3 biotech executives on the year ahead: deals, drug pricing and the down market

“What we’re experiencing now is the aftershock of the party that went on for the last three years,” said Ovid CEO Jeremy Levin in a BioPharma Dive panel that included former Sage head Jeff Jonas and biotech entrepreneur Greg Verdine.

By Jacob Bell • Jan. 19, 2023

Editas, in next restructuring step, to sell cell therapy work to Shoreline

Shoreline will acquire a preclinical NK cell therapy Editas has been developing, as well as a license to use the CRISPR biotech’s gene editing technology. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 19, 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

Neurology startup to merge with Wilbur Ross-backed SPAC

The deal, which comes during a prolonged downturn in SPAC activity among biotechs, will help fund development of an Alzheimer’s drug that’s in late-stage testing in China. 

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 18, 2023

With reverse merger, Elicio becomes latest biotech to bypass an IPO

Elicio’s combination with Angion Biomedica comes months after it abandoned a new stock offering, and is the latest example of how the IPO slowdown has shifted startups’ plans.

By Ben Fidler • Jan. 17, 2023

Al Sandrock on his short retirement and taking on a biotech turnaround project

In a conversation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference, the longtime Biogen executive discussed his hesitance to jump back into an executive role and why an opportunity to run Voyager Therapeutics drew him in.

By Ben Fidler • Jan. 17, 2023

Sanofi tops off venture arm, bringing fund to $750M

The pharma is rolling out a multi-year capital commitment to its biotech investment group, which this week backed biotech NextPoint Therapeutics.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 12, 2023

JPM23: Califf on accelerated approvals, biotech startups’ looming cliff and an explanation from Editas

Venture investors cautioned of a coming funding crunch for young biotechs, while the FDA commissioner shared advice for drugmakers.

By Jacob Bell , Gwendolyn Wu , Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 10, 2023

New Biogen CEO seeks to ‘redefine’ company after challenging year

Christopher Viehbacher, who took over as head of the biotech late last year, aims to better balance Biogen’s high-risk, high-reward drug pipeline, but said he’d avoid making “radical left turns.”

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 10, 2023

5 questions facing emerging biotech in 2023

Investors expect another lackluster year in IPOs, while company restructurings look set to continue as biotech executives try to conserve cash.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Jan. 10, 2023

Arrowhead reports positive data from liver drug, but company’s shares slide

The biotech and partner Takeda also announced a Phase 3 study of the RNA medicine that is longer than anticipated, pushing out analysts’ timelines.

By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 9, 2023

Editas to cut jobs, narrow research focus in restructuring

The CRISPR-focused biotech will lay off 20% of its workforce, stop development of two eye disease treatments and end some early-stage cell therapy research. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Jan. 9, 2023

Focusing on smaller biotechs to have a big impact on society

Marcus Delatte discusses how and why he focuses his expertise on counseling smaller companies and mentoring the next generation of technical experts.

Jan. 9, 2023

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

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