RNA editing specialist Korro to go public via reverse merger

The deal with Frequency Therapeutics is the latest biotech reverse merger as private drugmakers still face challenges going public via an IPO.

By Delilah Alvarado • July 14, 2023

Rupert Vessey, former Bristol Myers exec, to join Flagship as top scientist

Vessey, who previously led research and early drug development at Celgene and Merck, left Bristol Myers earlier this month following changes in the company’s R&D organization.

By Gwendolyn Wu • July 13, 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

Startup Tenpoint raises $70M to develop regenerative medicines for the eye

Backed by F-Prime Capital and Sofinnova Partners, the company claims to have technology that could allow it replace eye cells destroyed in age-related and inherited ocular conditions.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 12, 2023

Avrobio halts gene therapy research and considers a sale

The decision to explore “strategic alternatives” comes about six weeks after the company sold its most advanced treatment to Novartis for nearly $90 million.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 12, 2023

Septerna raises $150M to fuel GPCR drug research

RA Capital led a Series B financing round that drew participation from more than a dozen blue-chip venture backers, including new investors Goldman Sachs and Vertex Ventures.

By Delilah Alvarado • July 11, 2023

Merck’s New Jersey campus is getting a biotech makeover

After buying the pharmaceutical giant’s Kenilworth campus, Onyx Equities is looking to make the spot a go-to biotech hub.

By Michael Gibney • July 11, 2023

Astellas buys rights to 4D Molecular’s technology in latest gene therapy deal

The licensing agreement for the biotech’s viral vector platform follows recent Astellas agreements with Taysha Gene Therapies and Kate Therapeutics.

By Delilah Alvarado • July 10, 2023

Nanobiotix licenses cancer treatment to J&J, extending runway

The pharma company will pay $30 million upfront to gain rights to an experimental therapy meant to enhance the anti-tumor effect of radiation.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 10, 2023

European regulators probe suicide risk to Ozempic, other Novo drug Saxenda

Three reports from Iceland spurred the EMA to evaluate whether certain Novo Nordisk drugs, including Ozempic, might cause thoughts of self harm.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 10, 2023

Brii buys further into VBI therapy, expanding hepatitis B partnership

The deal comes three months after VBI cut costs and laid off staff in a restructuring meant to prioritize the two medicines Brii is interested in. 

By Delilah Alvarado • July 6, 2023

‘It’s felt like Groundhog Day’: Biotech IPO slump drags on through 2023

Some industry watchers predict activity could soon pick up, as market conditions improve and a mix of cash-strapped startups as well as advanced biotechs test the waters. 

By Gwendolyn Wu • July 6, 2023

Meet Dr. Linda Traylor, VP of Medical Excellence with Acceleration Point

As the new vice president of medical excellence with global consulting and software firm Acceleration Point, she’s excited to focus on the role of technology in advancing her industry.

July 3, 2023

F-Prime’s Ketan Patel on ‘reverse ageism’ in biotech and investing in a downturn

In an interview, the longtime venture investor discussed ways to support first-time entrepreneurs and build companies in lesser-known hubs. 

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 30, 2023

Lilly to acquire cancer antibody drug startup Emergence

The yet-to-be-announced deal for the German biotech is the latest move by Lilly to bulk up its oncology business, adding a drug in early development for solid tumors.

By Gwendolyn Wu , Ben Fidler • June 29, 2023

Illumina plans layoffs, closure of San Diego facility in push to save $100M a year

As well as exiting the San Diego site, Illumina is “evaluating its options” for another California campus in Foster City.

By Nick Paul Taylor • June 28, 2023

FibroGen plans new round of cost cuts after latest study setback

The biotech is planning a “significant cost reduction” effort in the U.S. following a Phase 3 failure in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the third trial miss it’s reported since May.

By Ben Fidler • June 26, 2023

Biogen shareholders vote in favor of new board member

Susan Langer, whose nomination stirred controversy due to her ties to an outgoing director, will now join seven other board members who successfully ran for re-election.

By Jacob Bell • June 26, 2023

Intercept to abandon NASH research, lay off staff after FDA drug rejection

The FDA for the second time turned back Intercept’s application for approval of its drug obeticholic acid in the liver disease, spurring the restructuring.

By Ben Fidler • June 23, 2023

Spyre, a new biotech spinout, launches via merger with Aeglea

The company, which emerged from Paragon Therapeutics, is developing bowel disease drugs similar to Takeda's Entyvio and an experimental Prometheus drug just bought by Merck & Co. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 22, 2023

Startup Tagworks raises $65M to make ‘click-to-release’ cancer drugs

The biotech is borrowing from Nobel Prize-winning “click chemistry” to develop medicines that can precisely target a variety of solid tumors.

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 22, 2023

Argenx wins FDA approval for under-the-skin injection of rare disease drug

Clearance of a subcutaneous form of Argenx’s medicine, known as Vyvgart, could help pad a launch that’s already exceeded Wall Street expectations.

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 21, 2023

Flagship’s latest startup aims to take the guesswork out of small molecule drugs

Empress Therapeutics claims its technology can identify chemical drug candidates faster and more reliably. The biotech now has $50 million from Flagship to prove it.

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 21, 2023

Patient death spurs FDA to pause test of Arcellx’s Gilead-partnered cell therapy

The company said limitations on “bridging treatment” used to hold cancer in check could be to blame, and is working to change the study’s protocol.

By Jonathan Gardner • June 20, 2023

Attovia, a new California biotech, launches with plans to rethink how drugs bind their targets

A spinout of Alamar Biosciences, Attovia aims to create nanobody-based drugs that are more effective in treating autoimmune diseases and cancer.

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 20, 2023

Cell and gene therapy manufacturing: the next generation of startups

Joining larger CDMOs like Lonza and Catalent, a new group of companies aims to capitalize on persistent bottlenecks in producing complex genetic treatments.

By Gwendolyn Wu • June 20, 2023