Novartis chief says Trump visa restrictions sour US hiring plans; Parexel and Sanofi to develop wearable devices
→ Don’t look for Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez to add many new jobs in the US anytime soon. In recent interviews the pharma chief says that new visa restrictions advanced by the Trump administration has soured his appetite for any expansion in the US. The company has already felt the effects on hiring foreign nationals. “This makes the country a less attractive location for investment…by contrast, Switzerland and Europe will become more attractive,” he said. Jimenez was one of several industry leaders to meet with the president in January about decreasing drug prices and increasing jobs in the United States.
→ Parexel and Sanofi are teaming up to test wearable devices for remote data collection in clinical trials. They hope to increase patients’ ability to participate, drive patient engagement, and create more opportunities for decentralized trial sites. Sanofi previously began working with wearable device technology to manage diabetes treatment.
→ Mersana says it hopes to raise about $75 million from its IPO by offering five million shares at a price range of $14 to $16 per share.
→ The FDA filed San Francisco-based Rigel’s NDA application for Tavalisse (fostamatinib disodium.) Last year, Rigel struggled with a low response rate in its Phase III trials.
