Top Ten most popular articles on Pharmafile.com this week

Some of the biggest news this week concerns companies that are looking to move on parts of their business, but as Pfizer has shown, it is sometimes easier said than done. In addition, two former Kite executives have been unable to resist being drawn back into the field, with a big to make their former technology obsolete. 

Check out the week's ten most popular articles on Pharmafile.com now!

10. Nordic Nanovector CEO steps down as company delays R&D timelines

Nordic Nanovector revealed that its Chief Executive Officer Luigi Costa is set to step down from his role at the company, with the decision being made with mutual agreement from its Board of Directors.

9. Proton beam therapy finally arrives in UK

28 years after the US first pioneered proton beam therapy at Loma Linda University Medical Center, the UK now has its own centre that will be able to provide this type of treatment to patients.

8. Roche snaps up Inception neuroscience program

Back in 2014, Roche entered into strategic collaboration with Inception Sciences to look into the regenerative medicines space for multiple sclerosis. As per the initial agreement, Roche was able to acquire the research program when an IND was able to be filed.

7. Pfizer running out of options for consumer business

A surprise new name was thrown into the ring to take on Pfizer’s healthcare unit but speculation suggests that valuation is once again the sticking point, indicating that Pfizer may not be able to find anyone willing to acquire the unit this time around.

6. Rumours Allergan is looking to offload $5bn women’s health unit

Rumours suggest that Allergan is looking at options to divest its women’s health unit in a move that could potentially reap about $5 billion.

5. Twin-drug combo effectively shrinks lung cancers by blocking their "escape route"

A combination of two specific drug varieties may offer an effective treatment for most kinds of lung cancer by blocking their use of the cytokine tumour necrosis factor as an “escape route”.

4. Boehringer teams up with OSE in €1.1 billion cancer drug partnership

Boehringer Ingelheim and biotech firm OSE Immunotherapeutics announced that they entered into an exclusive collaboration and license agreement to develop the latter’s candidate for the treatment of advanced solid tumours.

3. Transforming cystic fibrosis treatment

Fred van Goor, Principle Research Fellow at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, discusses his history of work in cystic fibrosis and how the company’s development of Kalydeco succeeded against all odds.

2. Ex-Kite execs form a CAR T rival

Two of Kite Pharma's former executives have burst back onto the CAR T scene by licensing Pfizer's portfolio of potential allogeneic treatments.

1. NICE rejects Dupixent for atopic dermatitis on cost grounds, Sanofi responds

NICE issued draft guidance rejecting the routine use of Sanofi’s Dupixent for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis on the NHS in adults when systemic therapy is suitable, citing, as usual, cost-effectiveness concerns.