Welcome to the latest edition of the LifeSciences Top Five Newsletter, where we bring you a roundup of the most impactful updates in the world of life sciences. In this issue, we’ll be exploring AbbVie’s Teliso-V and its promising performance in the Luminosity trial, GlaxoSmithKline’s Blenrep making strides in multiple myeloma treatment, and Novo Nordisk’s strategic shift in response to the increasing demand for GLP-1 weight loss products including Ozempic. Stay tuned for more!
AbbVie’s Teliso-V Shows Promise in Luminosity Trial Despite Response Rate Variations
AbbVie is actively pursuing accelerated approval for its c-Met antibody-drug conjugate, Teliso-V, following the Luminosity trial’s update. Teliso-V exhibited a 35% overall response rate in advanced c-Met overexpressing nonsquamous NSCLC patients, constituting 25% of EGFR wild type cases. Despite response rate variations compared to earlier data, AbbVie highlights durability with a median overall survival of 14.6 and 14.2 months in high and intermediate c-Met groups. While preparing for accelerated approval discussions, AbbVie aims to differentiate Teliso-V by emphasizing its safety profile compared to competitors, addressing concerns about adverse effects in therapies targeting EGFR mutants.
GSK’s Blenrep Resurgence: Positive Results in Multiple Myeloma Trial
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) makes a significant stride in its oncology initiatives with the blood cancer drug Blenrep, which exhibits promising outcomes in a late-stage trial focused on relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. When used in conjunction with bortezomib and dexamethasone, Blenrep showcases a notable increase in progression-free survival, marking a breakthrough in the treatment of this condition.
Amgen Expands Partnership with Amazon to Boost Pharmaceutical Production Efficiency
Amgen is strengthening its partnership with Amazon by expanding its decade-long association with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to integrate generative artificial intelligence (AI). The focus is on enhancing pharmaceutical production efficiency at Amgen’s upcoming facility in Columbus, Ohio. The facility will integrate advanced digital and automated technologies, utilizing Amazon SageMaker, a tool for constructing and deploying machine learning models. The platform aims to reduce human intervention, improve operations, and ensure sustainability. Amgen and AWS have a history of exploring AI and machine learning, applying them to research and development functions. The collaboration seeks innovative AI applications across various operational aspects.
Roivant Faces Setback as Lupus Drug Brepocitinib Falls Short in Phase 2 Study
Roivant CEO Matt Gline’s earlier skepticism about the lupus drug brepocitinib proves justified as Roivant’s Priovant unit discontinues the lupus indication. Acquired from Pfizer in 2022, brepocitinib failed to show improvements in lupus disease occurrence in a phase 2 study. Gline linked the setback to a notable placebo response, hindering a true assessment of the drug’s impact. Despite high responder rates in the active arm, the placebo response rate was unprecedented. Roivant now shifts focus to other conditions, including non-infectious uveitis, for brepocitinib, with ongoing phase 2 testing and results expected in Q1 2024.
Novo Nordisk Adjusts Production Strategy in Response to GLP-1 Drug Demand Surge
Novo Nordisk adapts its manufacturing approach amid surging demand for GLP-1 weight loss products.The company redirects its attention by decreasing the production of the diabetes drug Victoza to allocate more resources to the highly sought-after Ozempic. A joint effort with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) addresses shortages of both medications expected to persist into the second quarter of the upcoming year. The EMA advises against new Victoza prescriptions until then. Novo Nordisk aims to manage Ozempic shortages by restricting initial doses and limiting new user commencements.
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