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Merck’s ‘COVID Pill’ Shows Promise, But Mortality Benefits Will Be Hard To Prove

Accurate Viral Test Shows Drug’s Promise

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

Early results from its novel antiviral are encouraging, but demonstrating life-saving qualities in a short window of time will be tricky.

Pulse oximeter
A pulse oximeter has become standard at-home technology for people ill with COVID-19 - but there is still no medicine which can be taken in this setting to speed recovery.

Merck & Co. has released topline data from a trial of its oral COVID-19 antiviral therapy, molnupiravir, which it hopes could become a ‘COVID pill’ to allow at-home treatment and help people recover faster from the infection.

Data from only a secondary endpoint result have been released, but showed that after five days of treatment, none of the 47 patients receiving molnupiravir still had traces of infectious

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Takeda Plans US Investment But Sees Little Impact From Tariffs

 
• By Alaric DeArment

The Japanese drug maker is on track for three pivotal Phase III readouts and two regulatory submissions in 2025.

Q1 S&E In Brief: Tracking New Launches And Catalysts In Biopharma

 
• By Jessica Merrill and Joseph Haas

Neurocrine, Madrigal and Vanda updated investors on new drug launches, while Cytokinetics talked to investors about an FDA extension for aficamten.

Which Firms Are Most Exposed To Prasad’s Possible Accelerated Approvals Clampdown?

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

Vaccine and accelerated approvals are expected to face greater scrutiny under new CBER leader Vinay Prasad, but he has promised “no light switch change” to policy, giving some reassurance to companies whose share prices have been battered.

Building Up US Biopharma Manufacturing Will Require Investments In Talent

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Workforce development will be essential to meeting president Trump’s goal to return biopharma manufacturing to the US.

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Finance Watch: Deerfield Closes $600m-Plus VC Fund; Gates Speeds Up Health Investments

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Private Company Edition: Deerfield’s third innovations fund will back therapeutics and other opportunities, the Gates Foundation – a sometimes funder of biotech firms – will spend $200bn over the next 20 years, and NewLimit raised a $130m series B round, among other financings.

Pipeline Watch: Six Approvals And Thirteen Phase III Readouts

Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events and approvals announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.

Pharma Left Hanging After US/UK Trade Pact

 
• By Kevin Grogan

An ‘historic economic prosperity deal’ does not include the sector.