Pregnancy Complications

NIH findings may lead to insights on pregnancy complications, adult health BETHESDA, Md., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- What: The genes of male and female placentas have marked differences in how they are expressed, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other institutions. These differences involve the presence or absence of tags on DNA known as methyl groups, which switch genes on or off without changing their structure. Understanding these DNA methylation patterns may inform future research on the higher risk for pregnancy complications involving male fetuses, such as stillbirth and prematurity, as well as later life health conditions that occur in adults who were born after a complicated pregnancy. Researchers analyzed male and female placental samples from a larger study for differences in their methylation patterns, and found differences in gene activity between male and female placentas that may play a role in birthweight and adult diseases. The study identified 2,497 previously unreported DNA sites that had different methylation patterns for males and females. Of these and more than 2,500 sites that had also been identified by previous studies, 66.9% of large increases in methylation occurred in DNA from male placentas and 33.1% from female placentas. Increases in methylation in male placentas was linked with greater neonatal size whereas those in females was linked with greater placental size. Some increases in methylation found in male placentas were located near the CCDC6 gene. Lower activation of CCDC6 has been linked with preterm birth in previous studies. Higher methylation near the FNDC5 gene was associated with lower expression of the gene in male placentas but not in female placentas. FNDC5 is involved with the manufacture of irisin, which protects the placenta from damage by reactive oxygen molecules and insulin resistance (cells' difficulty in using insulin to lower blood sugar.) Lower irisin levels have been associated with the pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorder, known as preeclampsia. Variations in the genes ATP5MG and FAM83A, expressed in female placentas, have been associated with asthma, hay fever, eczema (dry, itchy, inflamed skin) and higher risk for breast cancer later in life. Genetic factors influence the health differences between males and females, from before birth to later in life. Male fetuses grow faster than female fetuses and their pregnancies are more likely to be complicated by such conditions as preeclampsia (a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy), failure to grow at an adequate rate, and preterm birth. They also are more likely to die in the year after birth. Dysfunction of the placenta underlies many pregnancy complications and is thought to set the stage for male and female health differences that occur later in life. Variations in methylation patterns are thought to underlie many of these differences. The study was conducted by Fasil Tekola-Ayele, Ph.D., of the NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and colleagues at other institutions. It appears in Nature Communications. Who: Fasil Tekola-Ayele, Ph.D., is available for comment on this study. Reference Tekola-Ayele F, et al. Sex-differentiated placental methylation and gene expression regulation has implications for neonatal traits and adult diseases. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58128-3 (2025) SOURCE Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; National Institutes of Health (NIH) WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Biogen charted first-quarter sales growth thanks to the launches of Leqembi, Zurzuvae and Skyclarys. Burdened by competitive pressures for its stalwart multiple sclerosis franchise, Biogen has weathered years of sales declines. But in the first quarter, the company was able to see a glimpse of its hoped-for future with revenue growth thanks to three launches.Lately, Biogen's story can be summed up as a “a tale of two companies,” CEO Chris Viehbacher mused on a Thursday earnings call with analysts.There’s one company, a multiple sclerosis (MS)-centered drugmaker, with a portfolio that has been gradually declining, with its sales falling 11% during the first quarter. But now with 45% of Biogen's revenue coming from medicines outside of its MS franchise, “there’s a new Biogen emerging,” according to Viehbacher.The fresh start is hallmarked by Alzheimer’s disease med Leqembi, postpartum depression (PPD) treatment Zurzuvae and Friedreich’s ataxia therapy Skyclarys, all of which helped drive Biogen to a 6% revenue increase during the first quarter of 2025. Overall, the company generated $2.4 billion during the period. Eisai-partnered Leqembi is now into “serious product territory,” Viehbacher noted, growing a whopping 395% since last year’s first quarter—and 11% from the fourth quarter of last year—to $96 million in sales. The drug finally cinched a European approval in April after months of back-and-forth decisions by European officials, unlocking a key market with “an awful lot of eligible patients,” according to the CEO.It’s been a “challenging product to launch,” Viehbacher observed, but several recent advancements in administration—including an anticipated FDA decision for subcutaneous maintenance dosing—should help reduce the treatment burden.Currently, the Alzheimer’s antibody treatment market consists of Leqembi and Eli Lilly’s rival Kisunla (donanemab), which has faced many of the same launch barriers. Biogen accepts the competition, acknowledging that it will ultimately be “up to the physician and the patient” to determine which treatment to choose, Viehbacher explained.