Apple Tree Partners’ latest startup is Red Queen Therapeutics, developer of stapled peptide drugs that block viral fusion. Its lead program is on track for Phase 2 testing in immunocompromised Covid-19 patients; a preclinical pan-influenza program is in development under a BARDA contract.
Merck antiviral drug molnupiravir received emergency authorization, joining Pfizer’s Paxlovid as the only authorized oral antiviral drugs for treating Covid-19. Though the Merck and Pfizer antivirals appear to work against the omicron variant, FDA officials stressed that these drugs are authorized only for certain patients and they are not a substitute for vaccination.
See how Quantum Health is providing the steps to help their members tackle the cost of specialty medications and other drugs.
Exscientia’s IPO and private placement raised $464 million to support its artificial intelligence-based approach to discovering and developing new drugs. In addition to partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, an alliance with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is focused on developing antiviral drugs for future pandemics.
Four patients dosed with an experimental Assembly Biosciences hepatitis B treatment developed high levels of liver enzymes, a sign of drug-induced liver toxicity. The biotech has decided to stop further work on that drug and focus instead on developing its other clinical-stage hepatitis B drugs.
Gilead is in-licensing investigational molecules for influenza, rhinovirus and herpes. Novartis will receive an upfront payment and an additional $291 million in milestones.
The authorized generics, announced amid HCV product pricing pressures, will cost $24,000 - less than one-third the branded drugs' prices - to reflect discounts given to payers.
The ongoing nursing shortage facilitates high turnover rates since nurses know they won’t have difficulties finding new jobs. In order to retain and attract staff, it’s in a facility’s best interest to understand what nurses want.
Chromis Therapeutics is developing small molecules that can reduce or eliminate the cccDNA from the nuclei of infected liver cells, and block reinfection mechanisms.
Prosetta Biosciences says it'll use the proceeds mostly for more antiviral R&D. It has an assembly line approach to producing a series of compounds that alter the assembly of the viral capsid.
Under-the-radar San Diego startup Hera Therapeutics looks to be raising some early-stage capital to further its work in the antivirals space. The company, which is developing direct acting antivirals for human papilloma virus, human and animal retroviruses and herpes group viruses, filed regulatory paperwork to raise $1.3 million. It has thus far raised $1.1 million in […]