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☆ Flu experts gather with H5N1 risk on the agenda
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Jennifer Rigby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But it is also a chance to discuss the risk of animal viruses spilling over to humans and causing a pandemic. At this week's meeting, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b was a key topic, the World Health Organization (WHO) and global flu experts told Reuters. They will brief reporters on both the seasonal flu vaccine composition and spillover risks later on Friday. "We need to really continue the efforts for a flu pandemic." A number of companies that produce seasonal flu vaccines can also make pandemic flu vaccines.

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/IllustrationFeb 16 (Reuters) - GSK Plc (GSK.L) is expected to urge a California judge on Thursday to limit what expert testimony jurors can hear in the first trial over claims that the company's heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer. The trial, scheduled to begin Feb. 27 before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo, will offer the first test of how Zantac cancer claims may fare in state courts. The plaintiff in the upcoming trial, James Goetz, says he developed bladder cancer from taking Zantac sold by British drugmaker GSK. Lawsuits began piling up soon after the recalls began from people who said they developed cancer after taking Zantac. Cases have been filed linking Zantac to at least 10 types of cancer.

Companies GSK plc FollowAstraZeneca PLC FollowFeb 1 (Reuters) - GSK (GSK.L) on Wednesday beat fourth-quarter profit and sales forecasts helped by sales of its blockbuster shingles vaccine Shingrix. That beat the 21.2 pence per share on sales of about 7.1 billion pounds expected by analysts in a company-compiled consensus. Shingrix generated 769 million pounds over the quarter, topping the 748 million in the GSK-compiled consensus estimates. GSK, now solely focused on vaccines and medicines, on Wednesday forecast 2023 adjusted operating profit to climb by 10% to 12% on sales up 6% to 8%. The company said that it also does not expect any significant COVID-19 pandemic-related sales in 2023, after the its COVID solutions unit generated 2.4 billion pounds last year.

☆ GSK reports Q4 profit, sales beat Wall Street estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies GSK plc FollowFeb 1 (Reuters) - GSK (GSK.L) on Wednesday beat fourth-quarter profit and sales forecasts helped by sales of its blockbuster shingles vaccine Shingrix. The London-listed drugmaker, which executed a long-scripted overhaul with the spinoff of its consumer health unit last July, reported adjusted profit of 25.8 pence per share on sales of about 7.4 billion pounds ($9.11 billion). Analysts were expecting 21.2 pence per share on sales of about 7.1 billion pounds, company-compiled consensus estimates showed. Shingrix generated 769 million pounds over the quarter, topping the 748 million in the GSK-compiled consensus estimates. ($1 = 0.8120 pounds)Reporting by Maggie Fick and Natalie Grover; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. FDA approves GSK's anemia drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved GSK Plc's (GSK.L) drug to treat anemia in some patients with chronic kidney disease. The FDA approved Jesduvroq tablets as the first oral treatment for anemia caused by chronic kidney disease for adults who have been on dialysis for at least four months. The treatment is not approved for patients who are not on dialysis because its safety has not been established in that population, the FDA said. The health agency's decision comes after its advisory committee recommended the treatment for some kidney patients in October. The approval for the anemia drug also makes it GSK's first since it spun off its consumer health business, home to Sensodyne toothpaste and Advil pain killers, last year.

☆ Cramer's lightning round: I think Boeing is good
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Loading chart...Boston Properties Inc : "They are disciplined, they've got a good yield, and while I don't endorse it myself ... there's a good thesis behind it." Loading chart...Biohaven Ltd : "It's a great speculative buy." Loading chart...Flex Ltd : "My belief is that it's an inexpensive stock." Loading chart...Boeing Co : "I think Boeing is good." Loading chart...GSK plc : "I think Pfizer is a much better stock."

RSV, which produces symptoms similar to a cold but can be fatal for young children and older adults, causes about 14,000 deaths annually in adults ages 65 and older. Moderna, Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and GSK Plc (GSK.L) are racing to get their RSV vaccines to market first. Pfizer's RSV vaccine was found to be 66.7% effective against two or more symptoms in late-stage trials. "It's very exciting to see progress in RSV vaccines in older adults, and I think both of those vaccines have shown pretty remarkable results as well," Hoge said. The RSV vaccine market could be worth more than $10 billion globally, half of which would come from the United States, according to Cowen analyst Tyler Van Buren.

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, arrives at the DealBook Summit in New York City, U.S., November 30, 2022. The major prize Bluebell has so far scored was at Danone, where it helped oust a chief executive. By comparison, the average activist hedge fund was down 14% for 2022 in November, according to Hedge Fund Research data. BlackRock has also not responded to Bluebell's request to shake up its board and review its environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) strategy. Even if Bluebell does not win concessions from BlackRock, it has at least bet on a company that has performed well in the past.

