Researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan, in a collaboration with American scientists, may have identified neural crosstalk as the mechanism that drives widespread inflammation in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis and atherosclerosis.

FDA, stop sign

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Complete Response Letter to UCB regarding the Belgium-based company’s Biologics License Application for bimekizumab for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Although 2020 was a tough year for the biopharma industry — and most other industries as well — it appeared to rebound significantly in mid-2021. However, biotech stocks are generally getting hammered during 2022, although to be fair, the entire stock market is down.

Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries believes the company would have to pay around $2.6 billion in cash and medicine to settle thousands of lawsuits alleging the world’s largest generic firm and other drug manufacturers fueled the U.S. opioid epidemic.

AbbVie got off to a strong start for 2022, driven by success from Skyrizi and Rinvoq, as well as the company’s neuroscience platform that includes the company’s depression treatments and its three-pronged approach to migraine.

Pfizer Inc.’s experimental treatment for an inflammatory bowel disease, acquired during 2021 as part of the company’s $6.7 billion Arena Pharmaceuticals deal, succeeded in a second late-stage study.

Pfizer announced positive top-line results from the company’s year-long Phase III trial of etrasimod for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Pfizer plans to pursue regulatory filings for the drug during 2022.

New global data analysis from Phesi shows the extent of the impact from the war in Ukraine on clinical development.

Biogen

A decision made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit delivered a blow to Biogen Inc., denying a second look into the patent dispute filed against Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved AbbVie’s Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more tumor necrosis factor blockers.