Pharmalittle: we're reading about pfizer pulling a sickle cell pill, moderna getting scolded, and more

Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. However, this is shaping up as a lovely day as well, despite forecasts suggesting a smattering of rain a few hours from now. For the

moment, the skies are tranquil, the birds are chirping, and the official mascots are hunting for noshes on the Pharmalot campus. This calls for celebration with a cup of stimulation, and we

are reaching for pecan pie — sweets for the sweet. Meanwhile, the time has come to turn to our ever-growing to-do list. Sound familiar? So here are some items of interest. Have a great day,

everyone. … PFIZER IS REMOVING OXBRYTA, A PILL FOR THE TREATMENT OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE, FROM ALL MARKETS GLOBALLY DUE TO HIGH RISKS OF SEVERE SAFETY EVENTS, INCLUDING DEATHS, STAT writes.

The decision is a stunning blow for a drug that was approved in 2019 and heralded as a new way to treat the inherited blood disorder. Pfizer acquired the company that made Oxbryta, a biotech

called Global Blood Therapeutics, in 2022 for $5.4 billion. In a statement, Pfizer said the decision to voluntarily withdraw Oxbryta was made based on data showing the drug’s benefit no

longer outweighed the risks. Data suggested the drug might increase the risk of pain crises and “fatal events.” These results “require further assessment.” The European Medicines Agency had

been set to hold a hearing Thursday in light of what it said was clinical trial data showing more deaths among patients taking the drug compared to a placebo. The pill had already received a

mixed reception from physicians. A LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN PFIZER AND MODERNA OVER THEIR RIVAL COVID-19 VACCINES WILL CONTINUE AFTER LONDON’S HIGH COURT ON WEDNESDAY GAVE PFIZER PERMISSION TO

TAKE THE CASE TO THE COURT OF APPEAL, Reuters writes. Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, sued Moderna in London in September 2022, seeking to revoke two patents held by Moderna, which hit

back days later alleging its own patents had been infringed. The High Court gave a mixed decision in July, ruling that one of Moderna’s two patents relating to the mRNA technology that

underpinned its Covid-19 vaccine was invalid. But the court ruled another similar patent was valid and that Pfizer and BioNTech’s Comirnaty vaccine had infringed it, meaning Moderna is

entitled to damages in relation to sales after March 2022. Judge Richard Meade gave Pfizer and BioNTech permission to appeal that decision. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log

in THIS ARTICLE IS EXCLUSIVE TO STAT+ SUBSCRIBERS UNLOCK THIS ARTICLE — PLUS IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS, NEWSLETTERS, PREMIUM EVENTS, AND NEWS ALERTS. Already have an account? Log in Individual

plans Group plans View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe