CPHI Pharma Awards open to global innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs and social leaders
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. 
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. 
Novartis today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for Tafinlar® (dabrafenib) + Mekinist® (trametinib) for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with low-grade glioma (LGG) with a BRAF V600E mutation who require systemic therapy. The FDA also approved liquid formulations of Tafinlar and Mekinist, marking the first time a BRAF/MEK inhibitor has been developed in a formulation suitable for patients as young as one year of age. 
AstraZeneca has announced the launch of the 2023 R&D Postdoctoral Challenge, an initiative designed to accelerate ideas to transform the treatment of some of the world’s most complex diseases.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and Seagen Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Seagen, a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative cancer medicines, for $229 in cash per Seagen share for a total enterprise value of $43 billion.