Dermira pulling plug on acne drug after phase 3 failure

Pharmaceutical company Dermira is pulling the plug on its acne drug (olumacostat glasaretil), after it failed to meet its primary endpoints in a pair of phase 3 trials. The drug was tested in patients aged nine and older with moderate to severe acne vulgaris. The mechanism of action of the drug was on targeting the overproduction of sebum.

Stem cells providing insight on potential anti-Alzheimer’s compound

It is found that toxic deposits of the proteins amyloid beta and tau in the brain have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but the exact role of these proteins in causing dementia is still unknown. A group of scientists at the University of Washington is using stem cells from patients suffering from Alzheimer’s patients to study the two proteins.

USFDA accepted for the review of Dupixent as a potential treatment for moderate-to-severe Asthma

FDA has recently accepted for review of the supplemental Biologics License Application of Dupixent. It will be reviewed as an add-on maintenance treatment for certain adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older) suffering from moderate-to-severe asthma. As per the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the target action date is set on October 20, 2018.

Novartis and Pear Therapeutics entered into a collaboration to develop digital therapeutics

Novartis and Pear Therapeutics has recently entered into a collaboration to develop novel prescription digital therapeutics. Software applications are designed to treat the disease more effectively and improve clinical outcomes for patients. With This collaboration, Novartis and Pear Therapeutics are taking advantage of their expertise in biomedical research, clinical development, digital therapeutics design and implementation.