Frank Vinluan is senior biopharma reporter for MedCity News. He previously held business reporting positions at Xconomy, The Seattle Times, The Des Moines Register, and the Triangle Business Journal.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankvinluan/
Twitter: @frankvinluan
The GSK cancer immunotherapy Jemperli is now approved for treating advanced cases of rectal cancer harboring a particular genetic signature. It’s a label expansion for Jemperli, which was initially approved as a treatment for endometrial cancer
The Silence Therapeutics acquisition gives Merck KGaA a drug ready for a pivotal test in the blood disorder polycythemia vera. Silence’s RNA therapy offers a different approach and a potential dosing advantage over a Takeda Pharmaceutical product recently approved in this indication.
Discover the top AI-powered EAP providers for 2026. Compare platforms like Kyan Health and Spring Health on triage speed, global reach, and clinical quality to transform workforce wellbeing.
OMass’s molecule is vying to become an alternative to a Neurocrine Biosciences drug that is currently the only FDA-approved therapy for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. But Vertex Pharmaceuticals could also compete with a drug candidate from a recent acquisition.
City Therapeutics’ lead RNA interference therapy could become an alternative to blockbuster-selling anticoagulants. The company’s technology for designing RNAi drugs and delivering them to tissues throughout the body has already led to partnerships with Bausch + Lomb in eye diseases and Biogen in central nervous system disorders.
Iambic Therapeutics, an AI-enabled biotech company, will apply the IPO proceeds toward clinical development of its pipeline of internally discovered and wholly owned cancer drugs. Iambic also has R&D alliances with companies such as Bayer and AbbVie.
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical sold two priority review vouchers, each from an FDA approval of a gene therapy. Both therapies came from business deals and proceeds from the voucher sales put Ultragenyx in a better financial position to pursue yet another deal for a rare disease asset.
In an interview, Kyan Health Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer Konstantin Struck discussed how Kyan gives mid-market and enterprise employers access to premium workforce mental healthcare, at a price point that is affordable.
Roche gains global rights to a Rona Therapeutics RNA interference drug designed to target ALK7, a genetically validated target for obesity and other metabolic indications. The growing field of companies pursuing ALK7 includes GSK and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals.
Asahi Kasei’s Hovilpri is now approved for treating lesions caused by herpes simplex virus infection. This daily pill came from the $919 million acquisition of AiCuris Anti-Infective Cures.
Eli Lilly-partnered TRexBio will apply the IPO proceeds toward clinical development of molecules designed to activate regulatory T cells to mediate immune responses and inflammation. Meanwhile, Retension Pharmaceuticals will use its IPO cash for mid-stage testing of a next-generation hypertension drug.
Diagnostics and drug development startup Arboretum LifeSciences launched with $30 million in financing. Its executives say analyses of data from its genetic tests both form the basis of partnerships with big pharma and lead to the formation of new biotech companies — all focused on common diseases.
Small practices play a critical role in healthcare delivery, but they cannot continue to absorb ever-increasing administrative demands without consequences.
Caribou Biosciences is stopping work on its two remaining cancer cell therapies and exploring strategic alternatives for the business. The move follows the CRISPR biotech company’s failure to secure financing for its clinical trial plans.
Forbion’s new capital will support two funds that will invest in about 30 companies combined. The new funds for Netherlands-based Forbion come amid a decline in VC fundraising and investments in Europe, according to Pitchbook.
Shionogi’s IntraBio acquisition brings Aqneursa, a drug approved for treating two rare neurological disorders and the potential to expand to additional indications, both rare and common. It’s Shionogi’s second big rare disease move this year, following the acquisition of global rights to an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug from Tanabe Pharma.
While the immune reset field is mainly focused on depleting pathogenic B cells, ai3Bio is applying its novel approach to inflammatory T cells. The startup’s initial disease targets are autoimmune disorders of the liver that have few treatment options if any at all.
Pfizer’s Litfulo significantly improved skin pigment measures in two pivotal studies in vitiligo, results that were presented during the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology annual meeting. If Pfizer’s daily pill is approved, it would compete against an Incyte topical cream that is currently the only FDA-approved therapy for this autoimmune skin disorder.