Andy Black

If you have experience of working with pharma as a patient or public contributor to shape research, please consider participating in Fatima's PhD research which is exploring the value of patient engagement from different stakeholder perspectives. Find out more below ⬇ It's great to see patient engagement featuring more and more as a PhD research topic 🙌🏽 By understanding more about what works well and what doesn't, we can improve patient engagement practices to ensure that those involved are supported and their valuable inputs translate to meaningful impact.

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🚀 AstraZeneca Secures MHRA Approval for Truqap to Treat Advanced Breast Cancer We are excited to share that AstraZeneca has received the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approval for Truqap (capivasertib), marking a significant advancement in the treatment of advanced hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. 🔹 About Truqap: Truqap is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-competitive inhibitor targeting all three AKT isoforms (AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3). Indicated for patients with advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with abnormal PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN genes. To be administered orally with fulvestrant at a dose of 400mg twice a day for four days, followed by a three-day rest period. The approval under the International Recognition Procedure (IRP) is a testament to the robust clinical evidence supporting Truqap's efficacy. The pivotal trial, involving 708 patients, demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival: 7.3 months with capivasertib vs. 3.1 months with placebo. 🔬 Clinical Trial Insights: Participants: 708 patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, including 289 with abnormal PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN genes. Results: Patients on capivasertib experienced significantly longer periods without cancer progression. Side Effects: High blood sugar, diarrhea, rash, urinary tract infections, reduced hemoglobin levels, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, itching, and tiredness. This milestone follows the FDA's approval of Truqap in combination with fulvestrant for the same indication in November last year. 🔗 AstraZeneca’s Commitment: Our dedication to enhancing cancer treatment options continues, and we look forward to the positive impact Truqap will have on patients in the UK and beyond. #AstraZeneca #BreastCancer #Truqap #MHRAApproval #Oncology #HealthcareInnovation #Pharma

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Thoughts on this? >> EyeDNA Therapeutics Announces Positive 24-month Data Presented at ARVO from Ongoing Phase I/II Trial of HORA ... - Yahoo Finance UK >> Comment below! >>> lqventures.com #strategy #competitiveintelligence #marketing #pharma #competitivemarketing #pharmaceutical #healthcare #biotech

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In the UK, life sciences represent the top-spending private R&D sector, driving medical progress and bringing new treatments to patients that can transform their quality of life.   Creating a seamless life sciences ecosystem is key to rapid approvals and adoption of new medicines and use by the NHS.   Let's make the UK a hub for innovation: https://lnkd.in/eXcG2RrF   #ABPImanifesto

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Thoughts on this? >> British girl's hearing restored in pioneering gene therapy trial - Sky News >> Comment below! >>> lqventures.com #strategy #competitiveintelligence #marketing #pharmaceutical #biotech #healthcare #pharma #competitivemarketing

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In my conversations with business and department leaders in the Clinical Biometrics space, it seems that many sponsors are moving more towards FSP-style relationships with their CRO and consultancy partners. From a commercial perspective, I can see the benefits to both entities in such a business arrangement. However, is there is a variance in the preference of candidates wanted to work under such an arrangement? I'll be chatting to candidates this week in order to find out! #biostatistics #statisticalprogramming #clinicaldatamanagement

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Interesting to see the various hybrid working models deployed in the healthcare and life science industry and how this will continue to evolve with the help of technology. GSK is certainly one of many life science companies leading the way toward more efficient and collaborative work spaces, but proving once again that office isn't going away, the demand and utilization is of this asset class is just changing to be more efficient and amenitized.

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Thoughtful commentary from my former Lumanity (Cello BioConsulting, Defined Health) colleague Joel Sandler, Ph.D. It will be very interesting to see how all this plays out in terms of therapeutic index, ease of use, manufacturing, and value (clinical benefit versus price) between CAR-T, cell engagers, cancer vaccines, next gen IO antibodies and maybe oncolytic viruses. #immunooncology #immunotherapy #cancer #oncology

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The latest article in the PharmacoEconomics collection on key learnings from the NICE STA process has just been published. The authors argue for greater clarity around agreed approaches for obtaining expert clinical judgement for HTA submissions, especially within the context of highly specialised technologies where data are scarce. https://rdcu.be/dKyJk

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💡 Want to understand the UK landscape and influence future #funding, #policy and #infrastructure in intracellular drug delivery? 💉 Calling on my UK network to participate in this online workshop on 14th May 2024 (10am-12pm) if you have an interest in advancing innovation in intracellular drug delivery. Our Intracellular Drug Delivery Centre is making great progress, but we want to find out what we need to do next to support the sector and have teamed up with Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect to help find out! ❓ Who should attend? Representatives from industry, academia and supporting organisations working in this space. You might be a drug developer with specific delivery needs that current approaches can’t meet, or working to develop new technologies that provide advantages over current technologies. We aim to understand the breadth of innovative technologies being developed in the UK and identify those which have potential to address current clinical and commercial challenges. ❓ Why attend? ✔ Ensure that the barriers and challenges that you as an individual or organisation are facing are considered in future funding and policy decisions. ✔ Enhance your understanding of current intracellular drug delivery landscape, unmet needs and opportunities. ✔ Hear from others working in the space. ✔ Find out about public infrastructure that can support your technology or drug development. Sign up here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQUvp5-A Yvonne Perrie MBE Sarah Brockbank Robin Shattock Neill Liptrott CPI Medicines Discovery Catapult Brendan Fish Dave Tudor Julie Anderson Emily Port Owen Burbidge Hareklea Markides Rachel Harris Sarah Goulding Mark Talford #Pharmaceutical #IntracellularDrugDelivery #NewTechnologies #DrugDelivery #LNP #mRNA #oligos #TMMCOP #oligonucleotides #LetsInnovateTogether #Innovation

