Biotech: Page 2

Drugging RNA with pills: small molecules for a big frontier

A handful of startups have formed in recent years with plans to target RNA with small molecules. Many have caught the attention of big drugmakers.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Sept. 6, 2022

Finch to lay off 37% of staff after Takeda ends microbiome drug deal

The company will cut 50 full-time positions and halt preclinical work on a pill for symptoms of autism in its second restructuring effort since April.  

By Christopher Newman • Sept. 2, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Emerging biotech

A public market downturn has extended through 2022, forcing venture firms to build their drug startups more cautiously. Still, new biotech companies continue to emerge, as private investors have billions of available dollars to put to use.

By BioPharma Dive staff

With rare acquisition, Novo Nordisk makes $1B bet on sickle cell disease drug

The target company, Forma Therapeutics, started as a developer of cancer drugs but has made the most progress in rare blood disorders, attracting Novo’s attention.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Sept. 6, 2022

Biotech startup Ocean pivots from IPO to SPAC merger

The blank-check deal gives Ocean another route to public markets after it struggled to price an initial public offering it revealed back in June 2021.

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 31, 2022

Jounce’s latest setback dampens outlook for another cancer immunotherapy target

The biotech's drug prospect vopratelimab has become the latest member of a group of medicines targeting a molecule called ICOS to fall short of expectations in clinical testing.  

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 30, 2022

Atlas Venture’s Bruce Booth on testing the IPO waters and putting the ‘tech’ in biotech

In a wide-ranging conversation with BioPharma Dive, Booth, a prolific builder of new biotechs, said he’s starting to see positive signs for startups considering an IPO or private financing.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Aug. 30, 2022

Akili CEO Martucci sees ‘massive’ need for company’s ADHD video-game treatment

With enough cash now to last two years, the company, which merged with a SPAC last week, hopes it can change the way children with ADHD are treated.

By Elise Reuter • Aug. 29, 2022

Takeda ends deal with Finch as bumpy ride continues for microbiome drugs

The pharma company terminated a collaboration that could’ve netted the biotech about $350 million. It’s the latest in a string of recent setbacks for microbiome drug developers.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 26, 2022

ElevateBio finds a new manufacturing home and long-term gene therapy partner in Pittsburgh

The biotech signed a 30-year deal with the University of Pittsburgh to establish a gene and cell therapy manufacturing hub that’s being built with a $100 million grant.  

By Kristen Jensen • Aug. 25, 2022

Merck backs radiopharmaceutical startup Aktis, joining other high-profile backers

The pharma contributed to an $84 million round for the new cancer drugmaker, which attracted Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb in an earlier fundraise. 

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 25, 2022

Backed by $40M, a biotech startup targets cancer with help from the immune system

After several years in stealth, 3T Biosciences is launching publicly with plans to develop newer types of T cell receptor-based treatments.

By Jacob Bell • Aug. 25, 2022

‘Treg’ startup Sonoma expands with plans for manufacturing plant

The biotech, launched by immunologist Jeffrey Bluestone, is developing regulatory T cell therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 24, 2022

Biotech Erasca taps MD Anderson to help advance cancer drug work

The five-year partnership is one of many inked between the cancer center and drugmakers like Erasca, which is targeting a cellular pathway linked to many types of tumors.

By Christopher Newman • Aug. 23, 2022

Next-generation RNA technologies: making longer-lasting drugs with a broader reach

At least nine biotechnology startups are trying to use RNA molecules in new ways to make medicines. Here’s a look at where they stand.

By Jacob Bell • Updated Aug. 24, 2022

Take the legwork out of drug toxicity screening

Leveraging adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) just got easier. Learn how to be a pro.

Aug. 22, 2022

Axsome rebounds to win FDA approval of depression drug

A year after finding flaws in the biotech’s application, the regulator cleared a treatment some analysts view as a blockbuster-to-be, sending shares up.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 19, 2022

Bluejay raises $41M to bring hepatitis B drugs to clinical testing

The biotech startup, which licensed two programs from Novartis, is part of a crowded field of drugmakers trying to develop new hepatitis B treatments. 

By Gwendolyn Wu • Aug. 19, 2022

Schrödinger names longtime biotech analyst Porges its CFO and top dealmaker

After two decades researching biotechs at SVB Securities and AllianceBernstein, Geoffrey Porges will seek to grow the drug discovery specialist's network of partnerships.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 18, 2022

Moderna, after firing newly hired CFO, finds replacement in PerkinElmer executive

The COVID-19 vaccine maker has appointed James Mock, currently PerkinElmer’s CFO, as its next finance head, three months after ousting Jorge Gomez from the role. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 17, 2022

Gilead, with new results, doubles down on breast cancer drug

The company has agreed to spend at least $280 million buying back rights to the drug, called Trodelvy, which were sold to Everest Medicines in 2019.

By Jacob Bell • Aug. 16, 2022

Ventyx touts early data for potential rival to Bristol Myers psoriasis drug

The biotech plans to start Phase 2 studies for a drug it believes may more effectively hit its target than Bristol Myers’ deucravacitinib, a skin disease treatment regulators could approve next month. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 16, 2022

Merck pays startup Orna $150M as ‘circular RNA’ attracts industry interest

The pharmaceutical giant has formed an alliance with Orna, investing $100 million in its Series B round in hopes the young biotech’s approach will lead to multiple new vaccines and drugs.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 16, 2022

Amid market turbulence, a Flagship startup pushes off an IPO with a new fundraise

Senda Biosciences decided to raise a $123 million Series C round rather than test public markets with an initial offering, its top executive said.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Aug. 16, 2022

‘Treg’ cell therapy: bringing CAR-T to autoimmune disease

At least seven companies, including five richly funded startups, are developing cell-based treatments for inflammatory conditions, making it one of biotech’s most competitive fields. 

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 16, 2022

Despite failed trial, Brainstorm asks FDA to approve ALS drug

The move comes less than a month after the agency agreed to review Biogen’s tofersen — another ALS drug with a questionable record in clinical testing.

By Jacob Bell • Updated Aug. 18, 2022