All articles tagged with #phase iii trials
Novartis announced positive results from its Phase III trials of ianalumab, demonstrating significant improvement in disease activity for Sjögren’s disease, potentially making it the first targeted treatment for this autoimmune disorder. The trials showed the drug was well tolerated and could soon be submitted for regulatory approval.
Viking Therapeutics' latest weight loss drug trial showed greater efficacy compared to competitors Eli Lilly and Company and Novo Nordisk A/S, positioning the company as a potential acquisition target. The phase II trial demonstrated up to 15% body weight loss with comparable side effects, setting the stage for phase III trials to confirm the results. Despite potential competition from other candidates, the development presents an interesting opportunity in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly for companies like Lilly.
Moderna is aiming for an accelerated approval for its cancer vaccine in partnership with Merck by 2025, following promising Phase II data showing the potential of their individualized neoantigen therapy in reducing the risk of cancer recurrence or death in melanoma patients when used with Merck’s Keytruda. However, the company is waiting on three key developments before seeking accelerated approval. The therapy is currently undergoing Phase III trials in adjuvant melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
Wellcome and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are investing around $550 million to fund the final stage of trials for the M72 vaccine, which could be the first new vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) in over a century. TB, a preventable and treatable bacterial disease, still affects 10 million people annually, causing 1.6 million deaths in 2021. The trial, set to take 4-6 years and involve 26,000 people across Africa and Southeast Asia, aims to test the vaccine's efficacy in preventing latent TB from becoming active. The existing TB vaccine, BCG, offers limited protection and wears off over time. The M72 vaccine showed around 50% efficacy in Phase II trials and could potentially save 8.5 million lives over 25 years, according to the World Health Organization.