BAYER AG

EFPIA highlights EU's roadmap for precision oncology to address rising cancer burden, despite forecasted mortality rate declines. Stakeholder roundtable in Brussels aims to improve personalized cancer treatment. EU initiatives, including AI-powered cancer care and the DigiONE pilot, aim to advance precision medicine. A gold-standard cancer data management system is necessary for innovative precision medicine access, emphasizing standardized data formats, robust privacy, and professional education.

DelveInsight's HER2+ Gastric Cancer Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2032 report details historical and forecasted epidemiology, market trends in the US, EU5, and Japan. Key companies include Roche, Elevar Therapeutic, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and Daiichi Sankyo. Therapies like SHR-A1811, Cinrebafusp alfa, and BI-1607 are highlighted. Regulatory approvals for KN026 and Enhertu are noted, with market growth expected due to increasing prevalence and pipeline product launches.

AI in pharma addresses R&D costs, supply chain complexity, and data management by accelerating drug development, automating compliance, managing large datasets, and optimizing clinical trials. Swiss startup Risklick uses AI to streamline clinical trial protocols and integrate historical data. As AI evolves, stakeholders must integrate these innovations to optimize research, enhance data-driven decisions, and meet patient needs.

Dewpoint Therapeutics could receive up to $480 million in a partnership with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for its ALS experimental medicine, which targets abnormal TDP-43 protein accumulations. Mitsubishi Tanabe, which already sells an ALS drug, will handle clinical development and commercialization if it licenses the program.

T.C. has consulted/advised/spoken for ASCO Post, AstraZeneca, Bio Ascend, Bristol Myers Squibb, Clinical Care Options, Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech, IDEOlogy Health, Medical Educator Consortium, Medscape, Merck, OncLive, oNKo-innate, PEAK Medicals, PeerView, Pfizer, Physicians’ Education Resource, RAPT Therapeutics, Regeneron, Targeted Oncology. W.N.W.Jr. has consulted/advised/spoken for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Genentech/Roche, Ipsen, Janssen, Merck, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Takeda, United Medical.

MustGrow Biologics Corp. announces a non-binding term-sheet with Univar Solutions for the acquisition of NexusBioAg assets, aiming to integrate biological and regenerative agriculture solutions. The deal, pending due diligence and approvals, includes deferred cash and contingent payments, targeting a December 31, 2024 closing. This acquisition would enhance MustGrow's product portfolio and market reach in Canada and the U.S.

Novocure's electrical field-emitting device in Phase 3 trial showed extended survival in pancreatic cancer patients when used with chemo; Merus licensed U.S. rights of its cancer drug zenocutuzumab to Partner Therapeutics; FDA to decide on Cytokinetics' heart drug aficamten approval by Sept. 26, 2025; FDA investigates blood cancer cases post-Bluebird bio's Skysona treatment; Fate Therapeutics' CEO Scott Wolchko to retire, with Bob Valamehr taking over in 2025.

AI co-innovation partnerships drive industry transformation by leveraging complementary expertise, shared visions, data ecosystems, and iterative scaling. Examples include Pfizer-Tempus for cancer treatment, Microsoft-JPMorgan for financial AI, Walgreens-Verily for medication adherence, BMW-NVIDIA for virtual factories, Walmart-Pactum for supplier negotiations, Kraft Heinz-Google Cloud for demand forecasting, Walmart-Symbotic for distribution automation, and Bayer-Google Cloud for drug discovery.

FDA approves Imkeldi, a liquid imatinib formulation for leukemia and cancers, aiding dosing accuracy and adherence. A breast cancer vaccine targeting triple-negative breast cancer showed positive immune responses in a phase 1 trial, with phase 2 planned for 2025. Brexucabtagene autoleucel demonstrated high CNS remission rates in relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The FDA accepted darolutamide's supplemental application for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, based on ARANOTE trial data. Ribociclib combined with NSAI improved outcomes for high-risk, node-negative, early-stage breast cancer patients in the NATALEE trial.

The FDA accepted Cytokinetics' NDA for aficamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor for obstructive HCM, with a PDUFA date of September 26, 2025. Aficamten aims to reduce myocardial hypercontractility and is supported by SEQUOIA-HCM Phase 3 trial data showing significant improvements in exercise capacity and clinical outcomes. The drug has received Orphan Drug and Breakthrough Therapy designations and is under review in China. Cytokinetics anticipates aficamten becoming a preferred HCM treatment and a foundation for its cardiology franchise.