Roche made a splash with its acquisition of Spark Therapeutics, whose Luxturna, a gene therapy for an inherited form of vision loss, was the first such therapy to win FDA approval. Now the Swiss pharmaceutical giant is looking to bolster its capabilities in liver and central nervous system (CNS) disorder gene therapies and it’s turning … Continue reading “Roche Enlists Dyno to Bring AI to Next-Generation Liver, CNS Gene Therapies”
Category: Europe
“Opioid Stacking” Concerns Lead FDA to Reject Avenue Therapeutics Drug
An opioid that Avenue Therapeutics reformulated for treating post-surgical pain in hospital settings has been rejected by the FDA due to safety concerns. The Avenue (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATXI]]) drug is an intravenous formulation of tramadol, an opioid that first reached the US market 25 years ago in pill form. Now New York-based Avenue is trying to … Continue reading ““Opioid Stacking” Concerns Lead FDA to Reject Avenue Therapeutics Drug”
FDA Panel Vote Weighs in Favor of Alkermes Psych Drug, With Caveats
An Alkermes antipsychotic treatment designed to offer the benefits of a commonly prescribed medicine, but without the weight gain side effect, won the backing of an FDA advisory committee on Friday. But even some of the panel members who supported the drug qualified their votes, expressing concern about what the drug could mean for patients … Continue reading “FDA Panel Vote Weighs in Favor of Alkermes Psych Drug, With Caveats”
Bio Roundup: CRISPR Kudos, Bristol Myers’s Buy, RNAi Alliance & More
It’s October: a time of days growing shorter, leaves changing color, and phone calls in the wee hours that rouse scientists from slumber notifying them they’ve won the highest honor in their fields. This week, the 2020 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to Harvey Alter, Michael Alton, and Charles Rice, whose research … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Kudos, Bristol Myers’s Buy, RNAi Alliance & More”
Bio Roundup: MESO’s Miss, Pfizer’s Cancer Bet, Vaccine Promise & More
Amid the bombast of Tuesday’s presidential debate, viewers caught some discussion about the response to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. In the crosstalk, the president made an unsupported claim that we are weeks away from having vaccines. It’s true that some pharmaceutical companies are already manufacturing their COVID-19 vaccine candidates … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: MESO’s Miss, Pfizer’s Cancer Bet, Vaccine Promise & More”
Genfit Restructuring Cuts Staff by 40%, Creates Two New Subsidiaries
[Updated 10/1/2020. See below.] Genfit is halting all work on its lead drug in the fatty liver disorder nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and implementing a corporate restructuring that will cut 40 percent of its staff, splitting the remaining workforce into two distinct business units. The announcement after the market close on Wednesday follows the May failure … Continue reading “Genfit Restructuring Cuts Staff by 40%, Creates Two New Subsidiaries”
With Phase 2 Data in Hand, Ovid Eyes Multiple Pivotal Trials for Epilepsy Drug
Ovid Therapeutics and Takeda Pharmaceutical joined forces three years ago to develop a small molecule into a potential epilepsy drug. That research is starting to pay off as the companies now look ahead to pivotal studies testing that compound in several inherited forms of the disorder. On Wednesday, New York-based Ovid (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OVID]]) reported Phase … Continue reading “With Phase 2 Data in Hand, Ovid Eyes Multiple Pivotal Trials for Epilepsy Drug”
Orphazyme Stock Sale Reaps $83M as Neimann-Pick Drug Review Begins
Orphazyme has fresh cash from the sale of shares in the US and Europe, which will support its lead rare disease drug through regulatory review and, if approved, a launch. But the drug fell short in key clinical trial measures, raising questions about its approvability. Now the FDA wants additional data, potentially throwing a wrench … Continue reading “Orphazyme Stock Sale Reaps $83M as Neimann-Pick Drug Review Begins”
Freeline Therapeutics Promotes Corbau to Chief Scientific Officer
Gene therapy developer Freeline Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FRLN]]) has promoted Romuald Corbau to chief scientific officer. He joined London-based Freeline in 2017 as vice president of research. Amit Nathwani, the company’s founder and outgoing chief scientific officer, will remain with the company as clinical and scientific adviser and member of the board of directors. Freeline is … Continue reading “Freeline Therapeutics Promotes Corbau to Chief Scientific Officer”
