People who die of severe COVID-19 have brain abnormalities that resemble changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease – accumulation of a protein called tau inside brain cells, and abnormal amounts of the protein beta-amyloid that accumulates into amyloid plaques – small studies found. In other news, seniors can safely get the high-dose flu vaccine and an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose at the same time, a new study confirms.

Sanofi

After 50 years, Sanofi is giving itself a bit of a branding make-over with a new logo and a restructuring of the France-based company’s corporate umbrella in support of its three-year-old “Play to Win” strategy.

Sanofi still expects the French drugmaker’s COVID-19 vaccine to complete a phase 3 trial in first-quarter 2022 and reported a rise in fourth-quarter 2021 sales and earnings on Feb. 4.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi’s anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent (dupilumab) has shown to be effective against five types of type 2 inflammations, with more indications expected to surface soon. 

Novo Nordisk on Feb. 2 rejected allegations by a U.S. congressional investigative committee that the company has engaged in maneuvers to increase net prices on life-saving insulin in tandem with its competitors on the U.S. insulin market.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and the company’s partner Sanofi voluntarily withdrew their application with the U.S. drug regulator for the expanded use of the anti-cancer drug Libtayo in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Sanofi

South Korean biotechnology firm ABL Biotechnologies signed a global licensing and exclusive collaboration agreement with Sanofi to develop and commercialize a new therapy candidate for Parkinson’s disease. 

French drugmaker Sanofi SA is partnering with British AI firm Exscientia Plc to develop up to 15 drug candidates across oncology and immunology, in a deal worth up to $5.2 billion in milestone payments, the two companies said on January 7.

Brisbane, California-based Sangamo Therapeutics announced that Sanofi US was returning rights to SAR445136 as the Paris-based company shifts its approach from personalized cell therapies to allogeneic off-the-shelf genomic approaches.

Paris-based Sanofi is buying South San Francisco’s Amunix Pharmaceuticals in a deal topping $1.225 billion.