This week in pharma… 27th January

In this week’s news, Samsung Biologics has been recognized for its commitment to a sustainable future, 5 key dates to watch in drug price negotiations, and more.

Samsung Biologics has been recognized for its commitment to a sustainable future. The company is one of 19 to have received the 2022 Terra Carta Seal, demonstrating its commitment to creating a genuinely sustainable market by achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its direct operations and supply chain by 2050.  

During a recent roundtable discussion, life science leaders at Samsung, CordenPharma, Lonza CHI, Lonza Small Molecules, Pfizer CentreOne, Recipharm, Quotient, and Sirio Europe were asked about the area of pharmaceutical development that excites them most. The most common theme was sustainability. This ranges from reducing carbon footprints to decreasing solvents in formulations. Another area of agreement among roundtable participants is that oral solid drugs (OSDs) will continue to dominate the drug delivery market. 

Drug price negotiations: 5 key dates to watch. As the CMS readies its new program for lowering drug costs, these are the moments that will matter most to pharma companies.

A recent review of the potential of blockchain in healthcare has explored how people are considering using the technology in the management of supply chains and data.

Regenxbio initiates gene therapy trial for DMD as part of its AAV therapeutics strategy for 2025. The company has begun recruiting for its Phase I/2 gene therapy trial in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Also in the news

Protein turns back the clock in cartilage cells and could have therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis. Scientists have figured out how a protein contributes to osteoarthritis by controlling the genetic processes involved in cartilage cell aging.

CDMO trends

The North America Large Molecule Drug Substance CDMO Market should witness market growth of 8.0% CAGR during the forecast period (2022-2028).

China’s GenScript conjures $224M in investor cash for its biologics contractor ProBio. Setting its sights on production and R&D expansions, GenScript’s biologics subsidiary ProBio notched its third fundraising round in less than two years.

Lotte Biologics announces $3 B investment plan to leap forward as global CDMO. The company plans to invest a total of $3 billion (approximately KRW 3 trillion) by 2030 to construct three mega plants with a total production capacity of 360,000 liters of antibody drugs in Korea.