Galecto Picks Up $64M as Plans for Fibrosis Clinical Trials Move Forward
Had things turned out differently, scientists at Galecto might be watching their idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drug candidate develop in the hands of a big pharmaceutical company. But Bristol Myers Squibb passed on its option to acquire Galecto leaving the biotech to forge ahead on its own. Now the company has $64 million to advance clinical … Continue reading “Galecto Picks Up $64M as Plans for Fibrosis Clinical Trials Move Forward”
Bio Roundup: Grail Acquisition, Libra’s Launch, Tau Trial Results & More
In biotech, you can go home again. Four years ago, Illumina spun out cancer diagnostics startup Grail. This week, the gene sequencing giant announced it is acquiring Grail in an $8 billion cash and stock deal. Grail set out with the goal of developing a diagnostic test that detects cancer from the genetic snippets tumors … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Grail Acquisition, Libra’s Launch, Tau Trial Results & More”
Monte Rosa Raises $96M for “Glue-Based” Protein Degrading Drugs
Many drugs work by binding to a protein and blocking it. Technology for eliminating disease-causing proteins altogether remains experimental, but this approach has gained ground in the past year with hundreds of millions of dollars raised and compounds advanced into clinical testing. Monte Rosa is one of the newer companies in this “protein degradation” space … Continue reading “Monte Rosa Raises $96M for “Glue-Based” Protein Degrading Drugs”
Libra Strikes a Balance With Approach to ALS and Other Neuro Disorders
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has no cure and few available treatments but the past decade has revealed new knowledge about the pathology of the disease. Libra Therapeutics is turning that research into potential therapies, and it now has $29 million to advance its work. While the exact causes of many neurological disorders are unknown, Libra … Continue reading “Libra Strikes a Balance With Approach to ALS and Other Neuro Disorders”
Tau-Targeting Alzheimer’s Drug from AC Immune, Roche Fails in Phase 2
An Alzheimer’s disease drug from partners AC Immune and Roche has failed a mid-stage clinical trial, adding another compound to the list of experimental therapies that have fallen short of demonstrating that they can treat the neurodegenerative disorder. The drug, semorinemab, was tested in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. It did not achieve the Phase … Continue reading “Tau-Targeting Alzheimer’s Drug from AC Immune, Roche Fails in Phase 2”
Athira CEO Kawas: Alzheimer’s Drug Aims for “Recovery of Brain Function”
The key to Athira Pharma’s approach to Alzheimer’s disease is already inside each of us: a repair mechanism that can regenerate damaged neurons. What’s needed to begin the process is a pharmacological kickstart. Athira (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATHA]]) is developing a drug intended to turn on the repair pathway. The company’s experimental therapy is a small molecule … Continue reading “Athira CEO Kawas: Alzheimer’s Drug Aims for “Recovery of Brain Function””
Xconomy Awards On-Demand ‘Meet the Finalists’ Webcast Series Continues This Week
The 2020 National Xconomy Awards complimentary two-week, 11-part, on-demand Meet the Finalists daily webcast series continues this Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. Registration is complimentary and includes access to a networking app with already more than 600 life science contacts. The daily series leads up to the Thursday, Sept. 24 free online National Xconomy Awards … Continue reading “Xconomy Awards On-Demand ‘Meet the Finalists’ Webcast Series Continues This Week”
Bio Roundup: SeaGen Scores, Dyne’s Debut, Microbiome Moves & More
Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day has spoken openly about acquisitions as a way to build up the company’s drug pipeline. This week, it made its biggest buy yet. The $21 billion Immunomedics acquisition brings to Gilead a cancer drug that many analysts project will become a blockbuster seller. Some of those analysts think Gilead might … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: SeaGen Scores, Dyne’s Debut, Microbiome Moves & More”
Moderna CMO Talks COVID-19 Vaccine at the Xcelerate Keynote Series
