Alex has held a variety of editorial positions of increasing seniority on Scrip since joining the publication as a science reporter in 1998. Currently, she heads up the European editorial team coverage of commercial and R&D developments, while also writing news, analysis and features. Over the years, Alex has covered breakthroughs in R&D in a range of therapeutic areas, including infectious diseases, cardiology and cancer, and she enjoys interviewing key industry players and opinion leaders. Alex has a degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from the University of Leeds and a keen interest in medical history.
Latest from Alexandra Shimmings
While quieter than some recent years, 2024 did produce several clinical trial readouts destined to have an impact on their respective markets. Here, in roughly chronological order, Scrip takes a look at the 10 clinical stories that got readers clicking the most over the past 12 months.
The keenly awaited REDEFINE 1 study of Novo Nordisk’s combination anti-obesity agent has disappointed, despite it providing nearly 23% weight loss over the 68-week study. The data leave the company in a less competitive position than hoped in the fast-changing obesity market.
Bouncing back from an FDA clinical hold in June, Biomea Fusion’s menin inhibitor has shown some early promise in a Phase II study in type 2 diabetes. The company is setting its sights on correcting beta-cell deficient patients with the drug’s unique mechanism.
The Lexington, MA-based firm lost three quarters of its value after it voluntarily halted dosing in two arms of a Phase II trial of its lead product, cibotercept, on safety concerns. Some observers think the reaction was overblown, however.
Sales of its novel COPD therapy in its first quarter on the market were more than double consensus estimates, and Verona sees more to come.
J&J acquired Taris in 2019 to gain access to TAR-200 and its drug delivery platform. Now, early clinical data suggest the product could delay or remove the need for cystectomy in several bladder cancer settings and the US healthcare giant is eyeing multi-blockbuster sales.