Policies, programs and strategies promoting diversity and inclusion are almost as ubiquitous in the pharmaceutical industry these days as environmental commitments. That reflects enormous cultural change over the last few generations, hastened in recent history by initiatives such as MeToo or Black Lives Matter.  

HemaQuest, a US biotech focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics for haemoglobin diseases, has expanded the Phase II programme for its lead compound, HQK-1001, in sickle cell disease with a new trial aimed at establishing safety and tolerability at higher dose levels and over a longer course of therapy.

Novartis' efforts to revive its COX-2 inhibitor lumiracoxib under a new brand name, and with the risk of hepatotoxicity that killed the drug in its original incarnation muted by a companion diagnostic, have stumbled in Europe after the company withdrew an application for centralised approval of what is now known as Joicela.

Crystallics, a new contract research organisation specialising in solid-state research and pre-formulation activities for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical industries, has been established in the Netherlands through a management buyout of the former Avantium Pharma business from its parent company, Avantium Holding.

Danish antibody specialist Genmab has reaffirmed the more active partnering strategy instituted last year by new chief executive officer Dr Jan van de Winkel, expanding its research collaboration with Seattle Genetics for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to add a new anticancer candidate to its preclinical pipeline.

Recordati managed to stave off much of the damage from generic erosion of its mainstay product Zanidip (lercanidipine) in 2010.