Latest news with #Sandoz
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Former Sandoz Inc. CEO Don DeGolyer Leads PharmaTech Startup Ategenos as Company Prepares Public Launch
Veteran pharma operator co-founded Ategenos to tackle the global $1 trillion crisis of medication non-adherence CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ategenos, a pharmatech company, today announced that Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Don DeGolyer is leading the company as it prepares to exit stealth and unveil its platform addressing one of healthcare's most costly and persistent challenges: medication non-adherence. Ategenos has been quietly developing a novel platform that integrates pharmaceutical science with real-time digital health technologies to address adherence in critical dose management. The company will share details on its SmartPatch platform and initial partnerships in the coming weeks. 'Medication doesn't work if it's not taken. Yet non-adherence remains one of the biggest drivers of avoidable healthcare costs worldwide,' said DeGolyer. 'From the start, we set out to build a platform that combines drug delivery, actionable real-world data, and caregiver intervention. We provide caregivers the peace of mind that their loved ones have taken their critical dose medicines and are not at risk of a catastrophic health event.' Medication non-adherence contributes to an estimated 125,000 preventable deaths and more than $500 billion in avoidable healthcare costs annually in the U.S., with global costs exceeding $1 trillion each year. DeGolyer brings over 40 years of leadership across the pharmaceutical industry. As President & CEO of Sandoz Inc., he grew revenues by $2 billion in four years, building one of the largest generics businesses in North America. As COO of Endo Pharmaceuticals, he helped scale the company from $2 billion to $18 billion in market cap within two years. He also founded and led Vertice Pharmaceuticals, doubling revenue during his tenure and building a platform that later contributed to a $700 million strategic sale. Don has held senior roles at Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis, advisory positions with Koch Investment Group and Formation Bio, and serves on the board of Emergent BioSolutions. DeGolyer has built a founding team combining pharma leadership, MIT-rooted technology innovation, and venture capital expertise. With experience spanning drug delivery, IoT, real-world data, and company building, Ategenos is uniquely positioned to operate at the intersection of pharmaceuticals and technology. About Ategenos Ategenos is a Massachusetts-based PharmaTech company improving quality of life for patients and their families with its SmartPatch platform—an advanced transdermal system that combines sustained drug delivery with real-time monitoring and caregiver interventions. The technology reduces health risks, hospitalizations, and the $1T+ global costs caused by missed doses of critical medications. The company's founders uniquely combine global pharma leadership, MIT-driven technology, and a proven track record of building and scaling healthcare platforms. For Media Inquiries: [email protected] For Strategic Partnerships: [email protected] For Investment Opportunities: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Ategenos Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Daily News Egypt
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily News Egypt
Sandoz Egypt introduces OMNITROPE 15mg biosimilar growth hormone for the treatment of short stature
Sandoz the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, announced the introduction of its 15mg/1.5ml concentration of the OMNITROPE biosimilar growth hormone for the treatment of short stature to the Egyptian market, as part of its ongoing efforts to support Egypt's Vision 2030. Local healthcare authorities remain committed to addressing various health challenges to enhance public health for current and future generations, and help build a healthier, more productive workforce. Research conducted at the Suez Canal University endocrinology outpatient clinic in Ismailia City, Egypt and released in 2024, underscored the importance of short stature treatment, with findings indicating that treatment with growth hormone significantly improved physical, social, psychological, and environmental quality of life¹. 'In children and adolescents, growth hormone is used to treat growth disturbance due to insufficient secretion of growth hormone, associated with Turner syndrome, with chronic renal insufficiency, in short children/adolescents born small for gestational age, or associated with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The biosynthetic/synthetic hormone is indicated for the treatment of children with growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone (GH)² ³,' Dr. Mona Salem, Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at Ain Shams University and President of the Egyptian Society of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, said. 