“I think the market ultimately gets split between us and donanemab,” the CEO said. “The most important thing for both Lilly and Biogen and Eisai is that we start to really expand this market.” As it stands, the companies are both only treating a “small fraction” of the patients who “desperately need treatment," the CEO said.Zurzuvae, meanwhile, has so far treated more than 10,000 women since its 2023 launch. Its sales were up 123% since last year’s first quarter to $28 million. Biogen managed to expand the number of physicians writing prescriptions by 20%, the company reported, in part by focusing on OB-GYNs as opposed to psychiatrists. The drug was the first oral medicine approved to specifically treat PPD. With Zurzuvae on the market, physicians are becoming “more proactive” about diagnosing the historically overlooked condition, Viehbacher commented.  Elsewhere, Biogen is still underway with a geographic expansion for Skyclarys, having scored recent approvals in the U.K. and Brazil. With $124 million in first-quarter sales, the drug was the biggest revenue contributor out of its three new launches. Friedreich’s ataxia is a genetic disease with European origin, leaving the Biogen team to get “very creative” in finding new U.S. patients through family trees and social media, according to the CEO.So far, around 2,400 patients are on the treatment globally; some are still on early access programs rather than commercial therapy. No concern for tariffs For many of Biogen's peers, the threat of looming pharmaceutical tariffs and changing trade policies could overshadow their future prospects. But Biogen's diversified revenue base means that some 55% of its product revenue last year came from sales outside of the U.S., which is “pretty unusual in our business,” Viehbacher said. And given that about 75% of last year’s U.S. product revenue is tied to drugs that have manufacturing operations in the U.S., Massachusetts-based Biogen is “more of a U.S.-based company” and is “quite proud of that,” the CEO noted. The drugmaker does not expect its financial outlook, which estimates a revenue decline by a mid-single-digit percentage in 2025 due to falling MS sales, to be impacted by currently announced tariffs, “even if the exemption for pharmaceuticals were to be removed,” the company said. Elsewhere in the policy vein, Biogen and Viehbacher have “not really seen” any delays in its interactions with the FDA or any “adverse effects” from key leaders who have left the agency.

SUBLOCADE use during pregnancy showed no increased risk of birth defects, miscarriage, or maternal complications compared to general population rates RICHMOND, Va., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Indivior PLC (Nasdaq/LSE: INDV) today announced the publication of a study "Monthly Buprenorphine Depot Injection (SUBLOCADE) for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy" in the American Journal on Addictions, evaluating the use of SUBLOCADE for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy and postpartum. Three sources of data evaluated in this retrospective study illustrated that the use of monthly SUBLOCADE during pregnancy demonstrated no increased risk and is consistent with the established buprenorphine safety profile.1 This retrospective study includes clinical case studies from four pregnant patients treated with monthly SUBLOCADE, postmarketing surveillance data covering more than five years, and a targeted literature review. In total, 322 reports of pregnancy exposures to SUBLOCADE were identified. Of the four patients included in the clinical practice case studies, all delivered full-term infants with normal birthweight, no fetal anomalies, and no need for treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). "The findings shared in this manuscript support perinatal, patient-centered decision-making," said Melinda Ramage, FNP-BC, CARN-AP, LCAS, Director of the North Carolina Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Network and lead author of the publication. "Treatment is not one-size-fits-all, and it is important to explore safe and effective options for the mother–baby dyad." Between 2010 and 2017, opioid use during pregnancy dramatically increased, with a 131% increase in opioid use-related diagnoses at delivery in the U.S.2 The U.S. national maternal morbidity and mortality data reveal mental health and substance use disorders are the leading underlying cause of pregnancy-related deaths in 36 states. While pregnancy-associated overdose deaths have been steadily rising since 2007, those involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids markedly increased from 5.73 to 9.47 deaths per 100,000 in a span of just 3 years (2017–2020), with most deaths occurring post-delivery.3 This study helps address the current knowledge gap with relevant experience from patients and prescribers who used monthly SUBLOCADE during pregnancy and/or postpartum. In addition to the case studies, the postmarketing surveillance data showed live births with no reported birth defects in the majority of known cases and rates of spontaneous abortion and other outcomes consistent with or lower than general population rates. Review of relevant literature also aligned with the findings from postmarketing and clinical data sources. These data highlight buprenorphine's established safety profile and offers practical insights into clinical care. "OUD patients who are pregnant run the risk of experiencing a number of negative health consequences, such as infection, overdose, severe maternal morbidity, postpartum readmission, and even death, and using opioids during pregnancy has been linked to poor results for both the fetus and the newborn," said Christian Heidbreder, Chief Scientific Officer at Indivior. "As public health professionals and policymakers look for ways to reduce maternal overdose deaths, this study offers important new information about how long-acting medications like SUBLOCADE might be incorporated into a broader strategy to increase access and enhance outcomes for families affected by OUD." Treatment decisions during pregnancy and postpartum should reflect a shared decision-making approach between providers and patients, aligning with clinical guidance and product labeling. The patient-centered model is especially critical when managing chronic conditions, like OUD, in the perinatal period. These data support consideration of using SUBLOCADE as part of evidence-based