☆ GSK, Sanofi Shares Jump After U.S. Judge Dismisses Zantac Lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Cecilia Butini | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Both Sanofi and GSK recalled Zantac in 2019 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it had found a contaminant in the drug. Shares in pharmaceutical companies GSK PLC and Sanofi SA traded higher after a U.S. judge dismissed a series of lawsuits around a heartburn treatment that both companies had marketed. The lawsuits, which numbered in the tens of thousands, alleged that the drug, called Zantac, could cause cancer. The judge concluded on Tuesday that there was no scientific evidence to support the claim that Zantac’s active substance, called ranitidine, was carcinogenic.

☆ UK's FTSE boosted higher by healthcare sector
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 rose 0.1%, FTSE 250 falls 0.2%GSK escapes U.S. lawsuit on Zantac allegationsMoonpig drops to bottom of FTMCDec 7 (Reuters) - UK's export-oriented FTSE 100 climbed on Wednesday as the healthcare sector was boosted by shares of GSK after the drugmaker escaped U.S. lawsuits over its heartburn drug Zantac. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) edged 0.1% higher by 0930 GMT. The pharmaceutical sector (.FTNMX201030) rose 3.3% in its biggest one-day percentage gain since late February. A nearly 10% jump in shares of GSK Plc (GSK.L) boosted the index after the drugmaker was spared thousands of U.S. lawsuits claiming that Zantac caused cancer. The real estate sector (.FTUB3510) fell 0.2% and is down 34% year-to-date and is heading towards its biggest fall since 2008.

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Drugmakers GSK Plc (GSK.L), Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), Sanofi SA (SASY.PA) and Boehringer Ingelheim on Tuesday were spared thousands of U.S. lawsuits claiming that the heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer, as a judge found the claims were not backed by sound science. A spokesperson for GSK said the company welcomed the decision and Pfizer said it was pleased by the outcome. Originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK, it was later sold successively to Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and finally Sanofi. Lawsuits began piling up soon after the recalls began from people who said they developed cancer after taking Zantac. State court judges will also have to rule on whether to allow plaintiffs' experts on Zantac's alleged cancer risks before state cases can go to trial.

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Drugmakers GSK Plc (GSK.L), Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), Sanofi SA (SASY.PA) and Boehringer Ingelheim on Tuesday defeated thousands of lawsuits in U.S. federal court claiming that the heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer, as a judge found the claims were not backed by sound science. Zantac, first approved in 1983, became the world's best selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first-ever drugs to top $1 billion in annual sales. Originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK, it was later sold successively to Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and finally Sanofi. Numerous generic drugmakers also launched versions of the medicine, but are not part of the federal mass tort litigation. Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ FDA Takes Tougher Line on Fast-Tracked Drugs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Liz Essley Whyte | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Food and Drug Administration sometimes clears prescription medicines based on preliminary data but asks makers to conduct follow-up confirmatory studies. The Food and Drug Administration is taking a harder line on its program that fast-tracks drug approvals based on preliminary evidence, spurring GSK PLC, Roche Holdings AG and other drugmakers to remake plans for their drugs or pull them from the market. Under the accelerated-approval program, the FDA clears the use of prescription medicines faster than it normally would. The agency relies on preliminary data to make the decision, but asks companies to conduct follow-up studies to confirm that the drug works.

☆ FTSE 100 hits two-month high as oil stocks rebound
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.6%, FTSE 250 off 0.2%Nov 22 (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 jumped to a two-month high on Tuesday, as oil stocks bounced back following a bullish brokerage recommendation and news that OPEC+ members were not discussing an oil output increase. The commodities-heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.6% to its strongest level since Sept. 13. Oil majors Shell and BP (BP.L) jumped 2.9% and 4.8% as crude prices , gained after Saudi Arabia's energy minister denied a report that said OPEC oil producers were discussing a potential output increase. Meanwhile, Citigroup raised BP's rating to "buy" from "neutral" and said it expects the rotation into energy stocks to continue. The more domestically focused FTSE 250 midcaps (.FTMC) slipped 0.2%, reflecting a cautious mood in the equities market on concerns about aggressive rate hikes and slowing economic growth.

☆ Cancer drugmaker Clovis flags possible bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 9 (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Clovis Oncology (CLVS.O) said on Wednesday it was likely to file for bankruptcy "in the very near term", as the company struggles to sell its cancer drug Rubraca. Sales of Rubraca, Clovis's only approved drug, have been hit in recent years by intensifying competition from rival ovarian cancer treatments, and partly by lower cancer diagnoses during the COVID-related lockdowns. Colorado-based Clovis also highlighted future regulatory uncertainty around Rubraca, as health regulators have increasingly focused on data that shows cancer treatments help extend the survival in patients. "It appears increasingly unlikely that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms or at all outside of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process," Clovis said in a filing. Shares of Clovis, which had a market capitalization of $141.59 million as of Tuesday's closing, slumped 71.9% to 28 cents on Wednesday.

