Latest news

• Biogen bounces back with Spinraza early treatment data

  Competition in SMA will further intensify with the anticipated future approval of Roche’s contender, risdiplam.

• Roche’s Polivy gets FDA okay for lymphoma chemo-immunotherapy

  This year should also see filings for anti-IL-6 antibody satralizumab for neuromyelitis optica and for risdiplam, a small-molecule gene splicing modifier for rare disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA),

• Novartis secures US approval - and payers’ blessing – for $2m gene therapy Zolgensma

  Novartis isn’t expected to wipe out Spinraza, however – and it will also see competition from PTC Therapeutics/Roche’s late-stage SMA candidate risdiplam.

• Spinraza managed access deal in England breaks deadlock for Biogen

  The breakthrough in England comes at a pivotal time in SMA treatment, as two competitors to Spinraza are waiting in the wings – Roche’s oral treatment risdiplam and Novartis’ gene therapy

• Novartis builds case for SMA gene therapy as FDA verdict looms

  Roche’s risdiplam, particularly as regulator are currently investigating an infection-related death in one patient in the STR1VE study. ... Chronic dosing will also be needed for risdiplam, an oral therapy which has data due for presentation at the AAN