Revolutionizing chronic care: The next frontier in precision medicine
From Alzheimer’s breakthroughs to diabetes and cardiovascular innovations, cutting-edge therapies are reshaping treatment paradigms—and the pharmaceutical landscape (Issue #333, 1,450 words, 7 mins)
Good morning, and welcome to the NPC Healthbiz Weekly e-newsletter from the National Pharmaceutical Congress and Chronicle Companies.
Breakthroughs in the treatment of complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders have accelerated in recent years, with researchers achieving notable advances in early detection and targeted therapies. For the first time, disease-modifying drugs that address the underlying pathology of Alzheimer’s have gained approval, according to the Canadian Journal of Health Technology. In 2023 and 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared lecanemab and donanemab—two monoclonal antibodies shown to slow cognitive decline by about 30% in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients, a development highlighted in Nature.
Building on these advances, the pipeline of amyloid-targeting therapies continues to expand. Antibody drugs such as Eli Lilly’s remternetug and Roche’s trontinemab are being tested for early Alzheimer’s and for prevention in high-risk individuals. Remternetug is in Phase 3 trials, and trontinemab is moving toward Phase 3 after promising early results. Additionally, the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s BRAIN Initiative has developed advanced gene delivery tools using adeno-associated viruses to target specific brain and spinal cord cells, aiming to treat neurodegenerative diseases with greater precision and fewer side effects.
In diabetes management, iData Research notes that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists continue to dominate the landscape, offering benefits for glycemic control and weight management. The publication also notes that SGLT2 inhibitors are increasingly being recognized for their heart and kidney-protective effects. Additionally, the market is witnessing the emergence of combination therapies, such as GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, which are yielding superior results compared to standalone drugs.
Non-injectable options are also expanding the diabetes therapeutic toolkit. The website Diabetes Qualified writes that oral GLP-1 agonists, inhalable insulin, and needle-free insulin technologies that use nano-carriers to protect and deliver insulin are gaining traction. Additionally, microbiome-targeted therapies, though still in early stages, are also being investigated for their potential to modulate insulin resistance through fecal transplants. These advancements reflect a trend toward personalized, patient-friendly diabetes management, with a focus on reducing the burden of daily injections.
Global RxPh writes that GLP-1 receptor agonists also show promise for cardiovascular medicine. Its benefits extend beyond weight loss, including the reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events and improvements in cardiac structure and function. The website notes that semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic or Wegovy, reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% compared to placebo. It also notes that the integration of artificial intelligence into cardiac diagnostics is further revolutionizing the field, with AI-powered tools achieving high accuracy in early detection and risk prediction. CRISPR gene editing technology is also revolutionizing the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, offering the potential for targeted therapy of genetic forms of heart disease, such as transthyretin amyloidosis.
THIS WEEK 05/27/25
The U.S. FDA approved Liquidia Corporation’s treprostinil inhalation powder (Yutrepia), a prostacyclin analog, for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease to improve exercise ability.
Alcon announced the U.S. FDA has approved acoltremon ophthalmic solution (Tryptyr) for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Health Canada approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s nivolumab for subcutaneous injection (Opdivo SC) across all currently authorized solid tumour indications in monotherapy, in the maintenance phase following combination with ipilimumab (Yerevoy), and in combination regimens with chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors, consistent with the indications approved for the intravenous formulation.
Tolmar Pharmaceuticals appointed Mike Patterson as General Manager, effective immediately. Patterson has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and previously held senior leadership roles at global, mid-sized, and emerging companies across oncology, rare diseases, specialty care, and primary care.
NOW, LISTEN UP: HERE’S BETTINA HAMELIN OF INNOVATIVE MEDICINES CANADA
In Season 14 of the NPC Podcast, Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President of Innovative Medicines Canada, offers insights into adopting innovative technologies, the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain, and the exclusion of medicines as retaliatory measures for tariffs. Hear her in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea, and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. You can listen to the podcast here.
Bettina Hamelin
President
Innovative Medicines Canada
Toronto
Season 14, episode 01
Listen to this episode here
What bold predictions do you have for the life sciences industry during the coming 12 or 24 months?
In the next decade, and I’ll come back to the next year or two in a moment, we're going to see two major forces driving change. One is AI, and the other is biotech, specifically genomics and gene therapy. Across all areas of drug discovery and development, precision medicine, and operational processes, whether it's using AI to handle repetitive tasks within industry or to support diagnostics and imaging in the healthcare system, these technologies will accelerate everything we do.
We need guardrails, ethics, and oversight. But innovation has endless potential. We can’t stop it, but we can steer it. Biotech is something I’m especially excited about. Ontario Genomics, gene and cell therapies, the ability to cure diseases, learning from the rare disease space and applying that to more complex conditions. That’s where we’ll see significant progress, especially in moving toward prevention.
We’ve talked about prevention for years, but now we finally have some of the tools to make it real. Over the next year, we need to work closely with regulators such as Health Canada, the CDA, and the CPA to learn together because our systems aren’t ready yet. If it takes two years to adapt, just imagine how hard it’ll be to keep up with everything that’s coming. We need more collaboration with the health care system, and I think industry associations like IMC can play a major role in driving that dialogue. The system has to be ready for innovation, and we can help get it there. I’m stoked about the future and what IMC can contribute. The opportunities are endless.
Register now for the NPC Spring Webinar
The NPC Spring Webinar is part of an engaging webinar series that complements the National Pharmaceutical Congress.
This year's theme is “Points of Light in Pharma: Reasons for Optimism in Uncertain Times.”
In a time of political shifts, tariff uncertainty and global pressure, the Canadian life sciences sector continues to find reasons for optimism. From breakthroughs in gene therapy manufacturing to emerging collaborative frameworks, innovation is moving forward.
Join us for the NPC Spring Webinar 2025, featuring Dr. Jason Field from Life Sciences Ontario, Dr. Greg Patey of Blue Charm Adherence, and other speakers to be announced, as they share insights on how collaboration and resilience are shaping the future of pharma in Canada. The moderators are Ben Parry of Pangaea Group and Mitch Shannon of Chronicle Companies.
Date: June 11, 2025
Time: 11 AM to 12 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: Free of charge
Click here to register:
https://lnkd.in/ggQ7jviu
The NPC Spring Webinar is part of an engaging webinar series that complements the National Pharmaceutical Congress.
This year's theme is “Points of Light in Pharma: Reasons for Optimism in Uncertain Times.”
In a time of political shifts, tariff uncertainty and global pressure the Canadian life sciences sector continues to find reasons for optimism. From breakthroughs in gene therapy manufacturing to emerging collaborative frameworks, innovation is moving forward.
Join us for the NPC Spring Webinar 2025, featuring Jason Field from Life Sciences Ontario and other speakers to be announced, as they share insights on how collaboration and resilience are shaping the future of pharma in Canada.
Date: June 11, 2025
Time: 11 AM to 12 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: Free of charge
Click here to register:
https://lnkd.in/ggQ7jviu
What to Expect
* Gain insights from leaders driving innovation and progress in life sciences.
* Discover where the momentum is building and why it matters.
* Explore how policy shifts and collaboration are influencing the future of pharma in Canada.
* Gain insights from leaders driving innovation and progress in life sciences.
* Discover where the momentum is building and why it matters.
* Explore how policy shifts and collaboration are influencing the future of pharma in Canada.
NEXT WEEK
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