Biotech: Page

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    State of Play

    Epigenetic editing: a tunable CRISPR alternative

    Three startups have recently emerged with plans to edit the epigenome rather than DNA directly. Here’s why that matters and what they aim to do. 

    By • July 26, 2022
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    Deep Dive // Emerging biotech

    ‘Flat is the new up’: After biotech correction, venture investors turn to safer bets

    New companies are being built more carefully and platform technologies are less in vouge as the downturn's effects ripple through the private sector.

    By • July 26, 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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    China-based biotech licenses Sanofi's RNA drug technology

    The Lilly-backed Rona Therapeutics gains rights to a platform for small interfering RNA, along with a slate of preclinical candidates aimed at targets in the liver and other tissues.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated July 25, 2022
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    Courtesy of Astellas
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    Astellas to bring research units under one roof in new West Coast center

    The pharma company plans to spend $70 million on the South San Francisco facility, which will house West Coast employees of Astellas Gene Therapies.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • July 22, 2022
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    "Calculator" by stevepb is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Assembly Bio scraps hepatitis B drug, cuts staff after clinical setback

    Two top executives will depart in a restructuring that will reduce the California biotech’s staff by 30% and prioritize a pair of preclinical research programs.  

    By Kristin Jensen • July 21, 2022
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    Permission granted by Sekar Kathiresan
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    Vertex, Verve team up to develop a gene editing drug for liver disease

    The deal, which is worth $60 million upfront, broadens Vertex’s reach into gene editing and expands Verve’s research beyond heart disease.

    By • July 20, 2022
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    With Aduhelm sidelined, Wall Street turns to Biogen's next Alzheimer's drug

    On the company’s latest earnings call, analysts pressed for more details about the drug, called lecanemab, including its odds for approval and how that could reshape Biogen.

    By • July 20, 2022
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    Inovio to lay off 18% of staff after COVID shot struggles

    The cuts are meant to conserve cash as the biotech attempts to position its coronavirus vaccine as a potential booster.

    By Kristin Jensen • July 20, 2022
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    Roche digs deeper into gene therapy for the eye

    The Swiss drugmaker, which already owns rights to a marketed gene therapy for inherited vision loss, will work with startup Avista Therapeutics to develop better delivery tools for the complex treatments. 

    By • July 20, 2022
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    Biotech downturn hits another startup as Pact Pharma to lay off nearly 100 employees

    The cell therapy developer, which was formed in early 2017 by a group that includes Nobel Prize winner David Baltimore, is one of dozens of biotechs to cut staff this year. 

    By • July 19, 2022
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    Incyte
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    FDA approves new vitiligo treatment, bolstering Incyte's dermatology business

    The cream, known as Opzelura, is now the only treatment approved in the U.S. to repigment skin in patients with the most common form of vitiligo.

    By • July 19, 2022
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    Alphaspirit/Stock.adobe.com

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    Sponsored by OM1

    Finding hard-to-find patients: Integrating real-world data and AI

    Better understanding patient cohorts can shed light on outcomes, but what if coding doesn’t exist?

    By Joseph Zabinski, PhD Senior Director, AI and Precision Medicine OM1 • July 18, 2022
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    Novo Nordisk
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    Novo strikes $110M deal for regulatory fast pass

    The Danish drugmaker will buy a priority review voucher from Marinus Pharmaceuticals, the latest in a string of similarly priced purchases.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • July 15, 2022
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    Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash
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    CytomX lays off staff, joining growing list of biotechs restructuring

    A shaky biotech market has forced another drugmaker to adjust, with CytomX revealing plans to reduce its workforce by 40%.

    By • July 14, 2022
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    Atara shares sink after update on multiple sclerosis trial

    Much-anticipated interim results from Atara’s Phase 2 study revealed little about the likelihood of the trial’s success, spurring a market sell-off.

    By Ned Pagliarulo • July 13, 2022
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    Jonathan Gardner/BioPharma Dive
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    Agios CEO to step down, handing role to veteran in rare disease drug sales

    A former Celgene executive, Jackie Fouse has led Agios since 2019, overseeing its transformation into a company focused solely on uncommon diseases. In August, she will transition to chair its board of directors.

    By • July 12, 2022
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    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH. (2019). "Activated Eosinophils" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Bain Capital backs new biotech startup developing oral asthma drug

    Areteia Therapeutics will receive $350 million from Bain and others to advance a drug that was previously licensed to Biogen for testing as an ALS treatment.

    By • July 12, 2022
  • Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient.
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    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Micrograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Moderna founder launches Apriori with $50M to stay ahead of virus variants

    Flagship Pioneering’s latest startup aims to use predictive technology to find “variant-proof” treatments and vaccines for infectious diseases before they might be needed.

    By • July 11, 2022
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    Courtesy of Vertex Pharmaceuticals
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    Vertex acquires another maker of potentially curative diabetes treatments

    For $320 million, Vertex said it plans to buy ViaCyte in a deal that would provide “complementary assets, capabilities and technologies” to the ones it picked up through the 2019 acquisition of Semma Therapeutics.

    By • July 11, 2022
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    Healthcare asset manager Innoviva buys another biotech at a bargain price

    Two months after acquiring Entasis Therapeutics, the firm reached a deal to buy La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co. at a fraction of what La Jolla was worth just a few years ago.

    By • July 11, 2022
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    National Institute on Aging. (2017). "Beta-Amyloid Plaques and Tau in the Brain" [Image]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    AbbVie dials back partnership on experimental Alzheimer's drug

    While AbbVie is bailing on one of the two programs it paid Alector $205 million to acquire five years ago, work will continue on the second project. That drug, however, has shown safety signals.  

    By • July 8, 2022
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    Radius, fending off activists, outlines pitch for $890 million buyout

    The biotech detailed the process that led to its take-private offer last month, aiming to win the support of shareholders, including two firms that have pushed for change. 

    By • July 8, 2022
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    Courtesy of Vertex Pharmaceuticals
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    Vertex, continuing its rebound, cleared to resume testing of diabetes cell therapy

    The FDA’s decision is the latest boost for a company whose shares have climbed more than 30% during the biotech sector’s worst downswing in years. 

    By • July 6, 2022
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    Two cancer biotechs merge, raise cash as sector-wide downturn continues

    Syros Pharmaceuticals and Tyme Technologies, shares of which trade near all-time lows, will combine and raise about $130 million in the latest example of how the industry’s slump is affecting publicly traded biotechs. 

    By • July 5, 2022
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    Permission granted by Seagen
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    Seagen strengthens case for cancer drug as buyout rumors swirl

    New study results support the potential use of its breast cancer medicine Tukysa, part of a wide-ranging alliance with rumored buyer Merck & Co., in advanced colorectal cancer. 

    By • July 5, 2022