Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events and approvals announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.

An interim analysis of the Phase III KEYNOTE-355 study in triple-negative breast cancer patients reports that first-line pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy has met the PFS primary endpoint, but Merck & Co is still a long way behind Roche’s Tecentriq in the additional indication.

The cost-effectiveness of combination therapies for untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma therapies comes under the spotlight as England's HTA body rejects an immunotherapy/kinase inhibitor combination in draft guidance.

Germany’s Cardior is conducting clinical studies with an antisense oligonucleotide which inhibits a cellular microRNA believed to be involved in the pathology of heart failure, and is attracting attention from other pharma companies interested in the potential of this new mechanism of action.

Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events and approvals announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.

Sales grew but operating profits remained flat in 2019 at Orion Group, as the European mid-sized pharma pursued R&D in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cancer.