Ensoma buys a startup to advance ‘in vivo’ cell therapy work

The Takeda-backed biotech revealed it’s raised $85 million in new funding alongside announcing the acquisition of gene editing startup Twelve Bio.

By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 6, 2023

Fate, two other cell therapy biotechs lay off staff, restructure research

The cuts at Fate, Century and TCR2 Therapeutics signal a longer road in the companies’ plans to develop next-generation cell therapies for cancer.

By Christopher Newman • Jan. 6, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from BioPharma Dive

Looming patent expiries this decade and intensifying competition from China are forcing drugmakers to adapt, while new opportunities open up in oncology and in neuroscience.

By BioPharma Dive staff

Bluebird bolsters balance sheet with sale of second regulatory fast pass

The gene therapy developer will receive $95 million from Bristol Myers Squibb, slightly less than it got in the recent sale of another priority review voucher.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 6, 2023

Novocure shares soar on positive lung cancer data

A regimen involving the Swiss biotech’s electrical field-based treatment extended lives in a late-stage trial. But data comparing the medical device to standard chemotherapy is less persuasive.

By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 5, 2023

Biogen splits R&D executive role, promoting interim head Singhal

Singhal, who took over R&D leadership on an interim basis from Al Sandrock, will lead Biogen’s development work while the company searches for a new research chief.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 5, 2023

Sesen, Carisma merger plans draw shareholder opposition

Investors holding an 8% stake in Sesen say they’re unhappy with the reverse merger between the struggling biotech and Carisma Therapeutics.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Jan. 4, 2023

Prevail, Capsida partner to develop gene therapies for nervous system diseases

The Lilly-owned subsidiary will pay $55 million to gain access to Capsida’s AAV gene therapy technology in a deal aimed at central nervous system disorders.

By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 4, 2023

Moderna, becoming a buyer, acquires a synthetic biology specialist

The biotech said its first acquisition, an $85 million purchase of Japanese company OriCiro Genomics, will hand it better tools to make a key building block of messenger RNA.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 4, 2023

Belharra debuts with $130M in funding, Genentech partnership

The Versant-backed company emerged from stealth with technology it says can help it better identify small molecule drugs for any target on any protein.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Jan. 4, 2023

Disappearing IPOs, building startups and closing deals: Views from an up-and-down year in biotech

2022 was a difficult year for new drugmakers. Look back at Q&As that BioPharma Dive conducted with investors, founders and executives.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 3, 2023

FDA halts planned trial of Entrada Duchenne drug

Shares in the Boston-based biotech fell on the news, which comes shortly after a deal with Vertex around another type of muscular dystrophy.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Dec. 20, 2022

Hearing loss biotech Otonomy plans to dissolve

After trial setbacks and a restructuring, Otonomy plans to liquidate and shut down if a plan is approved by shareholders in the first quarter next year.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 20, 2022

Gilead buys Tmunity, cozying up to a CAR-T pioneer

Tmunity, a private biotech co-founded by cell therapy researcher Carl June, offers Gilead a slate of experimental programs, a technology platform and an alliance with the University of Pennsylvania. 

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 20, 2022

Roche, Biogen sign royalty deal for late-stage lymphoma drug

Roche will pay royalties to Biogen on glofitimab, part of a long-standing collaboration between the two companies that’s resulted in Rituxan and Ocrevus.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Dec. 26, 2022

Madrigal shares triple on positive NASH study results

The company said its experimental drug helped patients with the fatty liver disease while also improving fibrosis. One analyst called the readout a “major win” for Madrigal and the NASH field.

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 19, 2022

Nimbus CEO Jeb Keiper on negotiating a $4B deal and building an unorthodox biotech startup

Days after inking one of the largest deals for an unapproved drug, the CEO spoke with BioPharma Dive about the company’s unusual origins and decision to remain private — for now. 

By Ben Fidler • Dec. 16, 2022

Sio Gene Therapies to dissolve after years of setbacks

Having failed to find a buyer or potential partner, the biotech company has opted instead to shut down and liquidate its assets.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 15, 2022

A San Diego startup sees covalent biologics as the next frontier in cancer drugs

Enlaza claims to be the first biotech to build a pipeline of protein drugs that can grab their target via covalent binding, a twist on previous drugmaking methods.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Dec. 15, 2022

For ALS patients, doctors, a new medicine reignites concerns about healthcare access

Relyvrio, a drug developed by Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, is in high demand in ALS clinics across the U.S. Though some patients are already getting it, insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs remain a source of anxiety.

By Jacob Bell , Shaun Lucas • Dec. 15, 2022

Cytokinetics heart drug voted down by FDA panel

Following years of development, the biotech’s heart failure drug now faces another hurdle in its regulatory path forward, after a group of FDA advisers took issue with its trial evidence. 

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 14, 2022

GSK gives Wave a lift with genetic medicine deal

A four-year agreement between the companies comes with $170 million in cash and equity for Wave, which in recent years has dealt with clinical setbacks.

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 14, 2022

Mirati’s KRAS-blocking cancer drug approved by FDA

Cleared for a certain kind of mutated lung cancer, the medicine will challenge Amgen’s similarly acting treatment Lumakras.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 13, 2022

Moderna vaccine succeeds in early-stage skin cancer study with Merck’s Keytruda

The positive data are the most significant findings for the mRNA developer’s pipeline of experimental treatments outside of infectious diseases, where it has reaped billions from COVID-19 vaccine sales. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 13, 2022

Black Diamond spins out new biotech to develop cancer drugs

Months after restructuring and trimming its workforce, the company has teamed up with its original investors to form an antibody drug developer called Launchpad Therapeutics.

By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 13, 2022

Flagship’s Lovisa Afzelius on creating a successful biotech and a ‘very different’ startup market

Even with a shaky market for drug startups, the Apriori CEO and Alltrna cofounder said Flagship will continue its approach of betting on cutting-edge, and unproven, science.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Dec. 13, 2022