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Our recent industry meeting inspired me to share my experience with the clinical trials budget and contract process. As always I try to provide some recommendations on how we can improve the process. At the end of the day our patients will be the winners if we can set up clinical trials much quicker. It is always good to have that in mind! #clinicaltrials #budget #contract #UK

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More exciting news on GLP-1 agonists: At a time when you think the excitement could not be any higher, we hear even more promising news about clinical use of GLP-1 agonists.  “The Times” published an article this morning (May 14) with these key messages: 1. Millions of middle-aged Britons should be routinely prescribed weight-loss injections to cut their risk of heart attacks and strokes by a fifth, according to a trial set to revolutionise medical practice. 2. The largest study ever into semaglutide, also known as Ozempic or Wegovy, found the drug cuts heart disease deaths by about 20 per cent even if people don’t lose weight. 3. The results — presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice — were hailed as the biggest medical breakthrough since the introduction of statins in the 1990s. A link to the publication in Nature Medicine and a link to the clinical study named SELECT (Semaglutide Effects on Heart Disease and Stroke in Patients With Overweight or Obesity) is attached below. Key findings are as follows: 1. The trial involved 17,604 adults over the age of 45 who had heart disease — a condition that affects 7.6 million in the UK — or had had a heart attack or stroke. All were overweight or obese, but none had diabetes. Half were given weekly semaglutide injections and the rest a placebo.  2. Over a trial period of three years and four months, the group who took semaglutide had a 20 per cent lower risk of heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease and also lost nine per cent of their body weight on average. 3. The drug delivered heart benefits regardless of how much weight people lost. Times articles: https://lnkd.in/gwHVj3P6 https://lnkd.in/gSk-HQTV Clinical results: https://lnkd.in/gvAmaBY8 https://lnkd.in/gAJEWPZF News: https://lnkd.in/gyDZ8wGN https://lnkd.in/gF_UK9W8 https://lnkd.in/gximb9S6 https://lnkd.in/gfqvZFd9 https://lnkd.in/g-pDYRJp

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"Cell and Gene Therapies are revolutionising the field of life sciences, providing new and exciting treatment possibilities for patients, particularly with rare and previously untreatable diseases". However, with an increasing number of IP licensing deals being negotiated in this growing field, there are some issues to consider. In the latest edition of Wolters Kluwer's The Licensing Journal, Claire Smith, Ellen Lambrix and Louisa Jacobs provided valuable insight into some of the key considerations when drafting, and negotiating, these agreements. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eF4-d6MA #Cell #Gene #LicenceAgreements

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Such an important topic to talk about in this day and age. We know misinformation is rife not just in our industry but across the spectrum of society. I truly believe industries such as ours, who are so regulated and held to such high standards, are looked to for accurate and authentic information. Through collaboration and proactive communications, we can really help stem the tide of misinformation. It was great talking with Jill from the The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) about this topic. #WhereAbilityMeetsAgility #misinformation #communications

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If you're a US-based biotech setting up clinical trials in the EU, this is a great post to read through! The experts at Boyds highlight some important changes in regulations that everyone should be aware of. For any questions about these regulations please feel free to reach out to me and I can coordinate a meeting with the team at Boyds! #clinicaltrails #clinicalstudies #biotech

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NHS Physicians are BATTERED and BRUISED. They survived 80-100 HOUR WEEKS during Covid. And now, more and more are moving to Biotech. Most of the Physicians I’ve spoken to post-Covid are traumatised. They had no support and not enough critical life-saving equipment. Imagine having to decide which patient is more worthy of a ventilator… Even the best medical training couldn’t prepare you for that. Now, more and more NHS Physicians are joining the Biotech industry. I met one medic who had outstanding grades, hospital, and surgical training. He worked tirelessly during the pandemic. But at the end, he realised something. Despite all that the NHS did, the actual solution came from an RNA vaccine developed by the Pharmaceutical industry. That’s when he considered making a change. He wanted to continue saving lives without sacrificing his own. When Physicians join the industry, they get a more holistic career. They have more control They do fewer repetitive tasks  And they can spend more time with their families. They're invaluable in defining, designing, and developing new medicines. Harness this talent, give them the work-life balance they deserve, and your team will be stronger for it.

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Discover how the pharma R&D climate is changing, which parts of the industry are likely to be basking in sunshine, and which may be preparing for unsettled conditions. Our experts Ian Lloyd and Alexandra Shimmings take the industry’s temperature in our live webinar (May 21st). Reserve your place today: https://ow.ly/hvsA50RFZON. #PharmaIndustry #BiotechTrends #MedicalResearch #HealthcareWebinar #PharmaEvent

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