Biotech: Page 73


  • A photo of Biogen's Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm
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    Permission granted by Biogen
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    Congress pressures FDA and Biogen on Alzheimer's drug approval, price

    The agency's decision-making process as well as Biogen's pricing of Aduhelm at $56,000 per year are both under the microscope as the repercussions of the controversial OK continue to be felt.

    By June 28, 2021
  • A preparation of Gilead Sciences' CAR-T therapy Yescarta is readied in a manufacturing laboratory.
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    Courtesy of Gilead Sciences
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    Gilead matches Bristol Myers in showing benefit to earlier CAR-T treatment

    A study of Gilead's Yescarta found the cell therapy dramatically outperformed chemotherapy and stem cell transplant in treating lymphoma, a result that could support much broader use of the drug.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 28, 2021
  • Explore the Trendline
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    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
  • Arcus claims positive study results for lung cancer drug, but shares no details

    The lack of specific data frustrated analysts, but shares in Arcus rose by double digits Thursday. Partner Gilead is expected to make a decision on whether to license the drug later this year. 

    By Kristin Jensen • June 24, 2021
  • Electron microscope image of T regulatory cells interacting with antigen-presenting cells
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    NIAID. (2019). "T Regulatory Cells" [Microscope image]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Third Rock-backed startup launches to develop cell therapies for MS, diabetes

    Led by CEO Samantha Singer, Abata Therapeutics has $95 million to advance its plans to engineer regulatory T cells for treating autoimmune diseases.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 23, 2021
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    Rita Elena Serda
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    Blackstone to invest $250M in cell therapy startup backed by Intellia, Cellex

    The new company aims to pair Intellia's CRISPR gene editing technology with a CAR-T cell therapy platform built by Cellex subsidiary GEMoaB. 

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 22, 2021
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    Sponsored by Millipore-Sigma®

    Incorporating automation and digitalization into the industrial microbiology workflow

    A closer look at the impact of automated and digitalized technologies on the industrial microbiology workflow. 

    By Brad Grobler, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Biomonitoring Solutions at MilliporeSigma • June 21, 2021
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    Trial failure dashes Biogen hopes for next Alzheimer's drug

    Days after Aduhelm's approval, Biogen said an experimental drug that works in a different way didn't help patients, leading the company to stop research.

    By June 17, 2021
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    FDA approves Blueprint cancer drug for use in rare blood disease

    The agency's decision makes available a new treatment option for patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis, boosting the biotech in the process.

    By Kristin Jensen • June 17, 2021
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    Gene editing biotech Verve to raise $267M in large IPO

    Capitalizing on investor interest in gene editing, the high-profile startup has secured one of the richest biotech initial public offerings priced this year.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 17, 2021
  • Employees of CureVac work in a laboratory
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    Courtesy of CureVac
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    CureVac vaccine disappoints in key study amid 'unprecedented' spread of variants

    The German biotech’s shot appeared less effective than other mRNA vaccines at preventing COVID-19. But it's unclear whether differences between the shots, or exposure to more elusive variants in testing, are the cause.

    By Updated June 17, 2021
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    Biogen gene therapy deal has yet to bear fruit

    Another gene therapy from Nightstar Therapeutics, which Biogen bought for $800 million in 2019, has failed in a key clinical study.

    By June 15, 2021
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Former FDA chief Hahn joins venture firm that launched Moderna

    Hahn's appointment as chief medical officer of Flagship Pioneering is another example of FDA officials joining industry after their government service. Hahn's predecessor, Scott Gottlieb, sits on Pfizer's board of directors. 

    By June 15, 2021
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    Sage antidepressant succeeds in key study, but data raise questions

    Zuranolone, a drug that's crucial for Sage's future and the focus of a multi-billion dollar bet by Biogen, could be headed for a regulatory review. But new trial results are more mixed than the overall outcome suggests. 

    By , Ned Pagliarulo • Updated June 15, 2021
  • A stylized illustration of a pill breaking apart into smaller pills.
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    Brian Tucker / BioPharma Dive/BioPharma Dive
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    Moderna founder raises another $2B to fuel new startups

    Flagship Pioneering reopened one of its funds in April, quickly raising fresh cash for new biotech investments.

    By June 14, 2021
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    Getty / Edited by BioPharma Dive
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    Blood disease treatment from CRISPR, Vertex shows promise in more patients

    The latest results from the companies' trials give support to hopes that CRISPR gene editing could functionally cure sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 11, 2021
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    Ryan McKnight, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
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    Vertex stops work on second rare disease drug after study results disappoint

    The biotech said its drug for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency wasn't potent enough to advance into further testing, but plans to move others into clinical trials next year.

    By Updated June 11, 2021
  • Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a natural killer cell from a human donor.
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    National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2016). "Human natural killer cell" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Beigene expands into cancer cell therapy with Shoreline pact

    The fast-growing biotech will work with Shoreline to develop cancer treatments using natural killer cells, an emerging alternative to T-cell based therapies. 

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 9, 2021
  • A photo of a Biogen building
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    Permission granted by Biogen
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    Deep Dive // New Alzheimer's drugs

    A first-of-its-kind Alzheimer's drug raises heavy questions around who will and won't get it

    Biogen priced its newly approved medicine Aduhelm at an average cost of $56,000 a year, adding affordability to other barriers patients may face. 

    By June 8, 2021
  • A photo of a Biogen sign
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    Permission granted by Biogen
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    The FDA approved Biogen's Alzheimer's drug. The company now has years to confirm it works.

    Officially, Biogen has until 2029 to complete a study confirming Aduhelm's benefit. But the agency says it hopes to push the drugmaker to finish faster.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated June 9, 2021
  • Ajay Purohit, a Biogen employee, points to brain scans of people with Alzheimer's
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    Permission granted by Biogen
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    Deep Dive // New Alzheimer's drugs

    In historic move, FDA approves a closely watched and controversial Alzheimer's drug

    The decision cleared the way for what many predicted would become a lucrative treatment. But a high price and controversy over whether Biogen's Aduhelm benefits patients weighed heavily on the drug's launch.

    By Updated June 7, 2021
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    Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
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    Bluebird cleared by FDA to resume studies of sickle cell gene therapy

    An investigation by the company determined the treatment was "very unlikely" to be the cause of a case of leukemia reported in one of the trials.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 7, 2021
  • Orchard abandons promising gene therapy for rare immune disorder

    The U.K. biotech deprioritized the therapy last year, despite positive results in clinical testing that were recently published in a top medical journal.

    By Kristin Jensen • June 3, 2021
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    Biotech venture capital still booming as venBio raises another $550M

    VenBio has previously invested in a range of treatment areas and technologies, including cell and gene editing companies like Precision Bio and Artiva. 

    By June 3, 2021
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    Bayer AG
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    Bayer buys a biotech and its offshoot in bet on radiopharmaceuticals

    The German pharma will add an experimental prostate cancer medicine to its pipeline through the deal, which reflects growing industry interest in the field.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 3, 2021
  • Two test tubes pour different-colored liquids into a beaker in an illustration representative of biopharma mergers.
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    Elizabeth Regan/BioPharma Dive
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    MorphoSys to buy Constellation in $1.7B deal, aided by unusual funding

    Royalty Pharma will effectively fund MorphoSys' acquisition of the cancer biotech through a separate agreement to buy MorphoSys' shares of royalties on several marketed and experimental medicines. 

    By Ned Pagliarulo • June 2, 2021