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Biotechs Battle Bacteria

 
• By Melanie Senior

The rise in bacterial resistance has prompted a plethora of creative approaches to developing antibiotics. These range from finding completely novel targets to harnessing the body's own immune system to fight bacteria. And although biotechs have had the anti-bacterials space to themselves for the last few years, as more programs reach proof of concept, some Big Pharma may be showing signs of renewed interest.

Only a few novel antibiotics have reached the market in the last 20 years or more, including Pfizer Inc. 's linezolid (Zyvox), launched in 2000, and Aventis SA's (now Sanofi Aventis SA) telithromycine (Ketek), which launched in Europe in 2001 and in the US in April 2004. Part of the reason for this paucity is that Big Pharma's new, post-genome-revolution tools of genomics and proteomics appeared ill suited to antibacterials. Many relevant targets are highly specific to bacteria, rather esoteric, and not amenable to traditional HTS enzymatic assays. Getting inhibitors to work not just in vitro but inside the bug proved a particular hurdle.

These challenges, plus a more stringent stand from the regulators, have prompted many Big Pharmacy to exit the field over...

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Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Scrip's Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: 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 Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: 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 the coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access Scrip, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

Galapagos Expands Point-Of-Care CAR-T Study To The US

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

CEO Paul Stoffels said gaining US clearance for an IND for its novel CAR-T product was demanding, but now opens up a pathway towards a pivotal study starting in 2025.

Analysts Split On Eisai’s Chances Of Changing EU Regulator’s Mind On Leqembi

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

A final rejection of Leqembi could also spell the same fate for Lilly’s rival drug but public outcry and demand for Alzheimer’s therapies might force the regulator’s hand

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Novartis Chief Warns Of Fewer Launches And Drug Withdrawals In Europe

 
• By Kevin Grogan

Reimbursement rules are disincentivizing innovation, according to Vas Narasimhan.

Executives On The Move: Five New CEOs Among This Week’s Changes

Recent moves in the industry include changes at the top at Ascentage Pharma, Inventiva and Brenig Therapeutics, plus five companies get new CFOs.

AI-First, Big Pharma, Chinese Firms In Race - What’s Ahead For PRMT5 Inhibitors

 
• By Vibha Ravi

As AI-driven firms like Insilico, big pharma like J&J, Amgen, GSK and AstraZeneca and Chinese and Indian firms like BeOne and Dr. Reddy’s respectively advance PRMT5 inhibitor candidates, what’s driving interest, what could lead to the first global approval and what are the challenges ahead?