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Deals Of The Week: Exit From Ambit Tie-Up Just A Blip In Astellas’ Oncology Aspirations

 
• By Paul Bonanos, Jessica Merrill, Lisa LaMotta, and John Davis

DOTW looks at Astellas’ oncology ambitions plus its recent split with partner Ambit, as well as analysis of Shire’s buyout of Premacure, AbbVie’s out-license of an anti-interleukin-13 antibody to Receptos and the Merck/Luminex collaboration on a companion diagnostic for Alzheimer’s disease.

Despite ambitions to become the “global category leader in oncology,” Astellas Pharma Inc. has decided to pull the plug on a promising collaboration in acute myeloid leukemia with privately held Ambit Biosciences Inc., potentially throwing a wrench into the machinery of the latter’s upcoming initial public offering. On March 12, Ambit announced that Astellas has exercised its right to opt out of the partnership, effective Sept. 3, at which time all program rights revert to the biotech.

The two firms have been partnered since 2009 to co-develop FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) inhibitors for cancer, with a focus on lead compound quizartinib (AC220), which showed off promising Phase II data at the American Society of Hematology meeting this past December [See Deal]

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Ocaliva: Still No Clarity On Why EU Court Opposed Revocation Of Approval

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Advanz Pharma would have had to show that the European Commission’s decision to revoke Ocaliva’s conditional marketing approval risked causing serious and irreparable harm, according to lawyers from Van Bael & Bellis.

Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Our Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Nielsen Hobbs

This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 
• By Nielsen Hobbs

We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in coverage topics, article format, or the method in which you access the Pink Sheet – or if you love it how it is – now is the time to have your voice heard.

Brazil Pilots Digital Drug Pack Inserts

 
• By Francesca Bruce

A new pilot aims to take Brazil closer to ‘digital transformation.’

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Global Pharma Guidance Tracker - April 2025

 
• By Vibha Sharma and Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Stay up to date on regulatory guidelines from around the world with the Pink Sheet’s Guidance Tracker. The complete Global Pharma Guidance Tracker, with sortable and searchable listings going back to 2014, is available online.

Medicare Negotiation Does Not Violate Due Process, Appeals Court Rules, Other Suits At Risk

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Decision in AstraZeneca’s lawsuit against the Health and Human Services Department is a precedent-setting victory for the government and a blow to manufacturer efforts to block the price negotiation program.

Keep Talking: US FDA’s Beleaguered Biologics Center Remains Vital To Regenerative Medicine

 
• By Bridget Silverman

Advisory committee for Capricor’s deriamocel planned, regenerative medicine advanced therapy designations proliferate for osteoarthritis, and the ranks of dual RMAT/breakthrough therapy designation holders grow.