Johnson & Johnson has announced that it is acquiring privately-held, clinical-stage biopharma Novira Therapeutics, but has kept financial details of the deal firmly under wraps.
The move gives the healthcare giant access to Novira’s portfolio of novel antivirals for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which affects 350 million – 400 million people worldwide, including lead candidate NVR 3-778.
NVR 3-778 is a small molecule, direct acting antiviral, that inhibits the HBV core, a new and promising drug target involved in multiple activities required for viral replication and persistence.
The orally-administered drug “offers the potential for efficient suppression of virus production and replication, which could help address the remaining unmet medical needs,” says J&J.
The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2015.
Source: Pharma Times
Big Pharma has long seen the potential for AI and machine learning to accelerate drug development. But Novo Nordisk is going a step further by channeling $200 million toward the creation of a computer that will outrun anything in existence.
Current methods for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease rely on a complex combination of self- and caregiver-reported symptoms, a physical examination and either a PET scan or a spinal tap to look for evidence of amyloid plaque build-ups in the brain. But a new artificial intelligence-based method may make the diagnostic process a much more objective one.
There is lots of talk about diversity and inclusion in business, including in pharma and medtech. A new report by the Open Political Economy Network (OPEN), a think tank focusing on migration and diversity, released its “Minority Businesses Matter: Europe” report highlighting the successes and challenges of ethnic minority-owned businesses in Europe.
