No. 3989 January 31, 2020 again a key theme at Davos, and many biopharma executives are joining the con- versation this year. These include Werner Baumann, CEO of Bayer, who spoke on a panel on 21 Janu- ary about ‘When Humankind Overrides Evolution,’ focusing on gene-editing tech- nologies for use in agriculture, food and medicine. Meanwhile Takeda CEO Chris- tophe Weber joins a discussion on shap- ing the future of health and healthcare systems on 22 January. Speaking on the gene-editing panel, Baumann said there was “less and less trust in society for the advances of tech- nology,” adding that “the only way to get beyond it is that we do a better job in terms of explaining what we are doing.” Bayer is working with CRISPR Thera- peutics on CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing in hemophilia, ophthalmology and autoim- Biopharma Leaders Join Trump mune diseases, but also has a major stake in genetically modified seeds via its Mon- And Thunberg In Davos santo division. He called for absolute transparency ANDREW MCCONAGHIE [email protected] from corporations and governments on gene-editing technology, but also decried fter focusing on the year ahead tive to plant 1 trillion trees, an effort aimed the previous “insane dominance” that anti- in biopharma business at the J.P. at soaking up rising levels of carbon diox- GM crop campaigners have been allowed AMorgan conference in San Fran- ide in the atmosphere. to wield. cisco last week, the sector’s attention has 17-year-old environmental campaigner Others taking part include Stéphane switched to the World Economic Forum in Greta Thunberg made her own address to Bancel, Moderna Therapeutics’ chief exec- Davos, Switzerland from 21-24 January. the meeting shortly afterwards, and berat- utive, and Julie Gerberding, EVP and chief The annual “big picture” summit brings ed world leaders for a lack of action, and patient officer for MSD, who will be on a together politicians, economists, academ- said planting trees was not enough. panel looking at breakthroughs in can- ics and business leaders, and this year She called on corporations, banks and cer care on 24 January, while Lars Rebien has been kicked off with a typically pro- governments to halt fossil fuel investment Sørensen, chairman of the Novo Nordisk vocative address by US President Don- and extraction. “Planting trees is good, Foundation, chaired a debate on one of ald Trump, who contradicted growing of course, but it’s nowhere near enough,” the biggest risks to future healthcare, anti- concern about climate change, decrying Thunberg said. “We don’t need to lower microbial resistance (AMR), on 21 January. what he called the “prophets of doom” on emissions….Emissions need to stop.” (Also see “Novo Executive Calls For ‘Real AMR global warming. Action’ In Davos “ - Scrip, 20 Jan, 2020.) Trump is withdrawing the US from the BIOPHARMA’S BIG THINKERS Novartis’s chief executive Vas Nara- Kyoto climate agreement, but neverthe- The future of healthcare, and the role of simhan will join a panel hosted by Fast less did pledge to join a new global initia- business and new technologies are once CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 FOR THE LATEST BUSINESS INSIGHT ON THE BIOPHARMA INDUSTRY VISIT: SCRIP.PHARMAINTELLIGENCE.INFORMA.COM UK Biotech Sector J&J’s Gorsky On Immunologicals Stockwatch Financing holds up despite Q4 results season gets underway Coronavirus and earnings Brexit and Woodford (p5) with J&J pushing immunology (p8) under scrutiny (p21) IN THIS ISSUE from the editor [email protected] Last week, Johnson & Johnson fulfilled its time-hon- depression, Spravato, which was approved in the US in ored duty of kicking off the annual financial results March then the EU in December. Hailed as an impor- reporting season, as we report on p8. The company has tant new product, its cost and complexity of adminis- managed to shore up its all-important immunology tration may be hampering its uptake. franchise against biosimilar erosion: while sales of its The US Institute for Clinical and Economic Review one-time mainstay blockbuster Remicade slipped 17% (ICER) questioned its long-term benefits and risks and in the third full year since the US launch of a biosimi- calculated that its $32,400 US list price offered “low lar, it succeeded in growing its overall immune drug value for money” and should be discounted by 25-52%. portfolio. Partly this was down to impressive growth It also