Against a historic market downturn, Moma Therapeutics raises $150M for precision cancer research

The biotech's Series B round, which kicked off early this year, should fund its work on "molecular machines" until at least 2024, according to CEO Asit Parikh.

By Jacob Bell • May 10, 2022

Former Novartis exec joins ADC Therapeutics as CEO after brief stint as Rafael head

Ameet Mallik takes over for founder Chris Martin at helm of the antibody drug developer after a seven-month run leading Rafael Holdings, which reported a clinical trial setback last October.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 9, 2022

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

Clay Siegall, founding Seagen CEO, takes leave amid domestic violence accusation

The company's board is investigating the allegation, which Siegall, who has led Seattle's largest biotech for 24 years, denied. Chief Medical Officer and former Merck executive Roger Dansey was named interim CEO.

By Ben Fidler • May 9, 2022

Argenx drug succeeds in trial, beats sales forecasts

The biotech reported positive results from a study meant to expand Vyvgart's use to another immune disorder, while sales from the drug's first quarter on the market exceeded expectations.

By Kristin Jensen • May 5, 2022

Intercept sells international rights to liver drug in $400M deal

Advanz Pharma will obtain rights to Ocaliva outside the U.S., handing its maker an upfront payment nearly equivalent to its market value.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 5, 2022

Biogen, having scrapped Aduhelm, tries to convince investors of turnaround plan

Though executives claimed that inking deals and derisking research programs are priorities, analysts questioned whether any meaningful strategic changes will occur in the near term. 

By Jacob Bell • May 4, 2022

Moderna vaccine sales surpass expectations as company looks to fall boosters

The trajectory of COVID-19 vaccine sales is now harder to predict amid questions about the rollout of additional doses and whether purchasing in the U.S. might shift from the federal government to private payers.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 4, 2022

Regeneron tries to shake off fall in COVID drug sales with first quarter earnings

Partnerships and profit-sharing deals helped Regeneron overcome the sudden loss of U.S. revenue for its coronavirus antibody, which was withdrawn from the market as omicron spread.

By Kristin Jensen • May 4, 2022

Spero to lay off 75% of workforce, change strategy after FDA challenges study results

Agency statisticians took a different view of the Phase 3 results the biotech was relying on to support approval of a new antibiotic, an announcement that triggered the sector's latest restructuring.

By Ben Fidler • May 4, 2022

Biogen CEO to step down as company pulls back from Alzheimer’s drug

Michel Vounatsos, Biogen's CEO since 2017, was replaced as the company "substantially" eliminated the commercial workforce around Aduhelm, which generated paltry sales in the face of resistance from insurers and doctors.

By Jacob Bell • Updated May 3, 2022

A cancer biotech attracts another deep-pocketed partner in Gilead

Following rivals like Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck, Gilead has linked up with Dragonfly Therapeutics to develop new immunotherapies based on "natural killer cell engagers."

By Jacob Bell • May 2, 2022

AbbVie's first shot at Vertex misses, but it's not abandoning cystic fibrosis

Executives on Friday said that the company's three-drug therapy, a possible threat to Vertex's top-selling medicine Trikafta, didn't meet expectations in a key study. A new combination could start testing next year, however.

By Jacob Bell • April 29, 2022

After setbacks, a gene therapy company mulls a sale

Sio Gene Therapies, formerly known as Axovant, said it's focused on conserving cash, and has decided to significantly reduce its workforce and terminate licensing agreements on its last two pipeline programs.

By Jacob Bell • April 28, 2022

Two biotechs set out to end sector's IPO drought

HilleVax and Belite Bio could soon become the first biotechs to go public in almost two months, representing a key test of investors’ willingness to support emerging life sciences companies.

By Ben Fidler • April 27, 2022

Solid Bio joins slate of biotech layoffs, shedding 35% of its workforce

The company is the latest in a growing list of gene therapy developers to restructure and cut jobs during an industry-wide downturn. 

By Jonathan Gardner • April 27, 2022

Undeterred by gene therapy's struggles, a startup launches into a downturn

Apertura Gene Therapy, a new company formed by Deerfield, is hoping a suite of next-generation tools will help it stand out at a time when this area of research has fallen out of favor with some public investors.

By Jacob Bell • April 26, 2022

Nektar begins sweeping layoffs after $2B Bristol Myers deal falls apart

Loss of the lucrative partnership has triggered a wide-ranging restructuring that will pare down Nektar’s workforce by about 70%.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 26, 2022

Black Diamond, yielding to competitors, scraps its top drug and cuts jobs

The fast progress of similar targeted cancer medicines led the company, which raised $201 million in an initial public offering just two years ago, to change direction and reduce its workforce by 30%. 

By Ben Fidler • April 25, 2022

Seagen to expand, add jobs with new cancer drug factory

While some biotechs are restructuring amid a market downturn, SeaGen plans to add 200 positions through a large manufacturing plant that should be operational in 2024.

By Jacob Bell • April 21, 2022

Satellite Bio launches with new approach to bioengineering tissues

Backed by $110 million in venture funding, Satellite is led by Dave Lennon, formerly head of Novartis Gene Therapies. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 20, 2022

Imara to reduce staff by 83% amid biotech shakeout

The planned job cuts were announced days after Imara — one of three spinouts from the drug accelerator Cydan Development — stopped development of its top medicine.

By Ben Fidler • April 18, 2022

Editas CEO to step down in latest executive change-up

A little more than a year after taking on the role, Jim Mullen is preparing to pass the torch to Gilmore O'Neill, who has served as the chief medical officer at Sarepta Therapeutics.

By Jacob Bell • April 14, 2022

ProQR to lay off 30% of staff following eye drug setback

In the near term at least, the biotech company is pinning hopes for its lead eye disease treatment on a new analysis of a recently failed study.

By Kristin Jensen • April 13, 2022

Versant-backed startup launches with plans to broaden cell therapy's reach

Cimeio Therapeutics, which emerged Wednesday with $50 million in funding, will use "shielding" technology to try to bring stem cell transplants and adoptive cell therapy to more patients.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 13, 2022

UK bid to battle antibiotic resistance yields first subscription-style plan

Pfizer and Shionogi could receive 10 million pounds, or about $13 million, a year for new antibiotics. International participation might be needed to further spur development, however.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 12, 2022