A pediatric oncologist helms Sanofi's cancer division

Peter Adamson, Sanofi’s new chief cancer therapeutics executive, is mindful of the urgency of his role: “One thing cancer patients don’t have is time,” he told STAT’s Elizabeth Cooney. This is the pediatric oncologist’s first foray into the private sector, after spending the past three decades in academia — working most recently as chair of the Children’s Oncology Group in Philadelphia at CHOP.

Adamson intends to hone Sanofi’s focus on innovation in therapeutics geared at children.

“How we measure success in pediatric cancer is the cure rate,” he said. “When you’re taking care of a 7-year-old child, three months’ increase in life expectancy ... that’s not our goal.”

Myasthenia gravis drug performs well in Phase 3

Belgium-based Argenx said its experimental drug, called efgartigimod, improved the symptoms of myasthenia gravis in a late-stage trial. It’s now going to seek U.S. approval before the end of the year, STAT’s Adam Feuerstein writes.

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic and debilitating neuromuscular disease, where the body’s own antibodies interfere with the communication between nerve endings and muscles. Efgartigimod blocks the neonatal Fc receptor, which triggers several types of autoimmune disease.

There are several drug makers competing to develop FcRn blockers, including Immunovant, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, and Alexion Pharmaceuticals.