AstraZeneca

Amid geopolitical tensions, China-West pharmaceutical collaborations thrive, with major deals and investments. China's shift from generic drugs to innovative therapies attracts global pharma, despite challenges like economic slowdown and regulatory hurdles. The industry faces potential impacts from US-China tensions and domestic pressures, yet remains optimistic about China's growing role in global drug innovation.

The global Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment market, valued at US$1.5 Billion in 2023, is projected to grow to US$2 Billion by 2030 at a 4.3% CAGR. Key segments include Primary and Secondary Brain Tumor treatments, with significant growth in the U.S. and China. The report covers market trends, drivers, and profiles of leading companies like AstraZeneca and GE Healthcare.

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.

The global psoriasis drug market is valued at US$ 14.08 billion in 2024, projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% to US$ 27.57 billion by 2034. Factors like smoking, alcohol, and cold temperatures increase psoriasis risk, driving market growth, especially in cold climates like the U.S. Key players include Amgen, Eli Lilly, and Novartis, focusing on strategic partnerships and product innovations. Corticosteroids are widely used for psoriasis treatment, prompting increased production by manufacturers.

Qiagen plans to relocate QIAstat-Dx operations to a new site in Esplugues de Llobregat by 2026, expanding its capabilities in syndromic testing and precision medicine. The site will include R&D, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs, aiming to enhance diagnostic capabilities in infectious diseases and beyond. The facility will be LEED Platinum certified and support partnerships with Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca.

Digital twins, AI simulations mimicking human biological complexities, are revolutionizing healthcare by predicting treatment outcomes, streamlining clinical trials, and addressing data disparities. The global market for healthcare digital twins is projected to exceed $38 billion by 2032. Early adopters like Bayer and AstraZeneca use digital twins to enhance clinical decision-making and trial efficiency. Challenges include regulatory compliance, data quality, and the ethical implications of AI errors in healthcare.