Latest news with #Tagrisso
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Factbox-Foreign firms' executives entangled in Chinese probes
BEIJING (Reuters) -U.S. bank Wells Fargo has suspended all travel to China after one of its employees was barred from leaving the country, extending a trend of foreign executives caught up in probes by authorities that has chilled business sentiment. Below are some other recent examples: - A Beijing court this week sentenced a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma to 3-1/2 years in prison. The man had been detained since March 2023 on suspicion of spying and had been indicted about a year ago. - In March, Chinese authorities released employees of U.S. corporate due diligence firm Mintz Group detained in Beijing two years ago. Five of the firm's local staff were detained in a raid that turned out to be the beginning of a sweeping crackdown on consultancy and due diligence firms, including Bain & Company's office in Shanghai. A Singaporean executive at Mintz was also prevented from leaving China, sources told Reuters. China fined Mintz about $1.5 million in July 2024 for doing "unapproved statistical work". - Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca saw its China president Leon Wang detained and placed under investigation in 2024, with little information about what the probe was about. Wang, who grew up in China, was a high-profile executive often quoted in the Chinese business press. AstraZeneca's CEO said in February that the company was not permitted to speak with Wang, who has been placed under extended leave since December. Chinese media had reported that AstraZeneca was under probe since 2021, suspected of fabricating genetic testing results related to the firm's lung cancer drug Tagrisso and of insurance fraud. - A senior Nomura Holdings banker overseeing the Japanese firm's investment banking operations in China was ordered not to leave the mainland, sources told Reuters in late 2023. The exit ban was lifted the following year allowing Charles Wang Zhonghe, China investment banking chairman at Nomura, to return to Hong Kong, where he was previously based, according to the Financial Times. - Michael Chan, a senior executive at U.S. risk advisory firm Kroll, was barred from leaving the Chinese mainland, the Wall Street Journal reported in September 2023. The Hong Kong passport holder was assisting in an investigation dating back a few years, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Neither Kroll nor Chan was the target of the investigation, according to the newspaper. - A Singapore-based UBS wealth manager was prevented from leaving China in 2018. The executive was asked to remain in the country to meet with local authorities, Reuters reported at that time. The uncertainty surrounding the exit ban on the wealth manager had led the Swiss bank and several of its rivals to require their private banking staff to carefully consider trips to China.
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First Post
11-07-2025
- Health
- First Post
Major cancer drugs could become cheaper as India considers import duty waiver
The documents show that blockbuster cancer drugs like pembrolizumab (brand Keytruda), osimertinib (brand Tagrisso), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (brand Enhertu), used to treat lung and breast cancer, will be fully exempted from customs duty read more India will likely slash the prices of medicines used to treat critical conditions like HIV Aids and cancer as a government panel has recommended waiving off some customs duties on high-impact drugs. News18 has accessed a document of the proposed cuts in prices that are expected to provide relief to patients with cancer and other chronic diseases. The central government has constituted an interdepartmental committee that has suggested customs duty exemptions and concessions for high-impact medical imports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Established in August 2024 by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the panel is headed by Joint Drug Controller R. Chandrashekar and includes representatives from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Its goal is to make life-saving treatments, such as those for cancer, rare diseases, organ transplants, and advanced diagnostics, much more affordable for Indian patients. More from Health US faces worst measles outbreak in decades amid falling vaccination rates under Trump Which drugs will get cheaper? The documents show that blockbuster cancer drugs like pembrolizumab (brand Keytruda), osimertinib (brand Tagrisso), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (brand Enhertu), used to treat lung and breast cancer, will be fully exempted from customs duty. These medicines often cost up to lakhs per dose and have remained inaccessible to patients due to the high import burden. Apart from cancer drugs, the committee has also proposed making several other medicines cheaper, including transplant drugs, critical care medicines, and advanced diagnostic kits that are slapped with heavy import duties and have no equivalent in the Indian market. A second category of essential but widely available drugs has been proposed for a reduced import duty of 5 per cent. This list includes hydroxyurea, used to treat cancer and sickle cell anaemia, and low molecular weight heparin, marketed as Enoxaparin, which is commonly used to prevent and treat blood clots and deep vein thrombosis. Therapies also included Along with life-saving drugs, the document also mentions price cuts for medical therapies to treat rare diseases. Customs duty exemptions might be applied on a group of therapies used to treat conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, lysosomal storage disorders, and hereditary enzyme deficiencies. Many of these therapies, such as gene-based and enzyme replacement treatments, rank among the most expensive drugs globally, with single courses costing several crores. Notable rare disease drugs on the list include Zolgensma, Spinraza, Evrysdi, Cerezyme, and Takhzyro. These medications are extremely costly and largely beyond the reach of most Indian patients. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
11-07-2025
- Health
- News18
India May Relax Import Duty On 200 Drugs; Blockbuster Cancer Meds Keytruda, Enhertu On List