'Short stature is diagnosed in children or adolescents who are well below the average height for their age and gender, which may be due to genetic factors or underlying health conditions⁴ ⁵. Studies show that short stature prevalence varies geographically, with a genetic predisposition, as well as nutritional and environmental factors, playing an important role⁶,' Dr Salem added. A cross-sectional study conducted between January 2018 and January 2020 involving 33,150 Egyptian children aged 6 to 11 showed that 17% of the sample had short stature, with 40.8% attributed to familial factors and 24.2% to constitutional causes⁷. 'As noted, short stature affects children and adolescents, not only physically but also psychologically' Dr. Rasha Tarif, Head of the Paediatric Endocrinology Unit at Ain Shams University and Chair of European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) Education and Training Committee, said. 'Growth hormone plays a critical role in effective treatment plans, but ensuring its availability has been a challenge in recent years. This challenge is being addressed through ongoing efforts to secure sufficient quantities to ensure uninterrupted treatment until puberty is complete. Treatment continuity, along with proper follow-up with a specialized physician, is essential for achieving optimal results,' Dr. Tarif added. This new concentration is being made available, expanding treatment options in line with the latest global scientific standards. This will allow for a better patient response in the treatment journey by minimizing interruptions. Securing the reliable availability of this human growth hormone reinforces medical efforts to provide comprehensive care for children and reflects the Egyptian medical community's commitment to delivering advanced treatment solutions for patients in need. 'The Egyptian government, within the context of the Egypt Vision 2030, has shown strong commitment to reducing the prevalence of short stature among children, aiming to improve public health for current and future generations, and help build a healthier, more productive workforce, in line with the national vision for sustainable development,' Sameh Elbagoury, Sandoz Egypt Country Head, said. 'Our top priority at Sandoz is to develop affordable biosimilars for high-quality biologics and ensure that as many patients as possible have access to them. Introducing the 15 mg concentration of our well-established Omnitrope growth hormone allows us to help local authorities meet the increase in demand for growth hormones, reflecting the positive impact and notable success achieved by the Presidential Initiative for the Early Detection of Anaemia, Obesity and Short Stature,' Elbagoury added.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Key Drugs Maintain Momentum for Novartis in Q2 Earnings?
Novartis AG NVS, a Swiss pharma giant, is scheduled to report second-quarter 2025 results on July 17. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $14.04 billion, while the same for earnings is pinned at $2.38 per share. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.) NVS' Earnings Surprise History Novartis has an excellent track record. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 7.12%. In the previously reported quarter, earnings beat estimates by 7.55%. Novartis AG Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Novartis AG price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Novartis AG Quote What Our Model Predicts for NVS Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Novartis this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you will see below. Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP for NVS is -0.28% as the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.38 per share, while the Most Accurate Estimate is pinned at $2.37. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. Factors Driving Growth for NVS in Q2 Novartis operates as a single global operating segment after the successful spin-off of the Sandoz business in October 2023. NVS now concentrates on four core therapeutic areas — cardiovascular-renal-metabolic, immunology, neuroscience and oncology. NVS' second-quarter sales are likely to have been boosted by strong growth in Entresto, Kisqali, Kesimpta, Leqvio and Scemblix. Cardiovascular drug Entresto sales witnessed a solid year-over-year surge in the first quarter of 2025, driven by robust demand-led growth. Increased penetration in China and Japan for hypertension indication also boosted demand. The momentum is likely to have continued in the second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Entresto's second-quarter sales are pegged at $2.3 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. The stellar performance of the breast cancer drug Kisqali has likely fueled the top line in the second quarter as well. Strong momentum from the recently launched early breast cancer (eBC) indication in the United States has likely propelled sales further. Overall demand for the drug is being driven by increasing recognition of its overall survival benefit in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC) as well as Category 1 NCCN Guidelines recommendation in both mBC and eBC. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Kisqali's second-quarter sales are pegged at $1 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. Increased demand has likely fueled multiple sclerosis drug Kesimpta's sales in the to-be-reported quarter. Both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Kesimpta's second-quarter sales are pegged at $1 billion. Cosentyx's sales have also likely surged in the United States, emerging growth markets and Europe, driven by recent launches as well as volume growth in core indications. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Cosentyx's second-quarter sales are pegged at $1.73 billion and $1.77 billion, respectively. Strong growth in cholesterol-lowering drug Leqvio, too, has likely fueled sales in the second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Leqvio's second-quarter sales are pegged at $284 million and $282 million, respectively. Pluvicto continues to maintain momentum with continued stable performance in the country and Europe in the metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer post-taxane setting. The FDA approved the drug for use before chemotherapy. This approval approximately triples the eligible patient population. Consequently, Novartis is now focusing on driving demand in established RLT sites while activating new sites and supporting referring providers to enable patient access. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Pluvicto's second-quarter sales are pegged at $410 million and $411 million, respectively. Demand for Scemblix for the indication of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) continued to grow in the previous quarter, driven by high unmet need in CML along with strong momentum from the recently launched early-line indication in the United States. The trend likely continued into the second quarter as well. Other growth drivers, such as Zolgensma, Lutathera, Jakavi and Tafinlar + Mekinist, have likely witnessed an increase in demand. However, generic competition for Tasigna and Lucentis might have affected sales, as in the previous quarters. Key Recent Events In June 2025, Novartis acquired clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Regulus Therapeutics Inc. for an upfront payment of $0.8 billion. It may receive an additional $0.9 billion upon attaining a future regulatory milestone. The acquisition added lead asset farabursen to NVS' pipeline. Farabursen is a novel, next-generation oligonucleotide targeting miR-17, which is being evaluated for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. NVS' Price Performance Shares of Novartis have rallied 27.3% year to date compared with the industry's 1.8% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Stocks to Consider Here are some drug/biotech stocks that have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around: Bayer BAYRY has an Earnings ESP of +6.38% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. BAYRY beat on earnings in one of the trailing four quarters, met in two and missed in the remaining one, the average negative surprise being 13.91%. Bayer will report second-quarter results on Aug. 6, 2025. Exelixis EXEL has an Earnings ESP of +4.27% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. Exelixis beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 48.6%. EXEL will report second-quarter results on July 28, 2025. Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD has an Earnings ESP of +2.13% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. GILD beat on earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining one, delivering an average surprise of 16.48%. Shares of GILD have gained 23.1% year to date. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (BAYRY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cheaper generic Ozempic is coming to Canada after Novo Nordisk fails to pay patent fee
In what Science magazine has dubbed 'Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake,' Ozempic is soon to come off patent in Canada, opening the door to cheaper generic copycats, after the drug giant reportedly failed to pay a few hundred dollars in annual fees to maintain the patent rights before the weight-loss drug became a blockbuster seller. As Science reported, a patent, once lapsed, can't be restored. Novo Nordisk will continue to hold its U.S. patent until 2032. Ozempic was already the third most prescribed drug in Canada last year with 7,390,000 prescriptions dispensed, a 17 per cent increase over 2023, according to drug analytics research firm IQVIA. Several applications for generic semaglutide, the active compound in Novo Nordisk's injectable drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, are now before Health Canada. Last week, a U.S. telehealth service announced plans to expand into Canada next year and offer generic semaglutide at a significant discount. Richard Saynor, the head of Sandoz, a global leader in generic and biosimilar drugs, told Endpoint News in June that his company has filed for approval for a generic semaglutide in Canada once Novo Nordisk's patent exclusivity expires 'sometime in Q1 next year.' Canada is the globe's second-biggest semaglutide market, Saynor told Endpoint News. 