Recon: GSK, Alector in $2.2B deal for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s drugs; Merck to withdraw accelerated approval for Keytruda in 3rd-line gastric cancer

• J&J's COVID-19 vaccine shows promise against Delta variant (Reuters)
• Does new Alzheimer’s drug work? Answers may miss 2030 target (AP)
• Merck to withdraw dangling accelerated approval for Keytruda in third-line stomach cancer (Endpoints) (Press)
• Pharma in the crosshairs: How the FTC is expanding its antitrust powers under its new chair (Endpoints) (FTC)
• US cancer drug prices were higher at launch than in three European countries — and just kept climbing (STAT)

• GSK, Alector to develop Parkinson's, Alzheimer's drugs in $2.2 bln deal (Reuters) (Bloomberg)
• GSK rejects activist Elliott's demands for board and consumer business (Reuters)
• Nestlé Health Science will split profits from Seres microbiome drug, if it’s approved (STAT)
• WHO welcomes report on efficacy of longer gaps between AstraZeneca doses (Reuters)
• EU working to allow acceptance of AstraZeneca's India vaccine jab, Commission says (Reuters)
• Novavax says Taiwan has opted to get firm's COVID-19 vaccine via COVAX (Reuters)
• Germany alters vaccine mix to better tackle Delta variant (Reuters)
• Servier Beats NHS' £220M Drug IP Suit At Top UK Court (Law360)

• Opinion: It’s Time for the FDA to Fully Approve the mRNA Vaccines (NYTimes)
• Zydus Cadila seeks emergency use nod for its 3-dose vaccine (Economic Times)

• European Commission clears AstraZeneca's $39B bid for Alexion and a future in rare diseases (Endpoints)
• US FDA Wades Into Reimbursement Issues With Upcoming Stakeholder Meeting On Alzheimer’s Drug Coverage, Evidence Challenges (Pink Sheet)
• A New Era For FDA Regulation Of Cell And Tissue Products (Law360)
• Some Generics May Get To Skip Fed Study Requirement If US FDA Research Pans Out (Pink Sheet)
• Ultra-Rare Disease Approvals By US FDA Could Take More ‘Mechanistic,’ Less ‘Empirical’ Approach (Pink Sheet)
• The 'dovetail' partnership meant to turn Boston Children's into a hub for gene therapy startups (BioPharmaDive)
• Regeneron’s George Yancopoulos talks CRISPR, obesity drugs, and the next generation of Covid antibody cocktails (STAT)
• Lundbeck sells off flopped Alzheimer's drug as Aduhelm approval ups interest (Fierce)
• Amgen recruits renowned cancer drug investigator Jean-Charles Soria to lead a growing pipeline play (Endpoints)
• Rinvoq scores positive results as a maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis (PharmaTimes)
• WuXi will add 500 jobs at Delaware manufacturing campus as it looks to bolster its CDMO arm (Endpoints)
• Years after bankruptcy, Dendreon adds a contract manufacturing wing (Endpoints)
• Evotec expands presence in Italy with acquisition of former GlaxoSmithKline R&D site (Endpoints)
• The class of molecules behind one of biotech's biggest Alzheimer's failures gets a new lease on life (Endpoints)
• Sirnaomics puts off an IPO a little longer as it pockets another megaround. Is an S-1 around the corner this time? (Endpoints)
• Arrowhead slams brakes on early-stage cystic fibrosis study after rat study triggers lung inflammation concerns (Fierce)

• FDA’s Draft QSR: ‘Lucy’ Pulled The Football Away. Again (MedtechInsight)
• PMA apps could hit record in 2021, pressuring a COVID-19 stressed FDA (MedtechDive)
• Neuromodulation and cancer devices feature in latest batch of FDA breakthrough nods (MedtechDive)
• EU HTA Regulation: ‘Another Layer Of Bureaucracy For Medtech To Overcome’ (MedtechInsight)
• EchoNous shoots for the stars with $60M for Kosmos handheld, AI-powered ultrasound (Fierce)
• With updated European approval, NuVasive eyes late summer launch for new spine surgery platform (Fierce)
• Abbott racks up 2 more US, EU approvals for Xience family of drug-eluting stents (Fierce)
• Scientists devise a battery-free pacemaker that can be absorbed by the body (STAT)

• Retailers, Pharmacies Freed From Zantac Personal Injury MDL (Law360)
• Mylan sues generic rival Teva over 'sophisticated scheme' to block Copaxone copycats (Fierce)
• Masimo accuses Apple of patent infringement (mobihealthnews)
• MHLW Urges Wholesalers to Strictly Enforce Legal Compliance after Bid-Rigging Ruling (PharmaJapan)