Moderna reports ‘encouraging’ early data for one of its rare disease medicines

Now known for its vaccine research, the biotech said its clinical trial is the first to report results of a messenger RNA therapeutic designed for intracellular protein replacement.

By Jacob Bell • May 19, 2023

Mustang pares research, sells manufacturing plant to save money

The biotech joins a score of other cell and gene therapy developers that, on the heels of a historic market downturn, have cut costs.

By Jacob Bell • May 18, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Emerging 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

Billy Dunn, former FDA neuroscience head, joins Prothena board

Dunn is joining the neurological drug developer less than three months after stepping down from his role leading an agency office responsible for several controversial regulatory reviews. 

By Kristin Jensen • May 17, 2023

Siren emerges from stealth with plans to marry gene therapy to cancer immunotherapy

Spun out of the lab of former UCSF researcher Nicole Paulk, the biotech is targeting brain and eye tumors with a new kind of treatment it has dubbed “immuno-gene therapy.”

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 17, 2023

Biotech Scribe strikes gene editing deal with Lilly subsidiary

The California-based company now has partnerships in place with Sanofi, Biogen and Lilly’s Prevail.

By Gwendolyn Wu • May 16, 2023

Biotech startup Ray raises $100M for vision-restoring gene therapies

Founded in early 2021, the company is using optogenetics to design treatments that could work across disease genotypes and in the later stages of vision loss.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 16, 2023

Flagship’s newest startup is imitating nature to make new drugs

The latest startup from one of biotech’s most prolific company creators has $50 million to explore a new way of designing medicines.

By Gwendolyn Wu • May 16, 2023

Gilead expands Arcus partnership, with eye to inflammatory disease

The new deal is worth up to $1 billion, and will see the two collaborators work together on up to four inflammatory disease drug targets.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 15, 2023

Nido debuts with $109M for its precision approach to brain drugs

Backed by 5AM Ventures and Eli Lilly, the startup has advanced a drug for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy into clinical testing.

By Gwendolyn Wu • May 15, 2023

How real-world data helps manufacturers see the complete market access story

Using labs and claims data, pharma companies can uncover new opportunities to improve market access for patients.

By Dinesh Kabaleeswaran, SVP of Consulting and Advisory Services, MMIT • May 15, 2023

How to successfully bring your drug product to launch

Vetter brings a proven launch management process that combines extensive experience with in-depth product knowledge.

By Dr. Anna Schamberger, Director Customer Project Management & Sabrina Schumacher, Team Leader Customer Service • May 15, 2023

Amylyx’s ALS drug again surpasses Wall Street expectations

Revenue from the biotech’s ALS therapy Relyvrio totaled $71.4 million in the first quarter, well above analyst estimates and helping the company turn a profit only months into the drug’s launch.

By Jacob Bell • May 11, 2023

Alzheimer’s doctors see promise, limits in Lilly’s latest drug data

While some see the new donanemab results as adding to a “watershed moment” in Alzheimer’s research, others say they reinforce the limitations of so-called anti-amyloid therapies.

By Jacob Bell • May 10, 2023

Cancer vaccine from BioNTech, Roche shows potential in small study

The companies’ personalized shot generated tumor-specific T cells that researchers hope could prevent pancreatic cancer from returning after surgery.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 10, 2023

Gilead acquires San Diego startup for early-stage cancer, immune drugs

The buyout of privately held XinThera continues a string of recent acquisitions of smaller biotechs by Gilead and hands it a group of drug prospects that could begin clinical testing later this year.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 9, 2023

Roche pays China-based biotech $70M for a new HER2 drug

The drug, currently in Phase 1, is an oral medicine designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and better treat HER2 tumors that have spread to the brain.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 9, 2023

EQRx resets strategy, abandoning plans to disrupt drug pricing

Launched in 2020 with a "radical" vision, EQRx ran into roadblocks that stymied its efforts to develop new medicines and undercut competitors on price.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 8, 2023

Recursion to acquire two Canadian drug discovery startups

The company agreed to buy Cyclica and Valence after winnowing down a list of more than 100 potential takeover targets, its CEO told BioPharma Dive. 

By Gwendolyn Wu • May 8, 2023

Former Rubius, Laronde CEO Cagnoni to join Incyte

Six months after being named head of RNA-focused biotech Laronde, Pablo Cagnoni has left the buzzy startup to run Incyte’s R&D work.

By Delilah Alvarado • May 8, 2023

Amplifying lupus disease activity with real-world data and machine learning

Although there is currently no cure, there is great promise in the fight against lupus. Real-world data and artificial intelligence are both critical to the future of clinical research.

By Jessica Probst, MPH, Senior Specialist, Real World Evidence, OM1 • May 8, 2023

FibroGen’s anemia pill falls short in blood cancer study

The medicine, available in Europe but rejected two years ago by U.S. regulators, didn’t eliminate the need for blood transfusions among patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 5, 2023

Convergent raises $90M to develop its radiopharmaceutical for prostate cancer

The biotech is the latest startup to capitalize on rising investor interest in targeted drugs that use radioisotopes to destroy tumors. 

By Delilah Alvarado • May 5, 2023

Apellis reports strong start for new vision loss drug

Higher-than-expected sales of the geographic atrophy therapy Syfovre pushed shares in Apellis higher, and could add to speculation about a takeover.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 5, 2023

Acelyrin follows Kenvue with largest IPO for a biotech startup since 2021

The $540 million offering adds to evidence suggesting young drugmakers may need to be well into clinical testing before going public in the current market. 

By Gwendolyn Wu • Updated May 8, 2023

Lilly’s new Alzheimer’s data may both help and hinder rival Biogen

The success of Lilly’s donanemab in slowing Alzheimer’s progression should reinforce the potential of Leqembi — a similar, recently approved medicine from Eisai and Biogen — but may also make for stiff competition.

By Jacob Bell • May 3, 2023