Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine gets boost from German data

As the race to bring a vaccine to market accelerates, the companies unveiled new clinical results and a deal that promises the U.K. 30 million doses of a successful shot.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 20, 2020

Opportunities for biotechs in precision medicine

Exploring the promise of precision medicine in helping biotechs bring new therapies to patients.

By Angela Qu, MD, PhD, Vice President, and Arlene Hughes, PhD, Senior Director • July 20, 2020

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

A startup launches with big plans to develop antibody drugs for coronaviruses

Larger drugmakers like Regeneron have led the way in developing antibody drugs for COVID-19. Adagio Therapeutics aims to prove it can follow suit, with an eye to future coronavirus outbreaks as well.

By Ben Fidler • July 16, 2020

Researchers publish long-awaited study data on Moderna coronavirus vaccine

The results support the biotech's earlier claim of positive results, but don't show whether the vaccine protects against infection. Still, "we're so hungry for a vaccine we're trying to read the tea leaves," said vaccine expert Paul Offit.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated July 14, 2020

Preventive studies for Eisai, Biogen Alzheimer's drug could add years to amyloid debate

Two late-stage trials will assess the companies' experimental drug BAN2401 in people without Alzheimer's symptoms but with biological signs of the disease.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 14, 2020

Blueprint, eyeing an independent future, gets $775M in new Roche alliance

The deal, which gives Roche rights to Blueprint's lead drug pralsetinib, is another bet by the Swiss drugmaker on targeted cancer therapies.

By Ben Fidler • Updated July 14, 2020

India clears a psoriasis drug for COVID-19, and a tiny US biotech's shares soar

An emergency approval for Biocon's drug Alzumab in India could lead its U.S. partner, Equillium, to start broader trials in coronavirus disease.

By Ben Fidler • July 13, 2020

Beigene, already flush with cash, raising $2B from investors

Amgen, which last year partnered with the Chinese biotech, will invest another $420 million in the company to maintain its roughly 20% stake. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 13, 2020

Big pharma, battling COVID-19, looks to 'buy time' on another health crisis: superbugs

Facing an alarming scarcity of new antibiotics, about two dozen of the world's largest drugmakers are backing a fund meant to develop two to four by 2030.

By Jacob Bell • July 9, 2020

In the hunt for ALS treatments, researchers find promise in silencing genes

Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, including one that tested a Biogen drug, provide some evidence that a decades-long effort to develop genetic medicines for ALS is starting to pay off.

By Jacob Bell • July 8, 2020

Biogen submitted its Alzheimer's drug for approval. Now what?

The later-than-expected filing is just the first of many hurdles Biogen faces in trying to get aducanumab approved. Some analysts on Wall Street don't have high hopes for the drug's chances.

By Jacob Bell • July 8, 2020

US buys up early supply of Regeneron's COVID-19 antibody cocktail

A $450 million grant will help Regeneron scale up manufacturing of its drug, which is among the front-running antibody therapies for COVID-19.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 7, 2020

Regeneron advances COVID-19 antibody cocktail into late-stage trials

The launch of a Phase 3 prevention study accelerates work on antibody-based drugs, which could offer strained healthcare systems a "bridge" to a vaccine.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 6, 2020

Bellus shares plummet as cough drug fails Phase 2 test

While Bellus plans to do more testing, the negative readout now puts it further behind Merck in the race to develop a drug for refractory chronic cough.

By Jacob Bell • July 6, 2020

Amgen prevails in high-stakes drug case against Novartis

Novartis, which appealed an earlier court decision upholding two patents on Amgen's Enbrel, indicated it may try to take the case to the Supreme Court.

By Jacob Bell • July 1, 2020

Federal coronavirus contracts dodge pricing oversight, advocacy group says

Contracts with six companies waive "march-in rights" and omit provisions that could be used to object to high drug prices. Moderna's contract, however, includes those clauses. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated July 1, 2020

Ultragenyx wins early approval for rare disease drug

Dojolvi, as Ultrangenyx's drug will be sold, is the first FDA-approved treatment for a group of genetic disorders that affect several thousand people in the U.S.

By Kristin Jensen • July 1, 2020

Gilead pricing suggests it will make a business out of COVID-19 drug

Even at the lower end of its price range, remdesivir could earn Gilead a billion dollars. How well the drug's price is received will be an important test for other companies working on coronavirus treatments.

By Jacob Bell • June 30, 2020

Intercept's NASH drug faces its biggest delay yet

The FDA rejected obeticholic acid, asking for more data. If the agency ends up requiring outcomes results too, it could set Intercept's approval hopes back by two years or more.

By Jacob Bell • June 29, 2020

Gilead sets price for COVID-19 drug remdesivir

A typical course of treatment with remdesivir will cost between $2,340 and $3,120 in the U.S., a price range that likely ensures Gilead earns a profit on sales of the drug.

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 29, 2020

By $4M, La Jolla outbids Melinta for struggling Tetraphase

La Jolla's cash offer is the third attempt to take out Tetraphase, an antibiotic specialist once valued at nearly $2 billion but now worth less than $20 million.

By Jonathan Gardner • June 24, 2020

Gilead, in latest cancer bet, puts $275M into immunotherapy startup Pionyr

The drugmaker's investment in California-based Pionyr follows other recent cancer-focused deals with Forty Seven and Arcus Biosciences.

By Jonathan Gardner • June 23, 2020

Gilead to launch studies of inhaled version of COVID-19 drug remdesivir

Remdesivir's benefit appears greatest when given early on. But the drug is administered intravenously, making early or outpatient treatment more difficult. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • June 22, 2020

Sarepta tries to fine-tune its gene therapy approach

Research deals with Codiak Biosciences and Selecta Biosciences could help Sarepta work around a key challenge in gene therapy development.

By Jacob Bell • June 22, 2020

In big year for microbiome drugs, a small biotech sets the bar

Data from Finch Therapeutics will likely be held up against two rivals planning to present their own clinical results later this year. 

By Jacob Bell • June 19, 2020