HIF-PHI inhibitor failed to show non-inferiority to ESAs in the primary cardiovascular safety endpoint of a Phase III program for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease.

Japan’s regulators have approved a large batch of new products, including a novel antibody from Chugai, two world-first nods for the country’s second HIF-PH inhibitors and an asthma therapy, and the first Humira biosimilar in Japan – as well as five drugs from Novartis.

Astellas’s oral HIF-PH inhibitor shows non-inferiority to one established ESA in head-to-head trial and while there were cardiovascular benefits, the picture is complex.

Public Company Edition: Moderna leveraged its all-time high stock price to raise $1.34bn on the same day it reported data from a Phase I trial of its COVID-19 vaccine. Several other companies also took advantage of biopharma’s rising value.