'You gotta ask why. I don't think Canadians are disproportionately large. There's clearly a dynamic, like insulin, with cross-border business,' he said. Americans with diabetes have crossed into Canada to buy insulin at much lower prices. Ozempic and Wegovy cost about $5,000 per year. If money is no longer a factor, if chemically-identical drugs are cheaper and more affordable, 'that's going to change the calculus for many people,' said Justin Lehmiller, a senior research fellow at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute and co-author of a new survey exploring the impact that weight-loss drugs — formally known as GLP-1 agonists — are having on dating and intimacy. The survey of 2,000 single Americans (aged 18 to 91) led by Kinsey with found eight per cent reported having used a GLP-1 medication for weight loss in the past year. Among the GLP-1 users, 16 per cent said exes had reached out to reconnect, 14 per cent said they were getting more matches on dating apps and 12 per cent said they were going on more dates. The drugs seemed to be doing more to booster 'online dating success' for men than for women, the researchers said. 'Some of the studies and research that I've seen suggest that men only match one in 100 times on dating apps where for women, it's more like one in 10,' Lehmiller said. 'An attractiveness boost for men, which often accompanies using these drugs, could translate into a much bigger impact for them in the world of dating.' Men, however, were nearly twice as likely to women to say they feared being judged or shamed for taking Ozempic or other GLP-1 drugs. 'There are some masculinity concerns that are tied up in this,' said Lehmiller, a social psychologist. Men might worry about being accused of cheating, he said. 'It might be viewed as a sign of weakness for turning to a drug as opposed to losing weight through 'hard work.'' About half of the GLP-1 users also said the medications impact their sex lives, in both positive and negative ways: 18 per cent said their sexual desire increased, while 16 per cent said it dropped. Sixteen per cent said their sexual function improved; 12 per cent said it worsened. It's a nuanced picture, Lehmiller said. 'These drugs seem to be affecting different people in different ways.' 'And I think that makes sense: There is a lot of variability in the side effects people experience on these drugs.' More side effects might mean more negative impact on intimacy, he said. The drugs have also been associated with a slightly higher risk of erectile dysfunction and testosterone deficiency in men taking semaglutide for obesity compared to men not taking the drug. About one in five in the dating survey said the drugs are creating more stigma against being overweight. 'Changing standards of attractiveness might be creating more pressure for people to look a certain way or use these medications,' Lehmiller said. A study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found 32.7 per cent of adults in Canada (10.6 million people) were obese in 2023, an eight per cent jump over 2009. Generic semaglutide won't be as cheap as Aspirin. 'It's still going to be a cost,' said Dr. Hertzel Gerstein, an endocrinologist and professor in McMaster University's department of medicine. 'And that does not relieve a responsible health practitioner of assessing a patient before they prescribe the medication,' he said. 'Is it possible that more people would be willing to pay out of pocket if they don't have insurance coverage for the drug? Sure, if it's cheaper,' Gerstein said. 'There may be more demand for it. People need to understand the risks and benefits.' Taken once a week by injection, Ozempic and Wegovy work by mimicking a hormone — glucagon-like peptide-1 — the small intestine releases when people eat. GLP-1 tricks the body into thinking it's full. It works on the brain to reduce appetite and interest in continuing to eat, and works on the stomach to slow how fast it empties so that food lingers in the stomach longer. Semaglutide has been studied extensively, Gerstein said. The amount of weight lost is related to the dosage: the higher the dose, the more weight dropped. In people with type 2 diabetes, the drug can reduce the need for insulin, or the dosage. 'But most importantly these drugs unequivocally reduce the future risk of serious health outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, death from cardiovascular causes' and heart failure symptoms when used long-term, 'in the two- to five-year window of time,' Gerstein said. A major analysis published earlier this year based on health data from more than two million Americans veterans with diabetes found that, compared to more traditional drugs, GLP-1 use was associated with a reduced risk of substance use (alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and opioids), psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, seizures, several respiratory conditions and neurocognitive diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. The magnitude of the associated benefits — about a 10 to 20 per cent reduction for most outcomes — was modest, according to a background release, though the researchers said they don't 'negate' the potential value of the drugs. There were, however, several drawbacks, including an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), low blood pressure, fainting, arthritic disorders, kidney disorders and drug-induced pancreatitis associated with GLP-1 drugs compared to usual care. Nothing is guaranteed, Gerstein said. 