BioNTech CEO tops list of Big Pharma’s 10 highest-paid CEOs; first patient treated in global trial for muscle-weakness disease; high blood pressure in pregnancy linked to high seizure risk in children – Morning Medical Update

BioNTech CEO tops Fierce Pharma’s list of Big Pharma’s 10 highest-paid CEOs

BioNTech’s Uğur Şahin took the No. 1 spot on Fierce Pharma’s list of the highest-paid pharma CEOs in 2024, raking in an industry-leading $287 million — mostly from exercising stock options granted in 2019. He far outpaced No. 2 David Ricks of Eli Lilly ($29.2M) and No. 3 Albert Bourla of Pfizer ($24.6M), as U.S.-based executives largely dominated the remaining rankings, with the exception of AstraZeneca’s Pascal Soriot ($22.9M), who came in eighth place. Compensation trends reflect a post-COVID shift, CEO transitions and continued rewards for driving obesity, oncology and rare disease drug revenue. Find the full list here.

First patient treated in global trial for muscle-weakness disease

HonorHealth Research Institute has treated the first patient in a Phase II international clinical trial for Myasthenia Gravis, a rare autoimmune disease that impairs nerve-muscle communication. The study tests Remibrutinib, a Novartis drug that targets malfunctioning B cells. Affecting mostly young women and older men, the disease can severely hinder basic daily activities. If successful, the trial could lead to FDA approval of the drug, which is already approved for certain cancers.

High blood pressure in pregnancy linked to higher seizure risk in children

A University of Iowa-led study finds that gestational hypertension significantly raises the risk of seizures in children. Using U.S. and international clinical data and mouse models, researchers linked maternal high blood pressure to increased seizure sensitivity and identified neuroinflammation as a likely contributor. The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest anti-inflammatory treatments could help reduce seizure risk in affected children.