FarmaKology Newsletter - Issue #58

Sep 8, 2020

Today's Startup

HelixAI

HelixAI - A platform for the creation of voice activated virtual assistant for the laboratory sciences.At HelixAI, we want to bring voice technology to the sciences. Our platform can be used to create personalized virtual assistants for individual labs that can be accessed through any of the Amazon Echo family of smart speaker devices. HelixAI virtual assistants can be used to help scientists complete many daily tasks in a hands free way.

News

FDA Approves Oral Solution for Severe Pain Management

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved tramadol hydrochloride (QDOLO Oral Solution) for the management of severe pain in adults. The approval, granted to Athena Bioscience, is indicated specifically for patients who have not tolerated, or are not expected to tolerate, alternative treatment options. The opioid agonist is also limited to those for whom alternative treatments have not provided adequate analgesia.

Australia expects to receive AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine within months

Australia expects to receive its first batches of a potential COVID-19 vaccine in January, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, as the number of new daily infections in the country’s virus hotspot fell to a 10-week low. Morrison said his government has struck a deal with CSL Ltd to manufacture two vaccines – one developed by rival AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and another developed in CSL’s own labs with the University of Queensland.

Biopharma Leaders Unite to Stand with Science

The CEOs of AstraZeneca, BioNTech , GlaxoSmithKline plc , Johnson & Johnson , Merck , known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, Moderna, Inc., Novavax, Inc, Pfizer Inc, and Sanofi , today announced a historic pledge, outlining a united commitment to uphold the integrity of the scientific process as they work towards potential global regulatory filings and approvals of the first COVID-19 vaccines.

AbbVie signs immunotherapy deal with I-Mab worth $2bn

AbbVie has entered into a global collaboration agreement with I-Mab to develop and commercialise lemzoparlimab (TJC4), an immuno-oncology therapy.I-Mab discovered and developed lemzoparlimab, an anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody, for treating patients with various types of cancer.The drug is designed to reduce inherent binding to normal red blood cells and preserve its antitumor activity.