☆ Miners, energy stocks drag FTSE 100 as China upholds COVID policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 down 0.5%, FTSE 250 off 0.1%Nov 7 (Reuters) - UK's export-oriented FTSE 100 started the week on a lacklustre note, dragged down by energy and mining stocks, as China dampened hopes of a rebound in commodity demand after it reiterated its zero-COVID policy to curb outbreaks. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 0.5% on Monday, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) was down 0.1% by 0808 GMT. Energy stocks (.FTNMX601010) and miners (.FTNMX551030) were off 1.1% and 0.2%, respectively, tracking commodity prices that were hit as stringent COVID-19 curbs darkened demand outlook from China. METL/Mortgage lender Halifax said British house prices fell in October at the fastest monthly rate since February 2021. Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ New Antibiotic for Urinary-Tract Infections Found Effective in Trials
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Denise Roland | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

GSK said the new drug, called gepotidacin, was effective in two large clinical trials spanning around 3,000 patients. GSK PLC said its experimental treatment for uncomplicated urinary-tract infections was effective in two large clinical trials, paving the way for what could be the first new oral antibiotic for the common ailment in more than two decades. Around half of all women have suffered a urinary-tract infection, or UTI, at least once, and recurrence is common, according to studies. UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics, but some bacteria have developed resistance to existing drugs, creating a need for new treatment options.

☆ Pfizer Squares Off With Merck, Other Drugmakers Over Lucrative Pneumonia Vaccines
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Jared S. Hopkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The number of pneumococcal vaccine doses administered in the U.S. rose 12% from a year ago. Rival drugmakers are seeking to upend Pfizer Inc.’s dominance of the $7 billion worldwide market for pneumonia vaccines, launching what is shaping up to be one of the industry’s fiercest battles. Merck & Co. has already introduced a new competitor to Pfizer’s Prevnar vaccine franchise, while GSK PLC and Vaxcyte Inc. are among companies developing shots that aim to win sales by protecting against even more strains of the pneumonia virus.

☆ Merck Is Coming for Pfizer’s Pneumonia Vaccine Market Share
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Jared S. Hopkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Drugmakers Fight Over Lucrative Pneumonia Vaccines
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Jared S. Hopkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Oct 26 (Reuters) - GSK Plc (GSK.L) came closer to securing its first drug approval since its consumer health spin-off in July as an expert panel of the U.S. health regulator backed an approval for its drug to treat anemia in some patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday voted 13-3 in favor of the oral drug for patients on dialysis, although GSK was expecting approval for a broader CKD population. The panel, hesitant about backing the drug for patients not on dialysis, voted 11-5 against it for that group, citing increased safety risks such as heart failure. read moreGSK's drug, daprodustat, is the first from the HIF-PH inhibitor class to win U.S. FDA panel's endorsement. The FDA, which usually follows the recommendations of its expert panel, is expected to make its final decision on the drug by Feb. 1.

☆ Johnson & Johnson's blood cancer therapy gets U.S. FDA approval
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Khushi Mandowara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) therapy for treating a type of multiple myeloma, the company said on Tuesday, giving another treatment option to patients with the incurable blood cancer. Tecvayli is a bispecific antibody, which is engineered to redirect body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. It is the first drug of its class to be approved for multiple myeloma. Though multiple myeloma is rare compared to breast or prostate cancer, it is a common type of blood cancer, which develops in the bone marrow and can spread throughout the body. According to the American Cancer Society's estimates, close to 35,000 new cases of multiple myeloma are likely to be diagnosed in the United States this year.

Along with other consumer goods companies, Unilever has faced a surge in labor, freight and ingredients costs. Billionaire Peltz in recent weeks met two possible contenders to replace Jope, one of the sources said. FLORIDA TALKSEven before Jope announced his departure, Peltz met with a former consumer goods CEO in Florida, one of the sources said. In the last month, Peltz and his team also approached another former consumer packaged goods CEO about the Unilever job, the source said. Peltz supports Unilever's sustainability strategy, including a plan to decarbonize the company's business units, Unilever has said.

☆ GSK Poised for Pfizer Battle in RSV Vaccine Market
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Denise Roland | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON– GSK PLC said its experimental vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus sharply reduced the risk of disease in a key trial, paving the way for a contest with Pfizer Inc. in what the companies expect to be a lucrative market. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common virus that proves deadly for some 14,000 older adults in the U.S. every year. Although identified decades ago, there are no approved vaccines against the virus, which in most people causes cold-like symptoms but can lead to more severe disease affecting the lungs in young babies and older adults. Now, two shots are jostling to be the first to a market that analysts estimate could be worth around $5 billion a year.

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