Recon: Ironwood to buy VectivBio for $1B; FDA panel votes against recommending Intercept NASH drug

• Intercept tumbles on concerns over prospects of fatty liver disease drug (Reuters 1, 2)
• Ironwood bulks up on digestive therapies with $1.15 bln VectivBio buy (Reuters) (BioPharmaDive) (Endpoints)
• U.S. FDA approves Genmab-AbbVie's blood cancer therapy (Reuters)
• U.S. FDA approves Krystal Biotech's skin-disorder gene therapy (Reuters) (STAT)
• Amgen agrees not to seek quick close to Horizon acquisition (Reuters)
• A More Aggressive FTC Is Starting to Target Drug Mergers and Industry Middlemen (KFF)
• Here’s what Pfizer and Moderna say is next for their Covid vaccines (CNBC)
• Pear Therapeutics sold for parts at $6 million auction (STAT)

• WHO recommends new COVID shots should target only XBB variants (Reuters)
• Sanofi: smoker's lung drug benefit was swift and sustained in trial (Reuters)
• Novo Nordisk says trial of oral weight-loss drug shows significant result (Reuters)
• Novo Nordisk pauses ads for weight loss drug Wegovy as it struggles to meet demand (STAT)
• Novartis beefs up gene therapy pipeline, spending $87.5M on an Avrobio therapy (Endpoints)
• Bayer’s Nubeqa combination recommended by NICE to treat metastatic prostate cancer (PMLive)
• Novo Nordisk’s Obesity Drug Activities Break UK Rules Again (Scrip)
• India's Glenmark Pharma reports lower Q4 profit as domestic sales weaken (Reuters)
• Don't delay reforms to prepare for next pandemic, WHO chief says (Reuters)
• WHO launches global network to detect and prevent infectious disease threats (WHO)
• Cholera vaccine shortage to last until 2025 as cases surge, Gavi says (Reuters)

• Catalent cuts forecast, delays results again as challenges mount (Reuters)
• Opinion: The FDA’s Birth Control Decision and Breaking the Medical Monopoly Over Health (NYTimes)
• Pfizer oral weight loss drug may be as effective as Ozempic injection by Novo Nordisk, study says (CNBC)
• Drug price caps in Inflation Reduction Act exacerbating shortages, Gottlieb says (The Hill)
• CBER chief Peter Marks to consider 'alternatives' to clinical holds as they 'put shudders down investors' spines' (Endpoints)
• In early trial, drug appears to reduce harmful protein buildup in heart (STAT)
• Gene therapy death not caused by CRISPR, investigators confirm (STAT)
• Alnylam updates its pitch for expanded Onpattro label with 18-month PhIII data (Endpoints)
• EMA Looks For Efficiencies For Companies Ahead Of Relaunching Clinical Data Transparency Policy (Pink Sheet)
• Oculis' eye drug meets main goal in study (Reuters)
• Hepion's NASH drug meets main goal in mid-stage trial (Reuters)
• UK's Dechra slumps after profit warning (Reuters)
• Q&A with FDA: Drug Shortages with CDR Emily Thakur (FDA)
• G-Supress DX Pediatric Cough Drops may have incorrect drug in packaging (FDA)

• Thermo Fisher's test to detect pregnancy-related complication gets FDA nod (Reuters) (MedtechDive)
• Abbott, Boston Scientific, Medtronic share data on heart rhythm devices at conference (MedtechDive)
• FDA clears Beta Bionics’ insulin pump and automated dosing software to create artificial pancreas (Fierce) (MedtechDive)
• Paradromics reels in $33M, FDA breakthrough tag for mind-reading brain implant (Fierce)
• Swing Therapeutics receives FDA authorisation for digital therapeutic for fibromyalgia (Pharmafile)