The Xcelerate Keynote Series has added Moderna CMO Tal Zaks to the expert lineup of speakers set to present next Monday, Sept. 21. As you likely know, Moderna is one of the front-runners in the COVID-19 vaccine race, and we look forward to adding his insight to a packed agenda focused on innovative solutions during … Continue reading “Moderna CMO Talks COVID-19 Vaccine at the Xcelerate Keynote Series”
Neogene Therapeutics Grabs $110M to Tackle Solid Tumors With Cell Therapy
Cell therapy offers another option for addressing the most difficult blood cancer cases, but such treatments, which are engineered from a patient’s own immune cells, don’t yet work on solid tumors. Neogene Therapeutics is developing technology with the potential to bring cell therapies to solid tumors and it now has $110 million to advance its … Continue reading “Neogene Therapeutics Grabs $110M to Tackle Solid Tumors With Cell Therapy”
Silence Therapeutics Taps Orchard’s Mark Rothera as President & CEO
Mark Rothera has been appointed president and CEO of Silence Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SLN]]). He comes to London-based Silence from Orchard Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ORTX]]), where he was chief executive. Rothera’s experience also includes positions at PTC Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTCT]]), Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, and Shire. Rothera is starting at Silence one week after the company debuted on the … Continue reading “Silence Therapeutics Taps Orchard’s Mark Rothera as President & CEO”
Join Xconomy Next Week at the Virtual Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston
Presented by Xconomy, the online Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston on Monday, Sept. 21 places a spotlight on life science leaders who are breaking new ground with methods and solutions in R&D, planning, and production that are improving patient outcomes. As the industry navigates uncertainty, the keynote speakers will help drive your business … Continue reading “Join Xconomy Next Week at the Virtual Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston”
Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Pact, Gavreto Approval, Generative Biology & More
COVID-19 research efforts are often characterized as a race between companies, a description that reflects the urgency to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. The description is not quite right. A race has one winner and public health officials have said we’ll need multiple vaccines to address the global need. Vaccine developers have progressed … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Pact, Gavreto Approval, Generative Biology & More”
Grifols Moves Deeper Into Proteome R&D With $146M Deal for Alkahest
Alkahest, a company that analyzes blood proteins to develop therapies that address neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, is set to be acquired by partner Grifols in a $146 million deal. Grifols (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GRFS]]) announced Tuesday that it is acquiring the shares of privately held Alkahest that it does not already own. Barcelona, Spain-based Grifols says … Continue reading “Grifols Moves Deeper Into Proteome R&D With $146M Deal for Alkahest”
FDA Approves Blueprint Cancer Drug Targeting RET Genetic Signatures
[Updated, 9/8/2020. See below.] A Blueprint Medicines drug for cancers that carry a certain genetic signature has received FDA approval, making it the latest targeted therapy to pass the regulatory bar this year. The late Friday decision for pralsetinib (Gavreto) covers non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The drug was designed to address cancers characterized by fusions … Continue reading “FDA Approves Blueprint Cancer Drug Targeting RET Genetic Signatures”
Bio Roundup: Pharma M&A, AbbVie’s Cancer Bet, Biofourmis Bucks & More
Labor Day is just around the corner and many people are looking forward to a last chance to celebrate the waning days of summer. But ahead of the holiday weekend, biopharmaceutical companies were hard at work closing deals. Food conglomerate Nestlé is delving deeper into pharmaceuticals with its $2.6 billion deal to acquire Aimmune Therapeutics, … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Pharma M&A, AbbVie’s Cancer Bet, Biofourmis Bucks & More”
Early Bird Sale for Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston Ends This Friday
