AstraZeneca

The global Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment market, valued at $1.5B in 2023, is projected to reach $2B by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.3%. Primary and Secondary segments are expected to reach $1.3B and grow at 4.1% and 4.8% CAGR, respectively. Key regions include the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Germany, and Asia-Pacific. Leading companies profiled are AstraZeneca PLC, Carestream Health, Inc., and GE Healthcare.

Alexion, now part of AstraZeneca, faces challenges in commercializing rare disease drugs due to small patient populations and regulatory hurdles. Scott Weintraub emphasizes the importance of early integration of R&D and commercial strategies. Alexion's mission includes patient-centric development, exemplified by drugs like Strensiq and Ultomiris, which aim to reduce injection frequency and improve patient quality of life. With AstraZeneca, Alexion gains access to advanced diagnostics and global markets, enhancing its ability to address rare diseases and contribute to AstraZeneca's ambitious growth goals.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals appoints Bradley Raudabaugh as VP of Marketing and Errol Gould as VP of Medical Affairs to support the launch of TNX-102 SL for fibromyalgia. The NDA for TNX-102 SL was submitted to the FDA in October 2024, with an expected decision in 2025, potentially marking the first new drug for fibromyalgia in over 15 years.

The biotechnology market, valued at USD 1.38 Trillion in 2023, is projected to reach USD 3.90 Trillion by 2031, driven by technological advancements, investment, and demand for sustainable solutions. Segments include type, product, technology, application, and region. Key trends are personalized medicine, CRISPR, sustainability, and telemedicine. Opportunities include increased funding, emerging markets, collaborations, and regulatory advancements. Major players include AstraZeneca, Gilead Sciences, Biogen, and Merck.

At SCOPE Europe, AstraZeneca's Liz Bristow and Jodie Allen emphasized patient-centered clinical trials, advocating for diversity action plans early in trial design. They highlighted the need for cross-functional collaboration and continuous reflection to address structural barriers and meet diversity goals, using a CKD trial as an example of adapting protocols for inclusivity.

FDA decisions in December include BeiGene's Tevimbra for gastric cancer, Ionis Pharma's Olezarsen for familial chylomicronemia syndrome, Lexicon Pharma's Zynquista for type 1 diabetes, AstraZeneca's Datopotamab deruxtecan for lung cancer, Zealand Pharma's Glepaglutide for short bowel syndrome, Rhythm Pharma's IMCIVREE for obesity in children, Soleno's DCCR for Prader-Willi syndrome, Checkpoint's Cosibelimab for skin cancer, Mirum's Chenodiol for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, Bristol-Myers' subcutaneous Opdivo, and Neurocrine's Crinecerfont for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

The NRG-HN004 trial, testing radiotherapy with durvalumab or cetuximab in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, was halted for futility in phase II. Median progression-free survival was 2.2 years with durvalumab vs 2.7 years with cetuximab, with no significant difference observed. The trial's phase III portion was not conducted.

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. announces key progress and upcoming studies for breast and pancreatic cancer treatments, preparing for FDA accelerated approval. The company's lead intravenously administered immunotherapy, pelareorep, shows promising efficacy in ongoing trials, with plans to initiate a clinical trial to support accelerated FDA approval in 2025.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pittsburgh, and Weill Cornell Medicine identified a novel cause of cytokine storm in COVID-19, linked to immune genes in the nasal cavity activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The global MEK inhibitors market, valued at $995.1M in 2023, is projected to reach $1.5B by 2030, driven by cancer prevalence, genomics discoveries, clinical trial expansions, diagnostic advancements, and regulatory incentives.