Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week with Novartis, which revealed its asthma combination therapy has cleared another phase 3 test. The drug is up for approval in Europe. Novartis was also in the news for striking a deal with Microsoft to give its employees access to artificial intelligence tools. Elsewhere, Adaptimmune shared phase 1 data on a cell therapy in synovial sarcoma. AstraZeneca struck a deal to access clinical trial software. And more. — Nick Taylor
1. Novartis chalks up another phase 3 asthma win as approval nears
A phase 3 trial of Novartis’ QMF149 in patients with uncontrolled asthma has met its primary endpoint. Novartis showed the drug combination is better at improving lung function than an inhaled corticosteroid alone, giving it a boost as it heads toward an approval decision in the EU.
2. ESMO: Will Adaptimmune's SPEAR-T results in a rare sarcoma appease investors?
Adaptimmune’s shares have dropped 70% this year, as a few key executives have departed amid disappointing clinical results for the company’s SPEAR-T cells to treat solid tumors. Now, the company is rolling out phase 1 data for its lead product it hopes will accelerate its push toward commercialization.
3. Novartis to put AI on every employee's desk through Microsoft partnership
Novartis is looking to put artificial intelligence tools on the desktops of each of its research associates, and it's tapping Microsoft to do it.
4. AstraZeneca teams up with N-SIDE for trial work
Britain-based Big Pharma AstraZeneca has penned a new collab with Belgium’s N-SIDE for its clinical studies.
And more articles of note>>