At its annual Pharma Media Day 2023, Bayer presented the latest progress in the ongoing transformation of its pharmaceutical business focusing on accelerating innovative healthcare solutions for the benefits of patients and delivering long-term, sustainable business growth. 
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan, 4 milligram (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for over-the-counter (OTC), nonprescription, use - the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription. Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose and is the standard treatment for opioid overdose. 
Novartis presented new data which underscore the transformational and sustained benefit of Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec), an essential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Latest data from two Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) studies, LT-001 and LT-002, show the continued efficacy and durability of Zolgensma across a range of patient populations, with an overall benefit-risk profile that remains favorable. In laboratory animal studies, a molecule known as TriSb92, developed by researchers at the University of Helsinki, has been confirmed as affording effective protection against coronavirus infection.
The 20th anniversary edition of the CPHI Pharma Awards is now open for entries, with three new categories created to reflect the surge of innovation sweeping the industry - from new methodologies to sustainability and philanthropic initiatives.
In the last year, pharma has continued its rapid rate of innovation embracing the speed of pandemic R&D, but added to this are new social goals that aim to improve the wider world as well as bottom lines and therapeutic/device options.
Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drug discovery company, has integrated advanced AI chat functionality based on recent advances in large language models into its PandaOmics platform. The new feature, "ChatPandaGPT," enables researchers to have natural language conversations with the platform and efficiently navigate and analyze large datasets, facilitating the discovery of potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers in a more efficient manner. In a study carried out in rats, researchers from the University of Cambridge used the device to improve the connection between the brain and paralysed limbs. The device combines flexible electronics and human stem cells - the body's 'reprogrammable' master cells - to better integrate with the nerve and drive limb function.
BlueRock Therapeutics LP, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company and wholly-owned, independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, announced a collaboration with Rune Labs and Emerald Innovations focused on using wearable and invisible contactless digital health technology to improve monitoring and data collection for Parkinson's disease clinical trials.