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Jamjoom Pharma, a leading Saudi pharmaceutical organization, and Althera Laboratories, a company dedicated to developing and commercialising innovative therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, have announced a strategic licensing and supply agreement. This agreement is poised to address the growing need for effective dyslipidemia management in the region, contributing to better patient outcomes and cardiovascular health, said a statement. Under this agreement, Jamjoom Pharma gets exclusive rights to commercialise in Saudi Arabia and non-exclusive rights for phased expansion across other MEA markets for Althera’s fixed-dose combination of dual-action cholesterol-lowering therapy. The product launch in Saudi Arabia is targeted for 2027, with plans for phased expansion across MEA markets, subject to local regulatory approvals. This collaboration marks a major milestone for both companies: Jamjoom strengthens its cardiovascular portfolio with a globally recognised and clinically effective therapy, while Althera expands its international footprint in a high-growth region. The partnership aims to address the region's growing burden of cardiovascular diseases by increasing access to modern, affordable lipid-lowering treatment, to support patients across MEA. Dr Tarek Hosni, CEO of Jamjoom Pharma, highlighted that: “Cardiovascular diseases remain to be a leading health concern in Saudi Arabia and the wider MEA region, and this partnership enables us to provide patients...

Global pharma cold chain logistics will grow from $18.6B to $27.11B by 2033, powered by biologics, IoT, AI, and supply chain policy shifts. vital for transporting vaccines, biologics, and advanced therapies—ensures strict temperature compliance from manufacturing to patient delivery. According to DataM Intelligence analysis, the global market reached approximately USD 18.61 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 27.11 billion by 2033, achieving a CAGR of 4.3% over the period. This growth reflects escalating demand for temperature-sensitive therapies and the integration of smart logistics technologies.

Sucralose is a popular sugar substitute for people who are cutting calories or managing blood sugar levels, but new research by the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center suggests that the artificial sweetener may not be the best choice for patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy. Published in the journal Cancer Discovery, the study found that patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer who consumed high levels of sucralose had worse response to immunotherapy and poorer survival than those with diets low in the artificial sweetener. Strikingly, supplements that boosted levels of the amino acid arginine mitigated the negative effects of sucralose on immunotherapy in mice, an approach that could now be tested in clinical trials. "It's easy to say, 'Stop drinking diet soda,' but when patients are being treated for cancer, they are already dealing with enough, so asking them to drastically alter their diet may not be realistic," said lead author Abby Overacre, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Immunology at Pitt and UPMC Hillman. "We need to meet patients where they are. That's why it's so exciting that arginine supplementation could be a simple approach to counteract the negative effects of sucralose on immunotherapy." Senior author Diwakar Davar, M.D.,...

President Donald Trump sent letters to the leaders of 17 major pharmaceutical companies outlining how they should slash U.S. prescription drug prices to match those paid overseas, the White House said on Thursday. Trump signed a sweeping executive order in May demanding drugmakers cut U.S. medicine prices to match those abroad, saying that if companies did not comply, the government could use rulemaking to bring prices down or pursue other measures, such as importing cheaper medicines from overseas. Trump sent the letters to the chief executives of Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Regeneron, Merck & Co, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca, among others, the White House said. "Most proposals my Administration has received to 'resolve' this critical issue promised more of the same; shifting blame and requesting policy changes that would result in billions of dollars in handouts to industry," Trump wrote in the letters, copies of which were posted on his Truth Social account. Shares of Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Gilead Sciences closed down about 2% each, while the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index fell 3% on Thursday. Trump called on drugmakers to provide so-called most-favored-nation prices to every patient enrolled in the government Medicaid health program for low-income people, and to guarantee such pricing for...

Saudi Arabia has approved its first-ever treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, marking a major step forward in the kingdom’s efforts to expand cutting-edge healthcare. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) announced on Tuesday the registration of the drug Leqembi (Lecanemab), a pioneering biologic therapy administered via intravenous infusion every two weeks. The medication is designed for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, including those with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia. It specifically targets individuals who carry no more than one copy of the ApoE4 gene variant, which is associated with increased Alzheimer’s risk. According to the SFDA, Leqembi belongs to a new class of innovative biologic drugs developed using monoclonal antibody technology. The treatment works by targeting beta-amyloid proteins that build up in the brain, helping to slow the formation of plaques known to be linked to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients. The approval followed a thorough evaluation of the drug’s efficacy, safety, and quality. Clinical trials have shown promising results, indicating that the treatment can slow disease progression compared to a placebo, based on standard clinical measures used to assess Alzheimer’s treatments. Common side effects reported include headaches, infusion-related symptoms, and changes detectable by MRI scans known as Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities...

Celltrion will invest 700 billion won ($500 million) to acquire a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the United States in a strategic move to ease escalating tariff uncertainties under the Donald Trump administration, the company’s chairman said Tuesday. The Korean firm, most famous for its biosimilars, was selected as the preferred bidder to take over the drug substance plant in an undisclosed U.S. region. Celltrion won the bid over two global rivals. Under a nondisclosure agreement, the company declined to confirm other details on the deal. “By 2033, we expect our biosimilar portfolio to grow to 41 products, and the U.S. will serve as an essential market,” Chairman Seo Jung-jin said during an online press conference. “If the U.S. government wants products made in the U.S., we will produce and sell locally to reduce tariff uncertainties.” Celltrion plans to complete all remaining legal procedures for the acquisition of the factory by the end of 2025. Celltrion has already secured two years of inventory in the U.S. to preemptively deal with the tariff uncertainties. The acquisition of the new plant will pave the way for the company to fully hedge against U.S. tariff risks, according to the company. “Our latest decision is aimed at eliminating all the...

China rolled out on Monday an annual childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about $500) until age three, as authorities look to spur a flagging birth rate with fewer young people choosing to have children. The high cost of childcare and education as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy are among the concerns that have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Subsidies will start from this year, with partial subsidies for children under three born prior to 2025, in a policy expected to benefit more than 20 million families of toddlers and infants, the official Xinhua news agency said. The plan is an "important national livelihood policy" and direct cash subsidies would help "reduce the cost of family childbirth and parenting", the National Health Commission said. Demographers and economists said while the move was positive, the amount was likely to small to incentivise people to have children. China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with experts warning of a worsening downturn, after decades of falling birth rates following a one-child policy adopted from 1980 to 2015,...

The European Union's drugs regulator has recommended approval of Gilead Sciences' (GILD.O), opens new tab lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection, for preventing HIV infection in adults and adolescents, the drugmaker said on Friday. The backing could make it the EU's first twice-yearly HIV prevention option to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in at-risk adults and adolescents. Lenacapavir offers a long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options, aiding critical response to the disease especially among those who struggle with daily adherence, stigma, or access to healthcare. The decision comes more than a month after the treatment received regulatory approval in the U.S., where it is branded as Yeztugo. The World Health Organization recommended the treatment earlier this month as a tool to prevent HIV infection. Any recommendation by the European Medicines Agency's human medicines committee has to be formally approved by the European Commission, which usually follows the regulator's decision. The European Commission's decision on the drug is expected later this year, the company said. If approved,lenacapavir would be granted one additional year of market exclusivity in the EU, and it would be branded as Yeytuo, Gilead said. Lenacapavir, part of a class of drugs known as capsid inhibitors, proved nearly 100% effective...

Ovarian cancer drugs market size was valued at $4.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $7.2 billion in 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period (2025-2035). This growth is driven by growing incidence rates of ovarian cancer, early detection through enhanced imaging and genomic technologies, and increasing use of PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy-based therapies. North America dominated the market share for the ovarian cancer treatment drugs market with robust clinical research infrastructure, well-established cancer screening guidelines, and availability of new therapies. The rising rate of incidence and prevalence of ovarian cancer globally has increased the need for effective diagnostic techniques. For instance, in 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 20,890 new ovarian cancer cases will be diagnosed in women in the U.S., and about 12,730 women will die due to the disease.

Japan's leading trade negotiator said on Tuesday that the trade deal Tokyo agreed with the United States last week guarantees Japan will always receive the lowest tariff rate on chips and pharmaceuticals of all the pacts negotiated by Washington. "If a third country agrees with the United States on lower rates on chips and pharmaceuticals, those lower rates would apply to Japan," Ryosei Akazawa told a news conference. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here. The European Union secured a 15% baseline tariff as part of a framework trade deal with the U.S. this week, averting looming new tariffs on chips and pharmaceuticals. Japan last week struck a trade deal with the U.S. that lowers tariffs on cars and other goods to 15% in exchange for a U.S.-bound $550 billion Japanese investment package including equity, loans and guarantees. Asked why there has been no joint statement on the agreement, Akazawa said Japan is prioritising having President Donald Trump sign an executive order to bring the agreed 15% tariff rate into effect. "We want to concentrate our efforts on getting the tariffs lowered first, and then we can consider whether an official document on...