Biotech
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News roundupFDA delays decision on Dupixent in COPD; Summit makes a bold claim
Regeneron and Sanofi now expect an FDA verdict in September. Elsewhere, Summit claimed victory over Keytruda and Neurocrine’s longtime CEO revealed plans to step down.
By BioPharma Dive staff • May 31, 2024 -
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Immunovant changes up plans for closely watched autoimmune drugs
The company is prioritizing development of an earlier so-called FcRn inhibitor, a type of medicine that’s shown promise treating multiple inflammatory conditions.
By Kristin Jensen • May 30, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineEmerging biotech
New biotechs continue to emerge despite a challenging market environment that has forced venture firms to build their drug startups more cautiously.
By BioPharma Dive staff -
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Emerging biotechCinCor’s ‘hub-and-spoke’ parent nabs new funding to build its next biotechs
The $73 million round for CinRx Pharma, which created a startup AstraZeneca bought last year, will help fund subsidiaries making drugs for obesity, irritable bowel syndrome and gastroparesis.
By Gwendolyn Wu • May 30, 2024 -
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Emerging biotechA biotech working on a new approach to IVF raises $33M in fresh funding
The Series B funding from Two Sigma Ventures, RA Capital and others will help Gameto develop technology it says could replace hormonal injections and shorten the IVF process.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 29, 2024 -
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Merck to buy eye drug developer for $1.3B
An acquisition of EyeBio will hand Merck a treatment for diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration that’s ready for pivotal testing.
By Kristin Jensen • May 29, 2024 -
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Can robots break the cell therapy bottleneck?
A partnership between cell therapy delivery specialist Portal Biotechnologies and precision robotics maker Multiply Labs could address manufacturing hurdles, the CEOs said.
By Michael Gibney • May 29, 2024 -
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Insmed shares double as lung drug data convince Wall Street
After reporting positive clinical trial results for its drug brensocatib, Insmed plans to later this year file for U.S. approval in bronchiectasis that’s not associated with cystic fibrosis.
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 28, 2024 -
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Agios cashes in on cancer drug again with $905M Royalty Pharma deal
The deal involves royalties for a brain cancer drug Agios previously sold off and that Royalty Pharma thinks could generate more than $1 billion in U.S. sales.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 28, 2024 -
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News roundup
Roche’s Sabry retires; Duchenne drug fails confirmatory test
The veteran executive will be replaced by Boris Zaïtra. Elsewhere, Nippon Shinyaku shared negative Phase 3 data and Merck unveiled new breast cancer results for Keytruda.
By BioPharma Dive staff • May 28, 2024 -
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Orna, a circular RNA specialist, acquires a buzzy startup
After laying off staff late last year, Orna is expanding through the purchase of ReNAgade Therapeutics, which was built around technology designed to more effectively deliver RNA-based medicines.
By Jacob Bell • May 23, 2024 -
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Cytokinetics secures up to $575M in royalty deal, frustrating investors
The biotech’s decision to give Royalty Pharma a greater share of future drug sales suggests a lower likelihood it is readying to be acquired, analysts said.
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 23, 2024 -
Permission granted by Biogen
Biogen, looking to diversify, acquires immune drugmaker HI-Bio for $1.15B
The deal, only Biogen’s third since the start of 2018, is a sign the company is open to branching out beyond the neurological drugs that have long been its focus.
By Kristin Jensen • May 22, 2024 -
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News roundup
Regeneron faces new biosimilar threats; an AI biotech lays off staff
Today’s rundown also includes news of an expanded partnership for Boehringer Ingelheim and updates to emerging medicines from GSK and Bristol Myers.
By BioPharma Dive staff • May 22, 2024 -
Permission granted by SixPeaks Bio AG
Obesity drugsSixPeaks, a new obesity biotech, starts up with an option to sell to AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca has an exclusive chance to buy the startup, which is developing a muscle-protecting weight loss medicine, within the next two years.
By Gwendolyn Wu • May 22, 2024 -
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Lilly partners with Aktis, deepening radiopharma investment
The collaboration, which gives Lilly access to Aktis’ technology in return for $60 million, adds to a flurry of dealmaking in the radiopharma field.
By Delilah Alvarado • May 21, 2024 -
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Emerging biotechAltruBio lands up to $225M after shift to immune drug research
Since pivoting from oncology, the startup has raised close to $300 million and advanced an ulcerative colitis drug into mid-stage testing.
By Gwendolyn Wu • May 21, 2024 -
Permission granted by Pheon Therapeutics
Emerging biotechPheon rides wave of ADC interest with $120M financing
CEO Cyrus Mozayeni said the company is taking a different approach than other developers of antibody-drug conjugates, though it’s keeping details close.
By Gwendolyn Wu • May 21, 2024 -
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Forbion-backed biotech Progentos debuts with $65M for MS drug
Progentos says the money will go toward expanding its pipeline and pushing an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis through "proof of concept” testing.
By Jacob Bell • May 20, 2024 -
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BIO to restructure, lay off staff in shakeup of lobbying group
Thirty employees will leave as part of the reorganization, which the group said is meant to bring "stronger focus and greater impact" to its work.
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 20, 2024 -
Elizabeth Regan / Industry Dive
Dyne shares jump on trial data for muscle disease drugs
Updated study results for the biotech’s medicines for myotonic dystrophy Type 1 and Duchenne muscular dystrophy appeared to impress analysts and investors on Wall Street.
By Ned Pagliarulo • May 20, 2024 -
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European Commission, in ‘unprecedented’ move, declines to revoke approval of PTC Duchenne drug
Rather than endorse the recommendation of the EMA, the commission called for a new review for Translarna that considers “the totality of the evidence” compiled to date.
By Ben Fidler • May 20, 2024 -
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Sponsored by IO BiotechTherapies designed to dismantle cancer’s escape mechanisms show promise for patients
Hear from IO Biotech CEO Dr. Mai-Britt Zocca about the potential of therapeutic vaccines to strip the defenses used by cancer cells to keep the immune system at bay.
By Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D., founder and chief executive officer, IO Biotech • May 20, 2024 -
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News roundup
Erasca restructures; Novartis moves to complete MorphoSys deal
The cancer biotech is laying off one-fifth of its staff and scrapping three drugs. Elsewhere, Novartis secured sufficient support for its $3 billion buyout and Bristol Myers won a new CAR-T approval.
By BioPharma Dive staff • May 17, 2024 -
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Obesity drugsInvestors put $400M into biotech licensing obesity drugs from China
The biotech, tentatively named Hercules CM Newco, has rights to three incretin drugs discovered by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, two of which are in clinical testing.
By Gwendolyn Wu • May 16, 2024 -
Permission granted by Biogen
ALS drug developmentBiogen, Ionis shelve ALS drug following study failure
While results indicated the drug works as intended, it didn’t have enough of an effect on a protein that’s become integral to many ALS research programs.
By Jacob Bell • May 16, 2024
