STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an Amgen drug for lung cancer, a Novo plant fire, and more
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still shaping up, but we expect to promenade with the official mascots, take in a moving picture, and hold another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? Once again, we will maintain this is a fine time to enjoy the great outdoors. You could also plan a summer getaway or take a moment to tidy up around your castle. Or simply plan the rest of your life. Whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an innovative new treatment from Amgen for patients with a form of lung cancer, The New York Times notes. Known as Imdelttra, the medication is to be used only by patients who have exhausted all other options to treat small cell lung cancer, and have a life expectancy of four to five months. The drug tripled life expectancy, giving patients a median survival of 14 months, and 40% of those who received treatment responded. The drug, though, has a side effect that can be serious — cytokine release syndrome. It’s an overreaction of the immune system. Each year, about 35,000 Americans are diagnosed with small cell lung cancer.
Novo Nordisk is “optimistic” that a fire at a construction site in Kalundborg, Denmark, a key manufacturing hub, will not delay its plans to boost production capacity of its popular weight loss drug Wegovy and Ozempic for diabetes, Reuters reports. A fire broke out on Thursday on the roof of a building under construction in Kalundborg, where Novo is investing around $6 billion to boost capacity and meet soaring demand for Wegovy and Ozempic. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the area in videos and pictures published by Danish media. Police said the fire, which broke out near a ventilation shaft, was extinguished.