'I always tell patients we don't know exactly what it'll do in you. And weight loss, if it's going to happen, usually takes a month or two to start' and plateaus at around eight months. People don't lose weight indefinitely. 'There's definitely a plateau. You do not keep losing weight,' he said. The drugs yield an average weight loss of around 15 per cent, and weight can also rebound rapidly once the drugs are stopped. Ozempic has been approved in Canada for diabetes but is often used 'off label' for obesity. Wegovy has been approved for obesity. In an email to National Post, Novo Nordisk, the only current company in Canada with Health Canada-approved products containing semaglutide, said 'all intellectual property decisions are carefully considered at a global level. 'Periods of exclusivity for pharmaceutical products end as part of their normal lifecycle and generic treatments may become available over time,' the company said. 'Currently, no Health Canada-approved generic versions of semaglutide exist and we cannot speculate on other manufacturers' plans,' it added. National Post Ozempic for kids? Doctors are being encouraged to offer weight-loss drugs to Canadian teens 'It's not going away': How weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are changing the food industry Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
National Post
16-07-2025
- Health
- National Post
Cheaper generic Ozempic is coming to Canada after Novo Nordisk fails to maintain patent in this country
In what Science magazine has dubbed 'Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake,' Ozempic is soon to come off patent in Canada, opening the door to cheaper generic copycats, after the drug giant reportedly failed to pay a few hundred dollars in annual fees to maintain the patent rights before the weight-loss drug became a blockbuster seller. Article content As Science reported, a patent, once lapsed, can't be restored. Novo Nordisk will continue to hold its U.S. patent until 2032. Article content Article content Ozempic was already the third most prescribed drug in Canada last year with 7,390,000 prescriptions dispensed, a 17 per cent increase over 2023, according to drug analytics research firm IQVIA. Article content Article content Several applications for generic semaglutide, the active compound in Novo Nordisk's injectable drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, are now before Health Canada. Last week, a U.S. telehealth service announced plans to expand into Canada next year and offer generic semaglutide at a significant discount. Article content Richard Saynor, the head of Sandoz, a global leader in generic and biosimilar drugs, told Endpoint News in June that his company has filed for approval for a generic semaglutide in Canada once Novo Nordisk's patent exclusivity expires 'sometime in Q1 next year.' Canada is the globe's second-biggest semaglutide market, Saynor told Endpoint News. 'You gotta ask why. I don't think Canadians are disproportionately large. There's clearly a dynamic, like insulin, with cross-border business,' he said. Americans with diabetes have crossed into Canada to buy insulin at much lower prices. Article content Ozempic and Wegovy cost about $5,000 per year. If money is no longer a factor, if chemically-identical drugs are cheaper and more affordable, 'that's going to change the calculus for many people,' said Justin Lehmiller, a senior research fellow at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute and co-author of a new survey exploring the impact that weight-loss drugs — formally known as GLP-1 agonists — are having on dating and intimacy. Article content The survey of 2,000 single Americans (aged 18 to 91) led by Kinsey with found eight per cent reported having used a GLP-1 medication for weight loss in the past year. Article content Among the GLP-1 users, 16 per cent said exes had reached out to reconnect, 14 per cent said they were getting more matches on dating apps and 12 per cent said they were going on more dates. The drugs seemed to be doing more to booster 'online dating success' for men than for women, the researchers said. Article content 'Some of the studies and research that I've seen suggest that men only match one in 100 times on dating apps where for women, it's more like one in 10,' Lehmiller said. 'An attractiveness boost for men, which often accompanies using these drugs, could translate into a much bigger impact for them in the world of dating.'
