Amezosvatein

More than 55 million people worldwide have dementia, according to the WHO. Credit: Alican Lazutti via Getty Images. GSK is collaborating with the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) to investigate whether GSK’s shingles vaccine, Shingrix (zoster vaccine recombinant), could reduce the risk of dementia. The research plan follows multiple retrospective observational studies, which suggest a potential link between shingles vaccination – specifically with Shingrix – and a lower likelihood of developing dementia. However, given unmeasured confounding factors, GSK has cautioned that these studies cannot establish causation. The new study will analyse electronic health records from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), focusing on approximately 1.4 million individuals who are 65 or 66 years old. Researchers will assess how shingles vaccination affects dementia risk while accounting for variables such as age, sex, and existing medical conditions. The study is expected to take four years to complete. Interest in the potential cognitive benefits of Shingrix was highlighted by a 2024 study published in Nature , which leveraged a natural experiment created by the transition from live to recombinant shingles vaccines. The study found that recipients of the recombinant vaccine had a significantly lower risk of dementia over six years, with a 17% increase in diagnosis-free time – equivalent to 164 additional days without a dementia diagnosis for those eventually affected. The effect observed across various analyses, was more pronounced in women, and was stronger compared to other vaccines commonly administered to older adults, including influenza and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccines. The study’s authors called for further research into the underlying biological mechanisms and a large-scale randomised controlled trial. In the UK, the recombinant zoster vaccine Shingrix, is offered to all adults turning 65, those aged 70 to 79 years, and those who are 50 years and above with a severely weakened immune system. It is the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved shingles vaccine and has dominated the market since its US approval in 2017, outperforming MSD’s now-discontinued Zostavax. In 2020, Zostavax was discontinued in the US given Shingrix’s better effectiveness and safety. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced in September 2023 that all newly eligible individuals would receive Shingrix instead of Zostavax. GSK’s vaccine generated £3.36bn ($4.35bn) in sales in 2024, as per the company’s financials. According to GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center, Shingrix sales will surpass $5bn by 2030. GlobalData is the parent company of Pharmaceutical Technology.

AstraZeneca and Alteogen's subcutaneous drug delivery deal, Taiho's acquisition of an ADC biotech and WuXi AppTec's 2025 growth projection made our news this week. AstraZeneca has tapped Korea's Alteogen to develop subcutaneous cancer drugs. Taiho Pharmaceutical is paying $400 million to acquire antibody-drug conjugate expert Araris Biotech. WuXi AppTec expects sales to grow 10% to 15% in 2025 as the fate of the BIOSECURE Act remains uncertain. And more.1. AstraZeneca signs Alteogen deal worth up to $1.35B for subcutaneous cancer drugs despite Merck-Halozyme patent dramaAstraZeneca has enlisted Alteogen and its hyaluronidase technology, ALT-B4, to advance subcutaneous formulations of “several oncology assets.” In its filings to the Korea Exchange, Alteogen disclosed two separate agreements together potentially worth up to $1.35 billion. The deal comes as Halozyme is engaged in a patent dispute with Merck & Co. on its subcutaneous formulation of Keytruda, which also uses ALT-B4.2. Otsuka's Taiho pays $400M for Swiss partner to 'turbocharge' 3 ADCs to clinicTaiho Pharmaceutical is paying $400 million upfront and committing up to $740 million in milestones to acquire Swiss antibody-drug conjugate specialist Araris Biotech. In 2023, the Otsuka unit inked a licensing deal to use Araris’ AralinQ platform to develop ADCs. Araris has three preclinical programs expected to enter the clinic over the course of 2025 and 2026.3. WuXi AppTec offers rosy 2025 guidance despite threat of US-China trade tensionsWuXi AppTec expects to grow sales by 10% to 15% in 2025. The rosy projection comes as the fate of the BIOSECURE Act remains uncertain. The company’s revenue slipped about 3% to 39.24 billion Chinese yuan ($5.4 billion) last year. Nevertheless, U.S. sales, which made up the bulk of the CRDMO’s business, still grew nearly 8% despite the draft bill’s threats of forced industry decoupling.4. Curevo rounds up $110M to challenge GSK’s Shringrix, nabs Moncef Slaoui to lead boardCurevo Vaccines, founded and invested in by Korea’s GC Biopharma, has raised $110 million in series B led by new investor Medicxi. OrbiMed, Sanofi Ventures and HBM Healthcare Investments also joined as new backers of the U.S. biotech. The money will be used on a phase 2 extension program for amezosvatein, a potential competitor to GSK’s blockbuster shingles vaccine Shingrix.5. Elevation drops sole clinical-stage ADC over poor phase 1 data, lays off 70% of staffElevation Oncology has decided to ditch its sole clinical asset, a Claudin18.2 antibody-drug conjugate coded EO-3021, which it licensed from China’s CSPC Pharma for $27 million upfront in 2022. Elevation unveiled lackluster tumor response data from a small group of stomach patients last year but pressed on by focusing on a subgroup. Updated data only showed a 22% response rate among those biomarker-enriched patients.6. AstraZeneca offers early look at Datroway-Tagrisso combo in EGFR lung cancer as phase 3 trial rolls onAstraZeneca found that a combination of its Daiichi Sankyo-partnered Datroway and Tagrisso induced a 36% response rate in a small group of patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had progressed on first-line Tagrisso, according to results from the phase 2 Orchard trial. The two companies in October launched a phase 3 trial to test Datroway either alone or together with Tagrisso in post-Tagrisso NSCLC.Other News of Note:7. Dr. Reddy’s, Sun Pharma and Zydus issue US recalls, citing failed specs and labeling issues8. Chiesi bails on TiumBio’s respiratory drug deal (Korea Biomedical Review)9. Klick buys Ward6 Singapore’s operations to fuel Asian expansion10. Japan’s RegCell moves to US with $45.8M to advance Treg platform (release)