Novo Nordisk has agreed to pay up to $1.3 billion to license and develop Nanexa's drug delivery technology, according to The Wall Street Journal. The agreement is designed to reduce the frequency with which patients must inject obesity and diabetes medications. The deal centers on Nanexa's PharmaShell technology, which uses an ultra-thin coating applied to individual drug particles to enable the controlled and sustained release of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Under the exclusive terms, Novo Nordisk licensed the technology for use in up to five development programs that cover different drug administration frequencies, with the companies targeting monthly and quarterly dosing schedules.
Meanwhile, Heidi Overton, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, faced questions from senators on issues including China, vaccines, and abortion access during her hearing before the committee responsible for sending her nomination to a full Senate vote. STAT reports that Overton revealed very little of her own feelings on these top issues facing the agency. Instead, she referred repeatedly to existing agency guidance and approvals for products such as childhood vaccines and the abortion drug mifepristone. She did not clarify if she would support changing current rules or product clearances to align with the goals of Trump or Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.