Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd

Neuraxpharm Group acquired Provigil® and Nuvigil®, enhancing its CNS disorder treatments and expanding into new markets like Australia. These drugs treat narcolepsy's Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, reinforcing Neuraxpharm's global CNS presence and strategy to address unmet patient needs.

GSK's Blenrep showed a 42% reduced risk of death in multiple myeloma, outperforming Darzalex in the DREAMM-7 trial. With a 74% OS rate for BVd vs. 60% for DVd, and significant MRD negativity, it may redefine treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. GSK aims for Blenrep's comeback, despite competition from newer therapies.

CSL's garadacimab, a once-monthly therapy for hereditary angioedema (HAE), shows efficacy comparable to Takeda's Takhzyro, with 86.5% reduction in monthly attacks. Garadacimab's less frequent dosing could challenge Takhzyro's market dominance, alongside BioCryst's Orladeyo. CSL also markets Berinert and Haegarda for HAE, facing growth challenges from new therapies.

Takeda partners with Koneksa Health to use digital biomarkers for drug development, leveraging Koneksa's platform for real-world data from wearables and biosensors in early clinical studies. Aimed at enhancing pipeline development by remotely collecting vital signs, activity, and sleep data, making trials more patient-centric.

WuXi Biologics sells its Ireland vaccines facility to Merck for $500 million amid global pressures and U.S. legislative uncertainties. The sale includes all property, assets, and manufacturing equipment, expected to close in the first half of this year. WuXi plans to focus on its vaccine sites in China.

Carole Ho, MD PhD, transitioned from surgery to neurology, focusing on unmet needs in neuroscience. At Denali Therapeutics, she leverages a transport vehicle platform to deliver large molecules across the blood-brain barrier, advancing treatments for neurodegenerative and rare diseases. Denali's approach, validated in clinical trials, aims to address significant medical challenges in neurology.

General Proximity, a biotech company, emerged from stealth with its OmniTAC platform for induced proximity medicines, raising $16M. Backed by notable investors and a team of top scientists, it aims to target undruggable proteins in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration, leveraging biological proximity for drug discovery.

Takeda announced HYQVIA's approval by Japan's MHLW for treating agammaglobulinemia or hypogammaglobulinemia, marking it as the first fSCIG therapy in Japan. HYQVIA allows less frequent dosing, every three or four weeks, enhancing patient flexibility. Takeda's investment in a new PDT facility in Osaka underscores its commitment to advancing treatments in Japan.

Studies show non-transplant salvage therapy for low-risk relapsed/refractory pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma achieves high progression-free and overall survival rates, comparable to autologous stem cell transplant. PET-guided therapy offers excellent outcomes, suggesting ASCT may be reserved for higher-risk patients.