A brain drug developer joins a growing list of biotech layoffs

California-based Alector plans to reduce its headcount by around 30 as part of a larger effort to reprioritize research programs.

By Jacob Bell • March 30, 2023

Mathai Mammen, former J&J executive, to become FogPharma CEO

The veteran pharmaceutical executive was J&J’s head of R&D until his departure last August. He’s agreed to run FogPharma, a richly funded startup, and take over for founder Greg Verdine.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 30, 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

Bluebird, awaiting FDA feedback, says it’s likely to miss filing goal for sickle cell gene therapy

The company anticipates hearing back from the agency “within a matter of weeks,” after which it will submit a much-anticipated approval application.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 29, 2023

A small biotech’s shares double on diabetes drug results

The stock surge has made Biomea Fusion one of the sector’s top performers among the 130 biotechs that have gone public since the start of 2021. 

By Kristin Jensen • March 29, 2023

Viking joins obesity drug development race with early study data

The biotech is working on a dual-acting weight loss treatment that could compete with medicines from Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and others.

By Jonathan Gardner • March 28, 2023

Novartis taps Bicycle to develop radiopharmaceutical drugs for cancer

The pharma aims to use Bicycle's drugmaking technology to explore new ways of making the targeted radiation treatments.

By Delilah Alvarado • March 28, 2023

Intra-Cellular shares rise on depression study’s success

The biotech’s drug lumateperone scored in a late-stage study of patients with either bipolar or major depressive disorder — results which some analysts called a “clear win.”

By Jacob Bell • March 28, 2023

Regeneron bets on ‘Treg’ cell therapy with Sonoma deal

The biotech will work with Sonoma, a well-funded startup run by prominent immunologist Jeffrey Bluestone, to develop cell-based medicines for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

By Ben Fidler • March 28, 2023

After an ‘amazing year,’ SR One raises $600M to fuel more drug startups

The former venture arm of GSK had several of its portfolio companies get acquired or go public in the past year, overcoming a tough environment for young biotechs.

By Gwendolyn Wu • March 27, 2023

ALS drugmakers, encouraged by recent FDA feedback, set their sights on a key protein

A closely watched meeting showed the FDA’s own external advisers think that effects on this protein, known as neurofilament, could be enough to warrant conditional approval of certain drugs.

By Jacob Bell • Updated March 31, 2023

BrainStorm files ALS drug application over FDA protest

The medicine, a personalized stem cell treatment, will be reviewed by an FDA advisory committee sometime in the future, the company said.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 27, 2023

Biosimilar brands bring buzz to pharma marketing

Bracing for biosimilars? Learn how biosimilar launches differ from traditional biologics.

March 27, 2023

Stuart Peltz, founder of PTC, retires after 25 years as CEO

Peltz steered PTC through several setbacks and successes, most notably the development of the spinal muscular atrophy drug Evrysdi. He'll be replaced by COO Matt Klein.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 24, 2023

Biotech startups face ‘Series A cliff’ as venture capital stays cautious

Series A rounds have been easy to secure in the last few years, but industry watchers say they haven't seen a corresponding increase in Series Bs as startups struggle to recruit new investors.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Updated March 27, 2023

Former Seagen CEO Siegall returns to biotech as head of early-stage startup

Nearly one year after Clay Siegall’s arrest and resignation from Seagen, the executive has been named CEO of Morphimmune, a small cancer biotech.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 23, 2023

Novo partners with Dewpoint to mine an emerging field for new drugs

The companies will collaborate to identify compounds that could treat insulin resistance by targeting shape-shifting cellular droplets known as biomolecular condensates.

By Delilah Alvarado • March 22, 2023

Biohaven strikes a deal to take TYK2 drugs in a new direction

The rebooted biotech plans to test whether blocking TYK2 in the brain could help treat neurological diseases, licensing a compound from China-based Hangzhou Highlightll Pharmaceutical.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 22, 2023

At EpiBiologics, a pair of Genentech alumni wants to make next-gen protein degraders

Armed with a $50 million Series A round, the startup is building off of research from a lab run by protein engineering pioneer Jim Wells.

By Gwendolyn Wu • March 22, 2023

A biotech stumbles in its bid to challenge Novo’s obesity drug

Altimmune’s drug aided weight loss in a Phase 2 trial, but also came with side effects that could hamper its ability to compete with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. 

By Jonathan Gardner • March 21, 2023

Flush with cash, BioNTech buys into an immunotherapy to rival Yervoy

The COVID-19 vaccine maker is paying $200 million to secure rights to an experimental CTLA-4 inhibitor that privately held OncoC4 designed to have fewer side effects.

By Jonathan Gardner • March 20, 2023

FDA reversal sets up high-stakes hearing on Sarepta gene therapy

The regulator will convene a panel of advisers to consult on an approval decision for the biotech’s Duchenne treatment, a change from just a few weeks ago when Sarepta had said a meeting wouldn’t be held.

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 17, 2023

Esperion in dispute with Daiichi over drug milestone payment

The companies disagree over what qualifies for a payment of up to $300 million that’s associated with inclusion of heart data on the cholesterol drug’s label.

By Kristin Jensen • March 16, 2023

Healthcare companies may turn to big banks after SVB’s fall

SVB’s unraveling created a hole in life sciences financing that could be filled by bigger banks, but might hamper access to quick, short-term cash for startups.

By Sydney Halleman • March 15, 2023

With focus on fibrosis, startup Mediar draws big pharma backing

Novartis joined venture investor Sofinnova in leading an $85 million investment in the startup that also involved Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb.

By Gwendolyn Wu • March 15, 2023

SVB’s failure was contained. Its effects on biotech could still linger.

“A generation of founders is now scarred,” one biotech CEO said, as small drugmakers grapple with the longer-lasting effects of SVB’s stunning collapse.

By Ben Fidler , Gwendolyn Wu • March 14, 2023