5 Top Pharmaceutical News Stories of 2018

Investors showed an interest in a variety of developments in the pharmaceutical space in 2018, from revenue projections and market predictions to new partnerships in the industry.

As 2018 ends, the Investing News Network (INN) offers investors a recap of our five top pharmaceutical news stories based on readership.

Investors looking to catch up on what made news last year can check out our five top stories from 2017.

1. Pediapharm CEO Projects C$35 Million in Revenue

In an interview at the Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference in Toronto, Pediapharm (TSXV:PDP) CEO Sylvain Chrétien detailed his projections for the performance of his company.

“Our business plan is projecting about C$30 to C$35 million in revenue with our current marketed products,” Chrétien told INN.

The executive said the company would need to replenish its pipeline soon and even speculated that Pediapharm could look at the development of “children medicines.”

2. “China Will Become the Biggest Oncology Market in the World Over the Next 20 Years,” Says Chi-Med CEO Christian Hogg

In this Q&A with Christian Hogg, CEO of Chi-Med (NASDAQ:HCM), INN dives deeper into the Chinese market for oncology solutions.

When asked what he was most anticipating in 2018, Hogg mentioned savolitinib, a drug being created in collaboration with AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN).

“The biggest move there [for Chi-Med] will [probably] be for us to move into the last stage of development globally in that particular type of lung cancer so that savolitinib moves into the final stage of clinical development,” said Hogg. “We’re doing that globally as well as a separate study in China.”

3. Antibe Therapeutics Looking for More Licensing Deals

Another one of our interviews during this year’s Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference piqued the interest of investors.

Daniel Legault, CEO of Antibe Therapeutics (TSXV:ATE), offered an update on the development of the company and what was ahead. The executive explained that anti-inflammatory drugs, a space in which Antibe participates, are used by a billion people around the world.

4. “We’re Financially Prudent,” Says CFO and President of Knight Therapeutics Samira Sakhia

During the Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference, Samira Sakhia, Knight Therapeutics’ (TSX:GUD) CFO and president, told INN the company was pleased with its financial results for 2017 and was looking at the development of its licensed product, probuphine.

Sakhia noted that Knight touts itself as a long-term play. As CEO Jonathan Ross Goodman says at every shareholder meeting, “if you’re investing in Knight for the next quarter or next year, we’re not the right investment.”

5. Dova Pharmaceuticals Signs Agreement with Fosun Pharma

In March, Dova Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:DOVA) confirmed a distribution agreement that would see its products enter the markets in China and Hong Kong.

The deal, set in place with Fosun Pharmaceutical (SHA:600196), included the option to develop, commercialize and assist AkaRx, a Dova subsidiary, with the development of its drug candidate for thrombocytopenia.

“Fosun Pharma is a highly qualified partner, and we are excited to work with them as we look to expand avatrombopag internationally,” Alex Sapir, CEO of Dova, said at the time.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_LifeScience for real-time news updates!

Securities Disclosure: I, Bryan Mc Govern, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.