Last year, the European Commission approved a record 55 therapies containing a new active substance, including 21 medicines for rare diseases. Among them were a number of gene therapies for indications such as cancer and hemophilia.

US vaccine surveillance systems were triggered, but so far further investigation clears the bivalent COVID vaccine of any new safety concern. CDC and FDA’s attempt to control the narrative appears to have backfired, however, making what looks to be a non-issue more controversial than it needed to be due to limited public communication.

Digital maturity of clinical operations at several big pharma firms varies significantly with the gap between best-in-class and the industry average narrowest for site selection tools, recruitment capabilities, and automation, a study has indicated. Digital patient experience tools figure among the least mature capabilities.

Alkermes discusses oncology drug spin-off, Lilly discloses decision to halt development of a small molecule drug, and AbbVie comments on pending Medicare price negotiation for Imbruvica.