Regulatory Index News w/c 21 October 2019

PBL given go ahead to advance anthrax vaccine to first phase

Porton Biopharma (PBL) has announced the signing of a modification to its contract with the US National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

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Merck's Ebola vaccine wins key European vote

The European Medicines Agency's human drugs panel Friday supported Merck & Co.'s experimental Ebola virus vaccine, clearing the way for the European Commission to give its OK within about two months.

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AstraZeneca blood cancer drug heading for showdown with AbbVie's

Blood cancer drug Calquence so far is one of the smaller sales contributors to AstraZeneca's cancer portfolio, but that could soon change if data in leukemia helps it square up to its main rival, AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson's Imbruvica.

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NHSE signs ‘definitive’ agreement for Vertex CF drugs

NHS England has announced a definitive agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to make all three of their UK-licensed cystic fibrosis medicines  available - Orkambi (ivacaftor/lumacaftor), Symkevi (tezacaftor/ivacaftor) and Kalydeco (ivacaftor).

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Electronic prescriptions could save NHS £300m

The final phase of the NHS’ Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) roll-out is set to go live on November 18, beginning with GP practices using the TPP SystmOne system. Allegedly, the new prescription service will save the NHS £300 million by 2021.

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Lilly's 1-drug migraine business gets support with new approval

Eli Lilly on Friday won Food and Drug Administration approval for a migraine drug it acquired via a 2017 deal for CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, giving the Indianapolis pharma a partner treatment to its on-market therapy Emgality.

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