Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and invigorating, because that oh-so predictable routine of online meetings, phone calls, and deadlines has returned. But you knew this would happen, yes? The world, such as it is, continues to spin. So to cope, we are brewing a cup of stimulation in the Pharmalot cafeteria. Our choice today is strawberry creme. Please feel free to join us. And of course, here is the latest menu of tidbits for your to peruse as you prepare for whatever lies ahead. We hope your journey is meaningful and productive. And please do keep in touch. …
European Union antitrust regulators will decide by Dec. 6 whether to clear Novo Holdings’ acquisition of contract drug manufacturer Catalent, Reuters writes, citing a filing on the European Commission website on Monday. The controlling shareholder in Novo Nordisk put in a request for EU approval for the deal on Oct. 31. The EU antitrust regulators can either clear the deal with or without remedies, or it can open a full-scale four-month long investigation if it has serious concerns. The acquisition, announced in February, underscores Novo Nordisk’s push to boost output of its popular obesity drug Wegovy. Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk, and Catalent have all recently reiterated their expectations that the transaction will close toward the end of this year.
The U.K. pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has become the largest multinational drugmaker in China, drawing 13% of its $5.8 billion in revenue last year from there, against a backdrop of an acute economic slowdown in the country and a major anti-corruption campaign aimed at the health care industry. But now, the question is whether AstraZeneca became overly aggressive in its ambitions, STAT asks. Last week, the company disclosed that Leon Wang, its executive vice president for international operations and the president of its subsidiary in China, was under investigation by authorities. Under his watch, the company has assembled a largely Chinese leadership lineup. His unusually bullish view on China has also stirred up controversy in recent years.
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