Welcome to the July issue of The Pharmafile Brief, where we explore critical topics shaping healthcare today. In our debut issue, we highlight the advances in cancer treatments, and also delve into the latest in dermatology, from UV safety awareness to breakthrough treatments for rare skin conditions. We also showcase the transformative role of healthcarebranding in building trust and engagement as we bring together the innovations and challenges defining the sector, with insights on NHS reforms, market access strategies and the intersection of design and purpose.
In one of the highlights of this issue, we talk to Chris Ehrlich, CEO of CERo therapeutics, about T-cell therapy: its origins, how it works and what Chris envisions for the future of this form of immunotherapy. Chris talks about how antibody drug conjugates passively treated cancer, leading scientists to consider what would happen if patients were treated actively. What if the most powerful therapeutic human beings have was used – their own immune system – and if that immune system could be trained to fight cancer.Â
The issue also includes an insightful article from Theramex, which spotlightsthe chronic neglect of endometriosis in the UK. With dismissal from healthcare professionals, diagnosis delays, clear racial disparities and reduced funding targets, it stresses the need to treat gynaecological pain with greater urgency and seriousness.
From 11-12 June, over 9,000 attendees gathered in Manchester for the NHS ConfedExpo to discuss the future of UK healthcare, underscoring the power of collaboration in driving system-wide transformation. PMGroup is proud to have launched the 2026 Excellence in Healthcare Partnerships (EHP) Awards at the Expo, reinforcing the sector’s commitment to measurable impact through cross-sector collaboration.
Pharmafile is pleased to present the first in a new series: the Gateway to Local Adoption from Visions4Health, a market access consultancy, which brings together perspectives from local UK healthcare professionals, offering in-depth analysis of key challenges and applicable insights for the sector. Nick Merrifield, a GP based in Kingston-upon-Thames, explores the evolving concept of neighbourhood working in the NHS and the increasing push to shift care from hospitals to communities. Also, Graham Duce, Integrated Care Board GP prescribing and clinical lead, discusses the importance of medicines operations teams in the new ICB structures.
We continue the Pharmafocus Five Facts series by reporting Five Facts about UV exposure and sun safety , in time for UV Safety Awareness Month in July, discussing cautionary action taken by the World Health Organisation against skin cancer to the relationship between sunburn and the incidence of melanoma.Â
We hope you enjoy reading this issue of The Pharmafile Brief! Look out for a new issue at the beginning of each month, with more in depth analysis of the pharma, biotech and healthcare industry.
Two decades ago, terms like purpose and people were rarely at the forefront of branding conversations. The focus was on visual identity – logos, colour palettes and the external face of organisations. Yet, while the visual language of many brands has remained remarkably consistent, the internal landscape of what brands represent and how they engage...
1We can acclimatise to UV exposure. For example, we’re more likely to burn if there’s a sunny spell earlier in the spring/summer season than towards the end of it as we’ve been exposed to limited UV over the winter months.1 2Getting sunburnt once every two years can triple the risk of developing melanoma, compared to...
Danish dermatology company, LEO Pharma, announced the appointment of new executive vice president (EVP) of global people and corporate affairs, Helle Hedegaard Juhl, who joined the leadership team on July 1. The announcement forms part of wider leadership changes to advance the company’s long-term development. Juhl brings a wealth of experience in a variety of...
German dermatology company, Mallia Innovations, has appointed Jens Holstein, Alexandra Ogilvie and Ulrich Dauer to its advisory board, strengthening its leadership as it develops its CD83 protein for hormonal hair loss. Jens Holstein brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the biopharma sector. For the past four years, he was chief scientific officer (CFO)...
In the second of the Gateway to Local Access series, Vision4Health caught up with Dr Graham Duce, ICB GP Prescribing and Clinical Lead, to discuss his views on the role of medicines operations teams in the new ICB structures.
In the first of the Gateway to Local Adoption series, Visions4Health caught up with Dr Nick Merrifield to discuss his views on the ‘left shift’ and moving healthcare from hospital to community.Â
Galderma has announced the launch of two phase 2 clinical trials evaluating its monoclonal antibody, nemolizumab, in two conditions: systemic sclerosis (SSc) and chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO). The trials mark an expansion of nemolizumab’s potential therapeutic applications beyond its existing approvals for prurigo nodularis and moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Nemolizumab targets the IL-31 receptor...
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Spevigo (spesolimab) for the treatment of generalised pustular psoriasis (GPP) flares in adults in England and Wales. This decision marks a significant milestone, providing patients with the first targeted therapy for this rare skin condition. GPP is a severe form of psoriasis characterised by...
Celltrion, focused on the development of biosimilar medicines, has officially opened its new UK headquarters in the Charter Building, Uxbridge, indicating its ongoing commitment to the UK healthcare market. The new office will be used as a central hub for UK operations and aligns the company with other leading pharmaceutical and biotech firms that have...
Cancer Research UK has announced the appointment of Samra Turajlić as the new director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, effective September 2025. Turajlić is currently a research group leader at the Francis Crick Institute and consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. She has led major research efforts, including the...
Otsuka and Click Therapeutics have launched Rejoyn, a prescription digital therapeutic for major depressive disorder (MDD), in the UK. The smartphone app is designed to be used alongside existing treatments and is currently being deployed within select NHS Trusts, with broader uptake anticipated over the coming year. Rejoyn delivers a six-week cognitive training programme that...
Sanofi and Regeneron have announced results from the collaborative phase 4 DISCOVER study, presented at the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Conference, Nashville, US, on 7 June, highlighting the impact of Dupixent (dupilumab) in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and skin of colour. The open-label trial enrolled 120 patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI, including Black,...
Brenntag Specialties has acquired Czech-based mcePharma, strengthening its position in the pharma and biopharma industries through expanded continuous monitoring platform (CMP) capabilities and a more strategic presence in central Europe. The acquisition will enable Brenntag to develop a central hub for good manufacturing practice (GMP) value-added services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA),...
LEO Pharma has initiated a phase 2a trial investigating delgocitinib cream in adults with mild-to-severe palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). The DELTA NEXT study will analyse the efficacy and safety of the therapy compared with cream vehicle across sites in the US, UK, Germany, Poland and Canada. PPP is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition characterised by...
