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Heather McKenzie

Heather McKenzie

Senior Editor

Heather McKenzie is a professional journalist with more than five years experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Since joining BioSpace, she has written more than 200 features and breaking news articles with a particular focus in neuroscience and gene therapy. She has also traveled internationally to cover global biotech hubs such as Israel. In previous roles, she has covered current affairs, sports, education and politics. She previously spent eight years as a senior content producer for executive-level business conferences in the pharma/biotech, legal, energy and business strategy sectors. In her free time, Heather enjoys creative writing, spending time with family and playing with her energetic Russian Blue cat Roofus. She hails from Toronto and has also lived in Chicago and Chesapeake, Virginia. You can reach her at heather.mckenzie@biospace.com.

Podcast
Trodelvy’s Bladder Cancer Withdrawal, Sage Therapeutics Layoffs, Sanofi’s Radiopharma Investment, More
Yet another therapy with FDA accelerated approval suffers a setback; Sage’s tough year continues; Sanofi drops $326 million in radiopharma while selling its consumer health unit; Novo Nordisk’s positive Rybelsus results in cardiovascular disease; and more.
October 23, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
GLP-1
Novo Scores Late-Stage CV Win for Rybelsus on Heels of Wegovy Label Expansion
Novo Nordisk on Monday reported the oral version of its drug semaglutide reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes by 14% in a large Phase III trial.
October 21, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
FDA signage at its headquarters in Maryland
FDA
Lykos Announces ‘Productive’ Meeting With FDA Regarding Rejected MDMA Drug
In a short statement Friday, Lykos Therapeutics expressed optimism about a recent meeting with the regulator to discuss next steps for the embattled program, following the FDA’s rejection in August 2024.
October 21, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Massachusetts MA Puzzle Pieces Map Working Together 3d Illustration
Psychedelics
Massachusetts Bid to Legalize Certain Psychedelic Drugs Fails
Massachusetts residents voted Tuesday against the Natural Psychedelic Substances Act, which would have seen some psychedelics, including psilocybin and dimethyltryptamine, legalized in the state.
October 21, 2024
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7 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
Q3 Earnings Kick Off With J&J, Bluebird in Tough Spot, Novo-Catalent Deal Under Fire, More
J&J beat expectations this week to launch the Q3 earnings season; a study about children treated with bluebird bio’s Skysona comes at a bad time for the company; Sen. Warren calls for scrutiny of Novo’s purchase of Catalent; and other news.
October 16, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Opioid health risk and medical crisis with a prescription painkiller addiction epidemic concept as a group of people running away from a dangerous falling bridge of pills as a medicine addict problem with 3D illustration elements.
FDA
5 Accelerated Approvals Gone Wrong
Since its inception in 1992, the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway has helped shepherd nearly 300 new drugs to the market. However, recent years have seen a number of high-profile market withdrawals and failed confirmatory trials.
October 14, 2024
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7 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
BioSpace at Meeting on the Mesa, WuXi Considers Selling U.S. Facilities, Big Pharma Layoffs, More
Cell and gene therapy investment rebounds; WuXi Biologics and other companies named in BIOSECURE Act mull options; Bayer, J&J and Pfizer’s recent layoffs; updates from the weight loss space.
October 9, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
BMS’ Schizophrenia Approval, Pfizer’s Sudden Sickle Cell Withdrawal and Roche’s Pharma Day
Bristol Myers Squibb wins approval for the first novel schizophrenia drug in decades; Pfizer pulls Oxbryta from the market; new IVF and abortion laws could derail women’s health research; Roche touts CDK inhibitor deal and obesity pipeline and BioSpace heads to Meeting on the Mesa.
October 2, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Brain shaped maze. Conceptual image of science and medicine. 3D illustration.
Schizophrenia
The Making of BMS’ Cobenfy: From Alzheimer’s to Schizophrenia
From Eli Lilly to Karuna Therapeutics to current owner Bristol Myers Squibb, the newly approved schizophrenia drug had quite the journey to market. Former Karuna and Lilly executives discuss the “accidental” and “serendipitous” discovery.
October 1, 2024
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6 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Roche's signage at its office in France
M&A
Roche Doubles Down on Breast Cancer With $850M for Regor’s CDK Inhibitors
The acquisition was featured Monday in Roche’s Pharma Day presentation, which also included projections of more than $3 billion in annual sales from three early-stage obesity and diabetes drugs.
September 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Polygonal human brain hemispheres gray left and rainbow color right brain engraving in top view illustration isolated on multicolor art background
Schizophrenia
FDA Approves First Novel Schizophrenia Drug in 35 Years
BMS’ KarXT targets muscarinic receptors and “is at least 2-3 years ahead of the competition” including AbbVie and Neurocrine Biosciences, Truist Securities wrote in a note to investors.
September 27, 2024
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8 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Pictured: FDA Headquarters, iStock, Grandbrothers
FDA
FDA Adcomm Recommends Limiting Keytruda, Opdivo Use in Stomach, Esophageal Cancer
The FDA’s Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee voted near-unanimously that the benefits of PD-1 inhibitors like Keytruda and Opdivo in PD-L1 low patients do not outweigh the risks.
September 27, 2024
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4 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
Novo Grilled by Senate, PhRMA’s IRA Win and BMS’ KarXT Awaits Approval
New revelations from the showdown between Novo Nordisk’s CEO and Bernie Sanders’ Senate health committee Tuesday; PhRMA’s legal victory in IRA case; the federal interest rate cut and anticipated approval for schizophrenia.
September 25, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Rusty lung. Cancer and health concept. This is a 3d render illustration.
Drug development
Boehringer, Insilico Appear to Break Through Against IPF
Clinical trial results shared by Boehringer Ingelheim and Insilico Medicine showed improvement in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an intractable lung disease for which current treatment options fail to stop progression, but the data were limited, leaving experts wanting.
September 24, 2024
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4 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Mind health concept. Human face side view silhouette and alter ego
Schizophrenia
5 Schizophrenia Candidates Chasing BMS’ KarXT
As the FDA prepares to render a verdict on BMS’ closely watched schizophrenia drug, BioSpace takes a closer look at the late-stage pipeline for this neuropsychiatric disorder.
September 23, 2024
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6 min read
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Heather McKenzie
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