MedWatch

Jan van de Winkel, CEO of Genmab | Foto: /Ritzau Scanpix/Sofie Mathiassen

In a world of options, Genmab's CEO chose partnerships

In 2015, Genmab partnered with relatively unknown biotech firm Biontech. Reflecting on how far Genmab has come since, CEO Jan van de Winkel is still confident that partnerships, rather than acquisitions, are the way forward. If it had acquired Biontech at the time, the CEO speculates Genmab may have put a stop to other activities – including the Covid-19 vaccine efforts that went on to save millions of lives. This and fairness are worth remembering as biotech firms are increasingly strapped for cash, van de Winkel reflects.

Analyst predicts slow start for Leo Pharma's Adtralza in UK

The take-up of Leo Pharma’s atopic eczema drug Adtralza in the UK will be slow-going, according to analyst bureau Global Data, after the British institute NICE released draft guidance where it was not recommend it as a standard treatment in England and Wales.

US government exercises option to buy Bavarian smallpox vaccines for USD 119m

The first option in an existing contract with the US has been utilized, and Bavarian Nordic can start manufacturing freeze-dried doses of Jynneos for the country in 2023.

Issues at Novo Nordisk lead to shortage of fast-acting diabetes drug

The Danish Medicines Agency has reported that it is currently difficult to find diabetes drug Novorapid in Denmark.

Foto: Mikkel Aabenhus Hemmingsen / MedWatch

Almirall enters partnership with Inserm Transfert to research vitiligo

A partnership between the Spanish biotech firm and the private subsidy of French public research organization Inserm will focus on finding treatment options for the chronic skin condition vitiligo.

ALK CEO Carsten Hellmann | Foto: Gregers Tycho/ERH

ALK execs rake in profits after exercising share options

Several of the top leaders at ALK utilized their share options at the start of this week, gaining shares in the firm that they have since sold for million-kroner profits.

Analyst: US vaccine order secures future cash flow for Bavarian

BARDA has utilized a contract option concerning freeze-dried smallpox vaccines developed by Bavarian, something Sydbank analyst Søren Løntoft Hansen sees as a positive signal for the biotech firm.

Zealand Pharma stock soars after selling insulin pump

The biotech firm is recovering losses on the stock exchange after a sales agreement with Mannkind Corporation over insulin pump V-Go was announced on Tuesday.

Anders Vadsholt, CEO, Orphazyme | Foto: Orphazyme / PR

Future uncertain for Orphazyme CEO as firm sold

Although the plan is that the majority of Orphazyme’s 20 remaining employees will now work for the new owner, US-based Kempharm, it is not yet clear whether CEO Anders Vadsholt will join them, he tells MedWatch.

Sonova sales surpass analyst expectations in annual report

Demand for hearing solutions is on the rise, supporting a market upswing, says the world’s biggest hearing aid manufacturer, which has just handed in its sales figures for the financial year 2021/2022.

Analyst: Strong Sonova advance indicates improved market

The world’s biggest hearing aid manufacturer is expecting to increase sales by 17–21% in 2022/2023, which is a testament to a strong hearing aid market going forward, says an analyst.

Zealand Pharma sells insulin pump to Mannkind Corporation

On Tuesday, Zealand Pharma reports that a deal has been struck with US-based Mannkind Corporation entailing the sale of V-Go, an insulin pump. (Updated)

Foto: Denis Balibouse/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Obesity rates increase to "epidemic" level in Europe, WHO warns

Europe is gaining on the obesity lead in the US, a new report conducted by the World Health Organization reveals, also stating that obesity could overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable cancers in Europe over the next few decades.

In October, Lundbeck bought a phase I ready candidate from Aprilbio. Now, it's been sent to clinic | Foto: Mik Eskestad/ERH

Lundbeck has initiated phase I trial of acquired candidate

The first patients have been recruited and dosed in a phase I study with a potential new treatment for neurological conditions, Lu AG22515, which Lundbeck acquired last October.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge | Foto: Staci R. Vandagriff/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

Arkansas alleges insulin pricing plot involving Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Sanofi

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has filed a complaint alleging that the insulin makers have colluded with a group of pharmacy benefit managers, including Express Scripts, to raise insulin prices and pay back the PBMs in discounts.

Foto: Nikolaj Skydsgaard/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Orphazyme delays annual report again after striking deal with Kempharm

Orphazyme has provided yet another new date for the release of its 2021 annual report, following the biotech firm’s deal to sell its business to Kempharm. Almost three months have passed since the original release date.

Foto: Nikolaj Skydsgaard/REUTERS / X07081

Orphazyme sells entire business to US biotech company

Embattled biotech company Orphazyme has found a buyer in the form of a US-based biotech firm. If and when the deal is completed, the Danish company will close, and the majority of the remaining 20 employees will be transferred to the new owner.

Orphazyme didn't know buyer before negotiations began

US-based Kempharm, which is set to purchase embattled Orphazyme, was until negotiations began relatively unknown to the Danish firm, according to CEO Anders Vadsholt, who still calls this the best solution considering the firm’s current situation.

FDA approves Eli Lilly diabetes drug

Tirzepatide, a treatment for type 2 diabetes developed by Eli Lilly, has been approved by the FDA, setting the stage for a direct competition with Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic.

Serge Bernasconi, CEO of Medtech Europe | Foto: PR/Medtech Europe

New EU regulation has made the medtech industry turn to the US

As a direct consequence of new EU regulation for the medtech industry, firms have started to launch in the US before Europe, which wasn’t always the case previously, says the chief executive of industry association Medtech Europe.

Zealand Pharma CEO hopes for partnership news in coming months

CEO Adam Steensberg is hoping to soon have more to say about new strategic partners concerning product sales going forward.

Christian Gormsen, CEO of Eargo | Foto: Eargo / PR

Eargo gets second warning from Nasdaq for missing reports

US-based hearing firm Eargo, which has just settled a USD 34.4m case in the US, is now being threatened with delisting on the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York due to three consecutive missing financial reports.

Walther Thygesen is retiring and has therefore left Sonion | Foto: Nils Meilvang/Ritzau Scanpix

Sonion chair retires as replacement takes over

Walther Thygesen has chosen to step down from hearing firm Sonion’s board of directors, and Dutch national Piet Coelewij has assumed the role.

EU to terminate vaccine agreement with Valneva

A lacking marketing approval has allowed the European Commission to terminate its Covid-19 vaccine purchasing agreement with Valneva.

Jan van de Winkel, CEO of Genmab | Foto: PR / Genmab

Genmab CEO on royalties defeat: "I'm sad and disappointed"

In April, Genmab suffered a defeat in an arbitration case concerning drug Darzalex. Though he had hoped for a different outcome, CEO Jan van de Winkel says it was a ”complex” decision not to contest the ruling, and that a conclusion was sorely needed.