Sotatercept

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UK's MHRA approved Merck's sotatercept for a rare lung condition, highlighting another success for the drugmaker.

2024's medical breakthroughs include advanced cancer treatments like Enhertu and Tagrisso, GLP-1 medications for diabetes and obesity, lenacapavir's 100% effectiveness in HIV prevention, and new drugs for schizophrenia and muscular dystrophy. Innovations in CAR-T therapy and pig organ transplants also mark significant progress.

2024 saw significant medical advances: GLP-1 drugs expanded beyond obesity to treat heart conditions and arthritis; a new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, showed high efficacy; 50 new medicines were FDA approved, including treatments for schizophrenia and muscular dystrophy; cancer treatments like Enhertu and Tagrisso advanced; and innovations like CAR-T therapy and pig organ transplants progressed.

Top 2024 FDA pulmonology actions include approvals for PAH treatments Opsynvi and sotatercept, COPD drugs, a snoring-reducing device, and a sleep apnea feature on the Galaxy Watch.

14 anagrams of drug names approved in 2024 by the US FDA or European Medicines Agency are presented for matching.

Merck discontinues development of cancer candidates vibostolimab and favezelimab, impacting KeyVibe and KEYFORM programs. Despite setbacks, Keytruda remains Merck's top revenue driver, with strong sales in early-stage lung cancer. Merck focuses on Keytruda's long-term growth through innovative combinations and partnerships. However, reliance on Keytruda and declining Gardasil sales in China raise concerns. Merck's stock underperforms, yet its valuation and pipeline suggest potential for long-term investors.

Keros Therapeutics' shares dropped 77% after halting Phase 2 study of high doses of cibotercept due to pericardial effusion. Investors lost faith in the drug, previously seen as a potential improvement over Merck's Winrevair. Keros' market value decreased by over $2 billion.

Merck & Co and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics initiate phase 3 MOVe-NOW trial to evaluate oral antiviral Lagevrio (molnupiravir) for high-risk COVID-19 patients. Eligible patients must have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, have symptoms for ≤4 days, and not be hospitalized. Lagevrio is already available under emergency use authorization in the US. The trial uses a new formulation with two 400mg tablets per dose. Merck also announced positive results from a late-stage trial of its pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy Winrevair.