warned that even with the called-for price reduc- outside the US, but even US sales grew, thanks to J&J’s tion, treating more than 20-30% of eligible patients success in launching and expanding the indications would have budgetary impacts that could displace for newer products in a highly competitive field. On- other needed services or push up insurance costs. Over cology, which is driving much of the biopharma in- in Europe, Spravato has just been knocked back for re- dustry, also served the group well. imbursement in England in draft guidance from NICE. But there was little detail on the launch performance For more on this, check out online coverage in Scrip and of the esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant sister publication Pink Sheet. 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ISSN 0143 7690. 2 | Scrip | January 31, 2020 © Informa UK Ltd 2020 Amgen’s JV Buy Out AZ’s Dobber On AZ And Lokelma Plans Clovis Prostate Cancer Race 20 6 10 16 exclusive online content inside: COVER / Biopharma Leaders Join Trump And Thunberg In Davos Market Snapshot: Migraine Prevention Therapies’ Slow Road To Blockbuster Status 4 Novo Executive Calls For ‘Real AMR Action’ In Davos MANDY JACKSON [email protected] 5 UK Biotech Financing Holds Up Despite Woodford and Brexit 6 Amgen To Buy Out Japan JV With Astellas 7 Piramal Profits As It Sheds DRG To Clarivate For $950m 8 J&J’s Gorsky Hails Strong Performance By Immunology Therapies Tremfya, Stelara 10 AstraZeneca’s Dobber On Ramping In Renal, Expanding In CV And Business Development 12 Roche Gears Up For Potential Neuroscience Breakthroughs The launches in 2018 of three closely watched calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors as preventive ther- 13 New CEO Brett Monia Takes The Lead As Ionis Prioritizes apies and the anticipated launches of three more products Non-Partnered Programs against the same target have brought new attention to mi- graine decades after the launch of triptans – the last big class of drugs to treat the disease’s debilitating headaches 16 Horizon Sees Blockbuster Future For Tepezza After and other symptoms. But while the migraine market is US Approval large, the first round of CGRP inhibitors have yet to achieve blockbuster status. 16 AZ’s Lynparza Gets Prostate Cancer Priority Review Amgen Inc./Novartis AG’s Aimovig (erenumab) targets the CGRP receptor while Eli Lilly & Co.’s Emgality (galcan- 17 Genentech’s SMA Type 1 Data Strengthen Case Backing ezumab) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s Ajovy Risdiplam Approval (fremanezumab) both target the CGRP ligand; all three are approved to prevent headaches in patients diagnosed 20 Health Sector On High Alert As Wuhan Coronavirus Spreads with chronic migraines (15 or more headaches per month) and episodic migraines (14 or less). The drug makers es- 21 Stockwatch: Earnings Season Catches An Early Cold timated that 6 million people in the US alone are eligible As Coronavirus Sweeps In for preventive treatment with one of these new biologics. Aimovig, Emgality and Ajovy have shown similar efficacy 22 Pipeline Watch in clinical trials, cutting the number of headache days that many migraine patients experienced by half or more. And since doctors have seen many people respond well to these 23 Appointments treatments in the real world, it would seem that growth is guaranteed given the need for new medicines in this space. Published online 23 January 2020 @PharmaScrip /scripintelligence To read the rest of this story go to: https://bit.ly/3aN0UcT /scripintelligence /scripintelligence scrip.pharmaintelligence.informa.com January 31, 2020 | Scrip | 3 HEADLINE NEWS/DAVOS MEETING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Company to explore the role of CEO as Novo Executive Calls For “disruptor in chief,” something he has been pursuing with the “Unbossed” cul- tural shift in the company. ‘Real AMR Action’ In Davos The conference is not simply focused STEN STOVALL [email protected] on political and corporate leaders making well-intentioned statements on trade and ime is fast slipping away for finding workable solutions to address antimicrobial global co-operation, however. resistance, and the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting this week offers a rare Two years ago President Trump met T opportunity to spur action, says Lars Rebien Sørensen, chairman of the Novo Nor- Bayer’s Baumann and Novartis’s Narasim- disk Foundation.