The list recommending customs duty of 5% includes 74 drugs, while another suggesting full exemption has 69 drugs. A separate list for rare disease drugs has 56 names for exemption India may soon see a drop in treatment costs for critical conditions, such as HIV, cancer, transplant medicine, and haematology, with a government panel recommending customs duty relaxation on around 200 high-impact medicines, News18 has learnt. In a move that could provide some relief to patients with cancer and other chronic diseases, an interdepartmental committee constituted by the central government has recommended a set of customs duty exemptions and concessions for high-impact medical imports. The report, accessed by News18, recommends full exemption of customs duty on several global blockbuster cancer drugs such as pembrolizumab (brand Keytruda), osimertinib (brand Tagrisso), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (brand Enhertu)—widely used in treating lung, breast, and other aggressive cancers. These medicines, often costing lakhs per dose, have long remained out of reach for many due to the high import burden. The panel, formed by the Drug Controller General of India in August 2024, is led by joint drug controller R Chandrashekar along with members from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Pharmaceuticals and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The panel aims to make life-saving therapies for cancer, rare diseases, transplants, and advanced diagnostics significantly more affordable for Indian patients. Beyond Oncology Apart from cancer medicines, the recommendations cover several other vital drugs, including transplant drugs, critical care medicines, and advanced diagnostic kits that rely on imported inputs or have no equivalent in the domestic market. A second category of drugs—essential but more broadly available—has been proposed for concessional duty at 5%. The list of drugs here includes hydroxyurea, which treats cancer as well as sickle cell anaemia. The other popular drug on this list is low molecular weight heparin, sold under the brand name Enoxaparin, which is used in the treatment and prevention of blood clots and deep vein thrombosis. The list recommending a customs duty of 5% includes 74 drugs, whereas the one suggesting full exemption has 69 drugs. A separate list for drugs to treat rare diseases has 56 names for customs duty exemption. A Lifeline for Rare Disease Patients A section of the report focuses on rare diseases, where treatment costs are often devastating for families. The panel has recommended customs duty exemptions on a group of therapies used to treat conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, lysosomal storage disorders, and hereditary enzyme deficiencies. Several of these therapies—including gene-based and enzyme replacement treatments—are among the most expensive drugs in the world, with single-course costs running into multiple crores. The blockbuster rare disease drugs in the list include Zolgensma, Spinraza, Evrysdi, Cerezyme, and Takhzyro. All these drugs are very expensive and, in the majority of cases, unaffordable for Indian patients. Moreover, the panel has recommended 'to constitute a permanent inter-departmental committee under DGHS to review such drugs and provide recommendations in this regard to the Department of Revenue", the report said. view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 07:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
AstraZeneca breast cancer medicine slows disease by over six months
Agencies Camizestrant works as a hormone therapy to stop estrogen from attaching to cancer cells and helping them to grow. New York: AstraZeneca Plc's experimental breast cancer pill delayed disease progression by over six months, according to data from a new study that is likely to capture investors' attention. Camizestrant, in combination with other cancer medicines, helped patients with a specific type of breast cancer to live for a median of 16 months without their cancer progressing, compared with 9.2 months for those taking the current standard treatment. Astra hopes the study data, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago, will help establish a new treatment strategy for some breast cancer patients. Camizestrant works as a hormone therapy to stop estrogen from attaching to cancer cells and helping them to grow. When other potential uses for camizestrant are taken into account, Astra believes the drug could bring in over $5 billion in annual sales. But analysts are more cautious as other similar drugs have failed, with Barclays estimating potential peak year sales at $3.6 billion. AstraZeneca has established itself as a cancer drug powerhouse under CEO Pascal Soriot, with medicines including Tagrisso and Imfinzi fueling growth.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AstraZeneca breast cancer medicine slows disease by over six months
AstraZeneca's new breast cancer pill, Camizestrant, shows promising results. The drug delayed cancer progression by over six months in trials. Camizestrant, combined with other medicines, helped patients live longer without cancer worsening. AstraZeneca hopes this data will establish a new treatment approach. The company anticipates significant sales, though analysts offer more conservative estimates. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New York: AstraZeneca Plc's experimental breast cancer pill delayed disease progression by over six months, according to data from a new study that is likely to capture investors' attention. Camizestrant , in combination with other cancer medicines, helped patients with a specific type of breast cancer to live for a median of 16 months without their cancer progressing, compared with 9.2 months for those taking the current standard hopes the study data, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago, will help establish a new treatment strategy for some breast cancer works as a hormone therapy to stop estrogen from attaching to cancer cells and helping them to other potential uses for camizestrant are taken into account, Astra believes the drug could bring in over $5 billion in annual sales. But analysts are more cautious as other similar drugs have failed, with Barclays estimating potential peak year sales at $3.6 billion. AstraZeneca has established itself as a cancer drug powerhouse under CEO Pascal Soriot, with medicines including Tagrisso and Imfinzi fueling growth.