Don’t miss out on savings for this year’s online Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston – our early bird sale ends this Friday! Speakers include: Jeff Baker – Deputy Director, Office of Biotechnology Products, FDA Michelle McMurry-Heath – President & CEO, BIO John Maraganore – CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Yvonne Greenstreet – Chief Operating Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Andrew Plump … Continue reading “Early Bird Sale for Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston Ends This Friday”
Nestlé to Swallow Up Peanut Allergy Drug Maker Aimmune in $2.6B Deal
Aimmune Therapeutics, which this year won the first FDA approval for a food allergy immunotherapy, is set to be acquired by a division of global food giant Nestlé in a deal that values the biopharmaceutical company at $2.6 billion. According to deal terms announced Monday, Nestlé will pay $34.50 for each Aimmune share that it … Continue reading “Nestlé to Swallow Up Peanut Allergy Drug Maker Aimmune in $2.6B Deal”
Biotech Roundup: FDA Culpa, Tricida Trips, Freenome’s Funding & More
Among the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic: the credibility of government agencies entrusted with protecting public health. The FDA this week granted emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma as a treatment for infection by the novel coronavirus. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alez Azar both misrepresented the magnitude … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: FDA Culpa, Tricida Trips, Freenome’s Funding & More”
FDA Adds Plasma as 2nd COVID-19 Treatment Under Emergency Guidelines
The FDA has authorized the use of plasma from people who have recovered from infection by the novel coronavirus as a treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a move widely perceived as influenced by political pressure given the lack of clear evidence of clinical benefit. Treating patients with plasma—the water, salts, and proteins that make up … Continue reading “FDA Adds Plasma as 2nd COVID-19 Treatment Under Emergency Guidelines”
Bio Roundup: J&J Buyout, BioMarin Rebuffed, Poseida on Hold & More
While business is historically slow in August, this month seems to be bucking the trend, just like so many other unexpected developments in 2020. Perhaps life sciences executives have been less distracted by summer excursions this year in a world in which the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly curtailed travel. This week two pharmaceutical companies announced … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: J&J Buyout, BioMarin Rebuffed, Poseida on Hold & More”
Genentech Gets FDA OK for Injectable Rare Neuroimmune Disease Drug
A drug that can be administered at home to treat a rare central nervous system disorder that damages the optic nerves and spinal cord now has FDA approval, marking the third nod the agency has given to a therapy for the condition. The drug, satralizumab (Enspryng), from Roche’s South San Francisco-based subsidiary Genentech, is for … Continue reading “Genentech Gets FDA OK for Injectable Rare Neuroimmune Disease Drug”
Sanofi Reaches $3.68B Deal to Buy Principia and Partnered MS Drug
[Updated, 4:36 p.m.] Sanofi, which has worked with Principia Biopharma for the past three years to develop a new multiple sclerosis treatment that penetrates into the brain, is set to buy its partner in a $3.68 billion deal to advance the development of that drug and other autoimmune compounds in the pipeline. Under financial terms … Continue reading “Sanofi Reaches $3.68B Deal to Buy Principia and Partnered MS Drug”
CureVac’s IPO Hauls In $213M as Key mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Test Nears
CureVac is playing catch-up to its messenger RNA (mRNA) peers in the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, but the company contends its technology could offer dosing advantages, and it now has $213 million in IPO cash to fund the human tests that could support that claim. On Friday, CureVac (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CVAC]]) sold more than … Continue reading “CureVac’s IPO Hauls In $213M as Key mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Test Nears”
Bio Roundup: Seres Soars, MesoBlast Vote, Duchenne Decision & More