treatment options, which include offering or continuing perinatal medications for OUD, prioritizing patient stability when considering a change of existing pharmacotherapy in pregnancy and postpartum, and assessing the benefits and risks in a patient-centered framework. This is the largest amount of data available regarding the experience of pregnant patients on SUBLOCADE. Limitations of the study include limited descriptive data for case studies obtained from a small patient cohort and 21% of pregnancies reported outcomes for postmarketing surveillance. Disclosure: This work was funded by Indivior Inc., with the exception of the case studies and the time and contributions of Melinda Ramage, which were not supported by Indivior. About SUBLOCADE® SUBLOCADE ® (buprenorphine extended-release) injection, for subcutaneous use, CIII INDICATION AND HIGHLIGHTED SAFETY INFORMATION INDICATION SUBLOCADE is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder in patients who have initiated treatment with a single dose of a transmucosal buprenorphine product or who are already being treated with buprenorphine. SUBLOCADE should be used as part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling and psychosocial support. HIGHLIGHTED SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS HARM OR DEATH WITH INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION; SUBLOCADE RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY Serious harm or death could result if administered intravenously. SUBLOCADE forms a solid mass upon contact with body fluids and may cause occlusion, local tissue damage, and thrombo-embolic events, including life-threatening pulmonary emboli, if administered intravenously. Because of the risk of serious harm or death that could result from intravenous self-administration, SUBLOCADE is only available through a restricted program call the SUBLOCADE REMS Program. Healthcare settings and pharmacies that order and dispense SUBLOCADE must be certified in this program and comply with the REMS requirements. CONTRAINDICATIONS Hypersensitivity to buprenorphine or any other ingredients in SUBLOCADE. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse: SUBLOCADE contains buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance that can be abused in a manner similar to other opioids. Monitor patients for conditions indicative of diversion or progression of opioid dependence and addictive behaviors. Respiratory Depression: Life threatening respiratory depression and death have occurred in association with buprenorphine. Warn patients of the potential danger of self-administration of benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants while under treatment with SUBLOCADE. Risk of Serious Injection Site Reactions: Likelihood of may increase with inadvertent intramuscular or intradermal administration. Evaluate and treat as appropriate. The most common injection site reactions are pain, erythema and pruritus with some involving abscess, ulceration and necrosis. Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome: Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) is an expected and treatable outcome of prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy. Adrenal Insufficiency: If diagnosed, treat with physiologic replacement of corticosteroids, and wean patient off of the opioid. Risk of Opioid Withdrawal with Abrupt Discontinuation: If treatment with SUBLOCADE is discontinued, monitor patients for several months for withdrawal and treat appropriately. Risk of Hepatitis, Hepatic Events: Monitor liver function tests prior to and during treatment. Risk of Withdrawal in Patients Dependent on Full Agonist Opioids: Verify that patients have tolerated transmucosal buprenorphine before injecting SUBLOCADE. Treatment of Emergent Acute Pain: Treat pain with a non-opioid analgesic whenever possible. If opioid therapy is required, monitor patients closely because higher doses may be required for analgesic effect. ADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse reactions commonly associated with SUBLOCADE (in ≥5% of subjects) were constipation, headache, nausea, injection site pruritus, vomiting, increased hepatic enzymes, fatigue, and injection site pain. For more information about SUBLOCADE, the full Prescribing information including BOXED WARNING, and Medication Guide, visit . About Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a chronic disease in which people develop a pattern of using opioids that can lead to negative consequences. OUD may affect the parts of the brain that are necessary for life-sustaining functions. About Indivior Indivior is a global pharmaceutical company working to help change patients' lives by developing medicines to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Our vision is that all patients around the world will have access to evidence-based treatment for OUD and we are dedicated to transforming OUD from a global human crisis to a recognized and treated chronic disease. Building on its global portfolio of OUD treatments, Indivior has a pipeline of product candidates designed to expand on its heritage in this category. Headquartered in the United States in Richmond, VA, Indivior employs over 1,000 individuals globally and its portfolio of products is available in over 30 countries worldwide. Visit to learn more. Connect with Indivior on LinkedIn by visiting . References: Ramage M, Bishop B, Mangano V, Mankabady B. Monthly Buprenorphine Depot Injection (SUBLOCADE®) for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy. Am J Addict. 2025. Hirai AH, Ko JY, Owens PL, Stocks C, Patrick SW. Neonatal abstinence syndrome and maternal opioid-related diagnoses in the US, 2010–2017. JAMA. 2021; 325(2): 146-155. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.24991 Bruzelius E, Martins SS. US trends in drug overdose mortality among pregnant and postpartum persons, 2017–2020. JAMA. 2022; 328(21): 2159-2161. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.17045 SOURCE Indivior PLC WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED