Tome Biosciences debuts with $213M and a new way to edit the genome

Based on the work of MIT scientists, the well-funded startup is developing ways to insert large sizes of genetic material anywhere in the genome without damaging or breaking DNA.

By Ben Fidler • Dec. 12, 2023

Pricey new gene therapies for sickle cell pose access test

Casgevy, the first CRISPR therapy approved by the FDA, will cost $2.2 million, while Bluebird’s competing genetic medicine is priced at $3.1 million.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 8, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Cell therapy

The continued emergence of CAR-T therapy has fueled research into next-generation approaches and new applications, such as its use in autoimmune diseases.

By BioPharma Dive staff

Spyre Therapeutics raises $180 million to advance anti-inflammatory drugs

The private placement funding will help Spyre develop its drug pipeline, which includes a TL1A-targeting therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 8, 2023

CRISPR therapy for sickle cell approved by FDA in gene editing milestone

Developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, Casgevy is the first drug based on the Nobel Prize-winning gene editing technology to reach market.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Dec. 8, 2023

Radiopharma startup Artbio raises $90M in sign of field’s momentum

The funding is indicative of investor interest in an area of drug research that involves at least a dozen startups and multiple publicly traded companies.

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 7, 2023

Biotech venture firms continue ‘recalibration’ in third quarter, Pitchbook report finds

Data collected by Pitchbook suggests venture funding totals are still sliding amid a "strategic shift" by investors towards fewer, but more substantial deals.

By Ben Fidler • Dec. 7, 2023

AbbVie to buy Cerevel in $8.7B bet on brain drugs

The deal hands AbbVie a portfolio of psychiatric medicines that originated within Pfizer, among them a closely watched schizophrenia treatment that’s in late-stage testing.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Jacob Bell • Updated Dec. 6, 2023

Fujifilm to invest $200M in cell therapy production

The funds are meant to boost Fujifilm’s capacity to manufacture cell therapies, a market it expects to grow substantially in the coming years.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 6, 2023

Intuitive’s venture capital arm launches second investment fund

The $150 million fund will back early-stage companies focused on healthcare access, digital health, and precision diagnostics and interventions.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 5, 2023

BIO names longtime Amicus head John Crowley as new CEO

Crowley, a rare disease advocate who led Amicus for nearly two decades, will take the reins as the industry group seeks to challenge Medicare’s new drug pricing powers.

By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 5, 2023

CRISPR eyes autoimmune disease in revamp of cell therapy plans

The gene editing biotech is shelving two of its most advanced cancer drugs, and joining a growing group of companies exploring cell-based medicines for inflammatory diseases like lupus.

By Ben Fidler • Dec. 5, 2023

BrainChild Bio spins out of Seattle Children’s to develop cancer drugs

Launched from BrainChild founder Michael Jensen’s lab at the Washington-area hospital, the company is focusing first on pediatric brain tumors.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Dec. 5, 2023

Roche joins obesity drug chase with $2.7B deal for startup Carmot

The acquisition of Carmot, which had been planning an IPO, will hand Roche three weight loss medicines in early clinical testing.

By Ben Fidler • Dec. 4, 2023

Concentra, on the hunt for deals, bids for LianBio

The Tang Capital-controlled company is bidding for LianBio shortly after making takeover offers for Rain Oncology and Theseus Pharmaceuticals.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 1, 2023

Flagship outlines plans to raise $3B for new fund

The biotech company creator’s last fund, which closed in 2021, brought in $3.4 billion for investing in new drug startups.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Nov. 30, 2023

Roivant’s Matt Gline on raising capital and biotech’s outlook for 2024

Fresh off a $7 billion deal with Roche, the chief executive spoke with BioPharma Dive about this year’s “discordant combination” of major biotech achievements and market headwinds.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Nov. 28, 2023

Flagship-backed microbiome biotech Evelo to shut down

The company said it had not found “a viable alternative” to closing down in the months since it hit a clinical setback and laid off staff. 

By Gwendolyn Wu • Nov. 22, 2023

Quotient emerges from Flagship with plan to explore somatic mutations

Studying somatic mutations could be “the next wave of opportunity” to develop more precise medicines, said Mike Stratton, a scientific co-founder of Quotient.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Nov. 21, 2023

Roche’s Genentech partners with Nvidia in AI drug deal

The partnership is another investment by the biotech subsidiary in artificial intelligence for drug discovery and development, continuing an industry trend. 

By Gwendolyn Wu • Nov. 21, 2023

Homology enters reverse merger with Q32 Bio

The deal, which will result in a combined company operating under Q32's name, comes months after Homology laid off much of its staff.

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 16, 2023

World’s first CRISPR medicine approved in UK for sickle cell, beta thalassemia

Clearance of Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics' Casgevy in the U.K. comes ahead of expected regulatory decisions in the U.S. and Europe.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 16, 2023

West Coast investor Red Tree on its San Diego expansion and staying bullish in biotech

Red Tree Venture Capital plans to tap into San Diego’s biotech pipeline as it works to build a West Coast competitor to Boston-area investors.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Updated Nov. 20, 2023

Alkermes separates cancer drug business as new company Mural

Now independent Mural Oncology will focus on advancing a pipeline of engineered cytokines for cancer, while Alkermes has recast itself as a “pure-play” neuroscience company.

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 15, 2023

A gene editing biotech’s struggles end with reverse merger

Since halting work on a sickle cell treatment early this year, Graphite Bio has laid off staff, shed assets and, now, agreed to be subsumed via a merger with Lenz Therapeutics.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 15, 2023

Forbion-backed biotech raises $138M to develop ALS drug

The Series A round for three-year-old startup VectorY is one of the largest private financings in Europe this year, Forbion said.

By Delilah Alvarado • Nov. 14, 2023