The road of drug development is rife with detours and disappointments but Seres Therapeutics showed this week that course corrections can work. Four years after its microbiome therapy failed in a mid-stage study, the company reported early positive data from a pivotal test of its treatment for a type of gut infection. The results are … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Seres Soars, MesoBlast Vote, Duchenne Decision & More”
F2G Lands $60M for a New Tack on Taking Out Rare Fungal Infections
Fungal infections might not immediately come to mind as rare diseases, but growing resistance to older drugs means that patients who develop these infections have limited treatment options. Biotech company F2G aims to give these patients another choice. As the startup looks ahead to late-stage testing of its lead drug candidate, it has raised $60.8 … Continue reading “F2G Lands $60M for a New Tack on Taking Out Rare Fungal Infections”
Bayer Boosts Women’s Health Drug Pipeline, Paying $425M for KaNDy
Bayer has been building up its women’s health drug pipeline by striking deals and on Tuesday the pharmaceutical giant unveiled its latest one: $425 million up front for KaNDy Therapeutics, a biotech whose experimental menopause drug is projected as a blockbuster seller. KaNDy’s small molecule drug, NT-814, is in development as a treatment for common … Continue reading “Bayer Boosts Women’s Health Drug Pipeline, Paying $425M for KaNDy”
Roche Gut Disease Drug Produces Mixed Results in Late-Stage Trials
Results from four studies within a major Roche-run clinical trials program of an investigational gut disease drug have muddled the antibody’s path forward after its performance proved mixed. The company has been studying etrolizumab, an antibody designed to block two members of a family of proteins called integrins, as a potential treatment for the two … Continue reading “Roche Gut Disease Drug Produces Mixed Results in Late-Stage Trials”
FDA Green-Lights Roche Spinal Muscular Atrophy Drug, First Oral Therapy
The FDA on Friday approved a new spinal muscular atrophy drug that patients can take at home. Risdiplam (Evrysdi) is a liquid medicine intended for daily use that was developed by Roche subsidiary Genentech in partnership with the SMA Foundation and South Plainfield, NJ-based PTC Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTCT]]). Regulators OK’d the drug, intended for daily … Continue reading “FDA Green-Lights Roche Spinal Muscular Atrophy Drug, First Oral Therapy”
Bio Roundup: A Telehealth Combo, FDA’s BCMA OK, Biogen’s Bet & More
The novel coronavirus has driven the pharmaceutical industry to upend its research priorities. Big Pharma companies are focusing on vaccine development and a slew of biotechs are testing compounds, previously intended for a wide range of indications, as potential COVID-19 treatments. This week saw another major development brought on by industry efforts to adjust to … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: A Telehealth Combo, FDA’s BCMA OK, Biogen’s Bet & More”
GlaxoSmithKline Multiple Myeloma Drug Earns FDA’s First Anti-BCMA Nod
Patients with advanced multiple myeloma have a new treatment option with the FDA’s approval of a GlaxoSmithKline drug that targets B-cell maturation antigen, a protein found on the surface of cancerous plasma cells. The agency OK’d the London-based pharma giant’s cancer drug, belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep), based on the results of a study in which patients … Continue reading “GlaxoSmithKline Multiple Myeloma Drug Earns FDA’s First Anti-BCMA Nod”
Still Stuck on Adhesion Issues, FDA Rejects DBV’s Peanut Allergy Patch
A skin patch developed by DBV Technologies to desensitize peanut allergy sufferers to the allergen over time has been rejected by the FDA, which says the French company needs to change its design and run another clinical trial testing the modified version if it wants the treatment reviewed again. DBV (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DBVT]]), which has its … Continue reading “Still Stuck on Adhesion Issues, FDA Rejects DBV’s Peanut Allergy Patch”
AbbVie Walks From Voyager R&D Pact Spanning Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
A partnership between Voyager Therapeutics and AbbVie developing gene therapies for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease has ended without a drug for either disease reaching human testing. Voyager (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VYGR]]) announced the termination of the research pact after market close Monday. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech is keeping full rights to its technology for using engineered viruses … Continue reading “AbbVie Walks From Voyager R&D Pact Spanning Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s”
