugmaker, Shashwat Chauhan, Rashmi Organizations: HSBC, Standard Chartered, Prudential, Drugmaker AstraZeneca, Thomson Locations: China, Bengaluru

☆ Pirelli: Italy ties China's hands over fears about chip technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Italy has imposed several curbs on Pirelli’s biggest shareholder, Sinochem, in a move aimed at blocking the Chinese government’s access to sensitive chip technology. The government order risks inflaming tensions between Europe and Beijing, and follows similar intervention by Germany and the United Kingdom to protect their semiconductor technology. The order sets a host of limitations on Sinochem’s involvement in Pirelli, including a bar on it devising the company’s strategy and financial plans, or appointing a CEO. It requires that Pirelli refuse any requests from Sinochem’s owner — China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council — for information sharing, including any information connected to the “know-how” of proprietary technologies. Separately, Rome is also assessing whether to renew its partnership with Beijing on the Belt and Road Initiative — China’s global infrastructure and investment megaproject.

Persons: Pirelli, Antony Blinken, Sinochem, Pirelli’s, —, — Laura Organizations: London CNN —, ASML, CNN, Pirelli, Union, Supervision, Administration Commission, State, AstraZeneca, Financial Times, Sequoia Capital, European Commission, Reuters Locations: London CNN — Italy, Europe, Beijing, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, China, Ukraine, — China’s, Rome, Italy, Hong Kong

☆ AstraZeneca planning China business spin off, Financial Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies AstraZeneca PLC FollowJune 18 (Reuters) - Drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) is drafting a plan to spin off its China business, and listing a separate unit in Hong Kong is being viewed as an option, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The company would seek to be a patriotic company in China that "loves the Communist Party", its China president said in May. Last year, the country accounted for 13% of AstraZeneca's total sales, and the company is China's biggest drugmaker. The spin off could protect AstraZeneca from tensions between China and other global powers, while the company retained control of the business, the FT's report said. AstraZeneca said it did not comment on "rumours or speculations around future strategy or M&A."

Persons: Bharat Govind Gautam, Rishabh Jaiswal, Chris Reese, Diane Craft Organizations: AstraZeneca, Financial Times, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bengaluru

BEIJING, May 19 (Reuters) - Global drugmaker AstraZeneca will seek to be a patriotic company in China that "loves the Communist Party", its China president said at an event on Friday. While many local companies have in recent years publicly pledged allegiance to the ruling Chinese Communist Party as President Xi Jinping strengthened the party's role throughout Chinese society and its economy, such messaging is still unusual from foreign companies. "Build a local, transnational company that loves the Communist Party and loves the country," Wang said in his presentation to an audience of a few hundred participants, with the words flashed across the screen behind him. Last year, China accounted for 13% of AstraZeneca's total sales and the company is China's biggest drugmaker. Reporting by Joe Cash in Beijing and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. FDA panel to review expanded use of Merck-AstraZeneca's cancer drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) committee is scheduled to meet on April 28. The companies' are seeking approval of the drug Lynparza in combination with other medications – abiraterone and prednisone or prednisolone – for the treatment of a type of treatment-resistant prostate cancer in adult patients. Lynparza was approved in March last year by the FDA as a treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer with certain mutations. The drug is also approved in the United States as a standalone treatment for another form of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the United States with about 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer in 2023, according to the American Cancer Society’s estimates.

☆ European shares hit fresh nine-month high on earnings boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Ankika Biswas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) was up 0.8% at 0920 GMT, extending gains for a third straight session. Shares of Sweco AB (SWECb.ST), a Swedish construction and engineering company, jumped 11% to top the STOXX 600 following its upbeat fourth-quarter earnings. An over 5% gain in AstraZeneca (AZN.L) on 2023 earnings and revenue growth forecast boosted the healthcare sub-index (.SXDP). Of the 93 STOXX 600 companies that have reported earnings so far, more than half have beaten market expectations, Refinitiv data showed on Tuesday. Signs of economic resilience and better-than-feared corporate earnings have helped European stocks outperform their U.S. counterparts so far this year.

☆ Big pharma not doing enough to improve drug access - analysis
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A doctor tests a child for malaria at the Ithani-Asheri Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania, May 11, 2016. While there has been progress, there remain some gaping holes that need to be prioritised in the coming years, Access to Medicine Foundation CEO Jayasree Iyer told Reuters. The findings mirror a long-established pattern - that the pharmaceutical industry will prioritise countries where there is a market, she said. "If we consistently see that the industry leaves low income countries behind, then we're never going to solve the problem of access at scale," she said. In terms of overall rankings on the Access to Medicine Index, British drugmaker GSK (GSK.L) retained the top spot, closely followed by U.S. pharma major Johnson & Johnson (J&J) (JNJ.N).

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