Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite — longer than usual thanks to a holiday on this side of the pond — was relaxing and invigorating. Now, though, that oh-too-familiar routine of meetings, deadlines, and the like has returned with a vengeance. You knew this would happen, yes? To cope, we are relying, as always, on a cup of stimulation. Our choice today is butter pecan. Feel free to join us. Remember, no prescription is required. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest. Best of luck accomplishing your goals, and we hope you conquer the world. And, of course, do keep in touch. …
An experimental Novartis drug for a rare neuromuscular condition failed to improve muscle function in a pivotal study, its second major trial collapse in a matter of days, STAT writes. The two study flops will likely stoke concerns about its pipeline and acquisition strategy as it navigates a major patent cliff, though the company did see a victory with a multiple sclerosis drug last week. The stock was down by as much as 10% in early trading in Switzerland. The Phase 3 HARBOR trial was testing the drug del-desiran in a condition called myotonic dystrophy type 1, known as DM1, which causes progressive muscle stiffness and weakness.
Novo Nordisk stopped two trials of a drug that aims to tame inflammation as a way to improve cardiovascular health, another blow for the approach, STAT notes. The company said it had halted the HERMES and ATHENA trials of its drug, ziltivekimab, after a data monitoring committee found they were unlikely to succeed. Novo informed trial investigators on Friday. The move follows the earlier failure of the drug in the ZEUS trial, which showed that the medicine, despite lowering markers of inflammation, did not reduce the risk of major clinical complications, including deaths and heart attacks.