MorphoSys, Incyte Get Early FDA Nod for Antibody Alternative to CAR-T
A MorphoSys antibody drug developed for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has won FDA approval, providing an alternative to cumbersome and risky CAR-T therapies to treat the cancer. The late Friday approval for the drug, tafasitamab (Monjuvi), covers adults whose DLBCL has relapsed or has not responded to an earlier treatment. MorphoSys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MOR]]), a … Continue reading “MorphoSys, Incyte Get Early FDA Nod for Antibody Alternative to CAR-T”
Bio Roundup: Cerevel’s Shell, Thrive’s Rise, Drug Price Drama & More
The biotech IPO market is buzzing but Cerevel Therapeutics is showing that there’s more than one path to the public markets. This week the neuroscience drug developer reached a deal to merge with publicly traded Arya Sciences Acquisition Corp II. If you’ve never heard of Arya (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARYBU]]), it’s a shell company that Perceptive Advisors … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Cerevel’s Shell, Thrive’s Rise, Drug Price Drama & More”
Novartis Pays $75M to Get Hands on Sangamo’s Zinc Fingers for Drug R&D
Another biopharma has signed up to use Sangamo Therapeutics’ gene editing technology to develop therapies that can address disease by heightening or depressing a gene’s activity level. Sangamo on Thursday announced that Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]) had agreed to shell out $75 million up front to leverage the biotech’s genome regulation technology to treat certain neurodevelopmental … Continue reading “Novartis Pays $75M to Get Hands on Sangamo’s Zinc Fingers for Drug R&D”
Roche Pays $120M for Rights to UCB’s Tau-Targeting Alzheimer’s Drug
As the Alzheimer’s disease world continues to closely follow the development of therapies that break up clumps of beta amyloid on patients’ brains, Roche is placing a bet on another approach via a deal that secures rights to a clinical-stage UCB compound that targets tau, another protein associated with the neurodegenerative disorder. According to terms … Continue reading “Roche Pays $120M for Rights to UCB’s Tau-Targeting Alzheimer’s Drug”
Pfizer, BioNTech Choose Full Spike Protein for Pivotal Vaccine Test
Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine research started with multiple approaches—four shots on the messenger RNA goal. The partners have narrowed their choices to one for pivotal testing, and that candidate takes the same tack as other companies trying to address the novel coronavirus. BNT162b2, the vaccine candidate that Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) and BioNTech (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BNTX]]) … Continue reading “Pfizer, BioNTech Choose Full Spike Protein for Pivotal Vaccine Test”
AstraZeneca to Pay $1B to Team Up With Daiichi Sankyo Again in Cancer
AstraZeneca’s partnership with Daiichi Sankyo led to FDA approval of an antibody cancer drug late last year. Now the British pharmaceutical giant is paying $1 billion up front to join forces on another antibody drug addressing a different cancer target. The deal announced Monday calls for AstraZeneca (NYSE: [[ticker:AZN]]) to share in the development and, … Continue reading “AstraZeneca to Pay $1B to Team Up With Daiichi Sankyo Again in Cancer”
Bio Roundup: Jazz Drug OK’d, Gilead’s Bet, Moderna Patent Decision & More
EQRx launched in January during the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference with an audacious pledge to create 10 new drugs in as many years and then sell them at “dramatically” lower prices than existing medicines. But it offered few specifics about how it would achieve those goals. This week, drug licensing deals it made with two … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Jazz Drug OK’d, Gilead’s Bet, Moderna Patent Decision & More”
Jazz Pharma Gets FDA Nod for New Drug to Treat Narcolepsy Symptoms
[Corrected 7/23/20, 10:13 am. See below.] Jazz Pharmaceuticals has received FDA approval for a narcolepsy drug that it has developed as a lower-sodium successor to its biggest moneymaker, a treatment that was first approved in 2002 to reduce attacks of muscle weakness associated with the disease. That drug, sodium oxybate (Xyrem), was first OK’d to reduce … Continue reading “Jazz Pharma Gets FDA Nod for New Drug to Treat Narcolepsy Symptoms”