The Latest
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Adeline Kon/BioPharma Dive
Deep DiveBiotech M&A is picking back up. Here are the latest deals.
Fourteen acquisitions totaling $23 billion in value were announced in the second quarter, easily eclipsing the marks set during the same period last year and in 2020.
Updated 11 hours ago -
Sponsored by Medscape
Connect to the conversation around mental health: A spotlight on physician burnout
This year's report showed that 47% of physicians feel burned out, compared with 42% the year before.
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Jacob Bell
Jazz drug fails in late-stage study for multiple sclerosis
The drug, part of Jazz’s $7 billion acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals, didn’t perform significantly better than placebo in treating the muscle spasticity that’s tied to the disease.
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DKosig via Getty Images
Gene therapy safetyAnother Astellas gene therapy trial paused by FDA after side effect report
The regulator suspended testing of Astellas’ Pompe disease treatment after one patient experienced peripheral nerve damage. Both of the pharma’s clinical-stage gene therapies are now on hold.
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Permission granted by Relay Therapeutics
Relay details new research plans in quest to design better cancer drugs
The biotech company revealed three new drug candidates for breast cancer, while laying out a path to regulators for its most advanced treatment.
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Sanofi Pasteur
Sanofi, GSK say dual-acting vaccine prevents COVID-19 from omicron in large trial
A shot the partners have been developing reduced symptomatic infections associated with the variant by 72% compared to a placebo, positioning it as a potential option, if approved, to combat omicron.
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Adeline Kon/BioPharma Dive
Deep DiveAfter a record run, fewer biotechs are going public. Here's how they're performing.
Only a handful of the 118 biotechs that have gone public since the start of 2021 trade above their offering price. Both of the two top performers, Belite Bio and Nuvectis Pharma, started out with small valuations.
Updated June 27, 2022 -
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Radius, maker of bone and cancer drugs, to be bought in take-private deal
Two investment firms, Gurnet Point Capital and Patient Square Capital, have agreed to pay as much as $890 million for Radius, which has come under pressure amid share price declines.
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UniQure buoyed by early data for Huntington's gene therapy
After one year, researchers detected important protein changes in patients who received a low dose of the experimental treatment. Further testing and functional data are needed to assess its potential, however.
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Novartis
Novartis to invest $250M in tropical disease drug research
The bulk of the investment will go toward advancing development of three antimalarial drug candidates meant to combat resistance to artemisinin, a common treatment.
Updated June 23, 2022 -
Courtesy of Galapagos
Galapagos, with latest deals, charts an unexpected journey to cell therapy
The Belgian drugmaker will spend more than $100 million to acquire two companies, CellPoint and AboundBio, in a move meant to “disrupt” CAR-T treatment.
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Permission granted by Biogen
Biogen, citing insurance challenges, shutters one of its Aduhelm studies
The company says a recent coverage decision by Medicare has forced it to end an observational trial of the Alzheimer's drug after enrolling just 29 participants.
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Novartis
Novartis hunting for sickle cell cure with Precision deal
The pharma will pay $75 million to access Precision’s gene editing technology, adding another program to the lengthening list of drug development efforts targeting the inherited blood condition.
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Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
Ionis, AstraZeneca claim success for competitor to Alnylam rare disease drug
A medicine at the center of a multibillion-dollar alliance between the two companies passed a major test in transthyretin amyloidosis. Full study details were not disclosed, however.
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Jose Luis Calvo Martin, Jose Enrique Garcia-Maurino Muzquiz via Getty Images
Mixed results for PTC Duchenne drug put spotlight on EU approval
A confirmatory study of PTC Therapeutics’ muscular dystrophy treatment Translarna missed its main goal, although the company highlighted the trial’s overall positive results.
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A biotech startup launches with $38M to develop a cystic fibrosis gene therapy
Carbon Biosciences believes its technology, which is based on parvoviruses, could allow for larger gene delivery and repeat dosing.
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Pfizer takes stake in Lyme disease partner ahead of key study
Valneva will receive $95 million from Pfizer to support development of a vaccine candidate as the French company’s COVID-19 work sputters.
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Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
FDA authorizes Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for young children
The much-anticipated decision follows two days after a panel of independent experts unanimously recommended expanding the shots’ use.
Updated June 19, 2022 -
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Roche Alzheimer's study fails in another setback to a long-tested hypothesis
The failure is an upset not only to Roche, but also a blow to the wider Alzheimer’s research field, which has for years kept focus on a protein called beta amyloid.
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E+ via Getty Images
Boehringer extends cancer dealmaking with right to buy biotech partner
The German pharma company has secured an option to acquire Trutino Biosciences, two years after inking a research collaboration with the San Diego drug developer.
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Carol Highsmith. (2005). "The Apex Building" [Photo]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
Pharma under the microscope as FTC considers new ways to review acquisitions
At a two-day meeting, experts argued drug divestitures may not be enough to prevent market concentration. Economists and regulators also appeared worried by the effect of buyouts on innovation.
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With biotech in retreat, Third Rock raises $1B for life sciences investing
The fund, Third Rock’s sixth, comes amid a significant downturn in biotech stocks, which has raised questions about the viability of young drug startups.
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Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
Pfizer study results show Paxlovid benefit less clear in lower-risk patients
A closely watched study missed its goal, failing to prove the antiviral pill’s benefit in a broader population than the high-risk individuals for which it’s currently cleared.
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Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
FDA advisers recommend Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for youngest children
Independent experts unanimously supported use of both shots in children aged 6 months to 5 years old, clearing the way for an FDA decision.
Updated June 15, 2022 -
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Alnylam wins FDA approval of rare disease drug in step toward profitability
Amvuttra, a transthyretin amyloidosis medicine previously known as vutrisiran, is viewed by biotech analysts as important to the company’s goal of ending years of financial losses.
Updated June 14, 2022 -
FDA approves Lilly, Incyte drug for alopecia, but includes safety warning
The partners’ JAK inhibitor Olumiant is the first systemic treatment for an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. But known risks of heart attacks and cancer could complicate its launch.
