TEL-AVIV, Israel and RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: RDHL) (Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange: RDHL) (“RedHill” or the “Company”), a specialty biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development and commercialization of clinical late-stage, proprietary drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, today announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (SIX: COPN) (“Cosmo”).
Let’s have a look at the recent new drug approvals. 2018 was quite a year, by the numbers. C&E News has a comprehensive roundup: 59 approvals (versus 46 in 2017, which was already a record by itself), and about two-thirds of those small molecules. There are some very interesting molecules in the list, and I always recommend that medicinal chemists sit down every so often and look over the structures of approved drugs as if you’re seeing them for the first time (say, as screening hits). You might be surprised at how many of them you find chemically somewhat unappealing – would you aim for an n-hexyl ether in your final structure (Mulpleta/lusutrombopag), the heterocyclic ring in the lower section of Xofluza (baloxivir marboxil), or think that 3,4-diaminopyridine (Firdapse) or Diacomet (stiripentol) could be drugs at all?
Bausch Health has yet to fully recover from its tainted past, and a new threat in the form of a rival to its top-seller Xifaxan could pile more pressure on the drugmaker.
FDA approves new drug to treat travelers’ diarrhea
Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (SIX: COPN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a PDUFA date of November 16, 2018 for its decision on the New Drug Application (NDA) for Aemcolo (Rifamycin SV MMX®) for the treatment of patients with travelers' diarrhea (TD). In October 2017, the FDA granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track designations for Aemcolo. Aries Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cosmo's U.S. subsidiary based in San Diego, California, a specialty pharmaceutical company commercializing best-in-class gastroenterology products, will lead the commercial sales and marketing for Aemcolo, developed by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, N.V., in the U.S.
Cosmo Pharmaceuticals submitted an NDA for Rifamycin to treat traveler's diarrhea. Rifamycin could potentially threaten VRX's Xifaxan which represents 13% of total revenue and 65% of Salix's revenue.
Valeant partner Cosmo turns wannabe IBS-D rival, and it could do some sales damage: analyst
Anvisa Suspends Two EMS Drugs