Biotech: Page

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    Courtesy of Roche
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    Roche to pay $250M for Good Therapeutics and its targeted drug technology

    The team behind the Seattle-based startup will launch a new company, Bonum Therapeutics, after the sale to Roche is completed.

    By Kristin Jensen • Sept. 7, 2022
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    Beam-linked startup launches with an eye on the next generation of RNA drugs

    Orbital co-founder and former Alnylam CEO John Maraganore said the startup aims to “overcome some of the shortcomings that have been there with the first generation of RNA companies.” 

    By • Sept. 7, 2022
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    National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2016). "Human natural killer cell" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    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 or in reprogramming cells inside the body.

    By BioPharma Dive staff
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    Courtesy of Sarepta
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    Sarepta to restart Duchenne drug study after FDA lifts hold

    The biotech will expand patient monitoring in response to a previously reported serious adverse reaction that had led the FDA in June to suspend testing.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 6, 2022
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    State of Play

    Drugging RNA with pills: small molecules for a big frontier

    A handful of startups have formed in recent years with plans to target RNA with small molecules. Many have caught the attention of big drugmakers.

    By • Sept. 6, 2022
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    Finch to lay off 37% of staff after Takeda ends microbiome drug deal

    The company will cut 50 full-time positions and halt preclinical work on a pill for symptoms of autism in its second restructuring effort since April.  

    By • Sept. 2, 2022
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    With rare acquisition, Novo Nordisk makes $1B bet on sickle cell disease drug

    The target company, Forma Therapeutics, started as a developer of cancer drugs but has made the most progress in rare blood disorders, attracting Novo’s attention.

    By • Updated Sept. 6, 2022
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Biotech startup Ocean pivots from IPO to SPAC merger

    The blank-check deal gives Ocean another route to public markets after it struggled to price an initial public offering it revealed back in June 2021.

    By • Aug. 31, 2022
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    Jounce’s latest setback dampens outlook for another cancer immunotherapy target

    The biotech's drug prospect vopratelimab has become the latest member of a group of medicines targeting a molecule called ICOS to fall short of expectations in clinical testing.  

    By • Aug. 30, 2022
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    Permission granted by Atlas Venture
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    Q&A // Emerging biotech

    Atlas Venture’s Bruce Booth on testing the IPO waters and putting the ‘tech’ in biotech

    In a wide-ranging conversation with BioPharma Dive, Booth, a prolific builder of new biotechs, said he’s starting to see positive signs for startups considering an IPO or private financing.

    By • Aug. 30, 2022
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    Permission granted by Akili Inc.
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    Q&A

    Akili CEO Martucci sees ‘massive’ need for company’s ADHD video-game treatment

    With enough cash now to last two years, the company, which merged with a SPAC last week, hopes it can change the way children with ADHD are treated.

    By Elise Reuter • Aug. 29, 2022
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    Takeda ends deal with Finch as bumpy ride continues for microbiome drugs

    The pharma company terminated a collaboration that could’ve netted the biotech about $350 million. It’s the latest in a string of recent setbacks for microbiome drug developers.

    By • Aug. 26, 2022
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    ElevateBio finds a new manufacturing home and long-term gene therapy partner in Pittsburgh

    The biotech signed a 30-year deal with the University of Pittsburgh to establish a gene and cell therapy manufacturing hub that’s being built with a $100 million grant.  

    By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Merck backs radiopharmaceutical startup Aktis, joining other high-profile backers

    The pharma contributed to an $84 million round for the new cancer drugmaker, which attracted Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb in an earlier fundraise. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Permission granted by 3T Biosciences
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    Backed by $40M, a biotech startup targets cancer with help from the immune system

    After several years in stealth, 3T Biosciences is launching publicly with plans to develop newer types of T cell receptor-based treatments.

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
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    Courtesy of Sonoma Biotherapeutics
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    ‘Treg’ startup Sonoma expands with plans for manufacturing plant

    The biotech, launched by immunologist Jeffrey Bluestone, is developing regulatory T cell therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 24, 2022
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    Biotech Erasca taps MD Anderson to help advance cancer drug work

    The five-year partnership is one of many inked between the cancer center and drugmakers like Erasca, which is targeting a cellular pathway linked to many types of tumors.

    By • Aug. 23, 2022
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    Permission granted by Laronde
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    State of Play

    Next-generation RNA technologies: making longer-lasting drugs with a broader reach

    At least nine biotechnology startups are trying to use RNA molecules in new ways to make medicines. Here’s a look at where they stand.

    By • Updated Aug. 24, 2022
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    Permission granted by QIAGEN
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    Sponsored by QIAGEN

    Take the legwork out of drug toxicity screening

    Leveraging adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) just got easier. Learn how to be a pro.

    Aug. 22, 2022
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    Axsome rebounds to win FDA approval of depression drug

    A year after finding flaws in the biotech’s application, the regulator cleared a treatment some analysts view as a blockbuster-to-be, sending shares up.

    By • Aug. 19, 2022
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    Bluejay raises $41M to bring hepatitis B drugs to clinical testing

    The biotech startup, which licensed two programs from Novartis, is part of a crowded field of drugmakers trying to develop new hepatitis B treatments. 

    By • Aug. 19, 2022
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    Permission granted by Schrödinger
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    Schrödinger names longtime biotech analyst Porges its CFO and top dealmaker

    After two decades researching biotechs at SVB Securities and AllianceBernstein, Geoffrey Porges will seek to grow the drug discovery specialist's network of partnerships.

    By • Aug. 18, 2022
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    Moderna, after firing newly hired CFO, finds replacement in PerkinElmer executive

    The COVID-19 vaccine maker has appointed James Mock, currently PerkinElmer’s CFO, as its next finance head, three months after ousting Jorge Gomez from the role. 

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 17, 2022
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    Gilead, with new results, doubles down on breast cancer drug

    The company has agreed to spend at least $280 million buying back rights to the drug, called Trodelvy, which were sold to Everest Medicines in 2019.

    By • Aug. 16, 2022
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    Elizabeth Regan/BioPharma Dive
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    Ventyx touts early data for potential rival to Bristol Myers psoriasis drug

    The biotech plans to start Phase 2 studies for a drug it believes may more effectively hit its target than Bristol Myers’ deucravacitinib, a skin disease treatment regulators could approve next month. 

    By • Aug. 16, 2022
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    Merck pays startup Orna $150M as ‘circular RNA’ attracts industry interest

    The pharmaceutical giant has formed an alliance with Orna, investing $100 million in its Series B round in hopes the young biotech’s approach will lead to multiple new vaccines and drugs.

    By • Aug. 16, 2022