WellTheory Announces Women’s Health Program to Address Hormonal Conditions
WellTheory has launched a new program that will address the link between autoimmune disease and hormone imbalances.
Nuvig Therapeutics Nabs $161M to Build Case for a Better Approach to Autoimmune Disease
The startup’s first disease target is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), which can be treated with a blockbuster Argenx drug. Nuvig aims to show its drug can offer a better way to treat this disease and other autoimmune conditions.
Reducing Clinical and Staff Burnout with AI Automation
As technology advances, AI-powered tools will increasingly reduce the administrative burdens on healthcare providers.
Merck Picks Up Novel Bispecific Antibody With Potential in Both Cancer & Autoimmune Disease
Merck is acquiring a Curon Biopharmaceuticals drug whose encouraging Phase 1 data were presented during the ASCO annual meeting. The pharmaceutical giant sees potential applications of the bispecific antibody in cancer and autoimmune disease.
Biogen Immunology Strategy Comes Into Focus With $1B HI-Bio Acquisition
Biogen’s acquisition of Human Immunology Biosciences brings a drug candidate with potential applications in multiple immune-mediated disorders. The deal comes just prior to the scheduled presentation of clinical data in two of them.
Lycia Therapeutics Lands $106M for Protein Degraders That Treat Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases
Eli Lilly-partnered Lycia Therapeutics will use its Series C financing to continue developing its internal pipeline of protein-degrading drugs. The startup is working to reach the clinic with drugs for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
FDA Reconsideration Leads to Approval of Takeda Drug for Rare Esophagus Disorder
FDA approval of Takeda Pharmaceutical drug Eohilia introduces a new therapeutic option for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, inflammation of the esophagus that causes swallowing difficulty. It will compete against Dupixent, a Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals drug already approved for this disorder.
Health Executives on Digital Transformation in Healthcare
Hear executives from Quantum Health, Surescripts, EY, Clinical Architecture and Personify Health share their views on digital transformation in healthcare.
BioNTech Pact and Stock Sale Infuse Autolus With $600M for Its Cell Therapies
Autolus will apply the capital to its CAR T-cell therapy currently under FDA review in cancer and in early clinical development in lupus. Meanwhile, BioNTech will gain access to Autolus’s cell therapy manufacturing assets as well as technologies that could support the R&D of in vivo therapies and antibody drug conjugates.
FDA Approval of Pfizer Alopecia Drug Brings New Competition to Eli Lilly Med
Pfizer’s Litfulo is the first treatment approved for treating adolescents with severe alopecia areata. The drug’s approval also covers adults, were it will compete against Eli Lilly’s Olumiant.
Sanofi MS Drug Shines in Phase 2, Paving Way for a Pivotal Test Next Year
Frexalimab, a Sanofi drug candidate with roots at Dartmouth’s medical school, has met the main goal of its Phase 2 test. The encouraging data for this program come as different experimental Sanofi MS drug nears its one-year anniversary under FDA clinical hold.
Merck’s $11B Prometheus Acquisition Brings IBD Drug & Precision Medicine Platform
Merck is acquiring Prometheus Biosciences and a lead drug candidate in development for inflammatory bowel disorders. The deal comes as Merck looks for drug prospects that could make up for revenue declines facing blockbuster seller Keytruda, which faces patent expirations in coming years.
The Funding Model for Cancer Innovation is Broken — We Can Fix It
Closing cancer health equity gaps require medical breakthroughs made possible by new funding approaches.
Amgen to Buy Horizon Therapeutics for $28B, Edging Out Sanofi in Bidding War
Sanofi submitted the first unsolicited offer to acquire Horizon Therapeutics, but Amgen ultimately won what became a competitive bidding process. Amgen says Horizon's drug lineup complements its own portfolio of autoimmune and inflammatory disorder products.
Autoimmune Biotech Zenas Gets $118M to Take Antibody Drug Into Phase 3
Zenas BioPharma’s Series B financing was the biggest one of the week. Other startups that emerged with new cash include Juvena Therapeutics, Sensorium Therapeutics, and NRG Therapeutics.
Autoimmune Drug Biotech HI-Bio Unveils $120M to Root Out Cellular Drivers of Disease
Human Immunology Biosciences aims to stand apart in autoimmune disease drug research with therapies that address cells at the root of a range of allergic and inflammatory disorders. The biotech has a lead program licensed from MorphoSys in clinical development for two rare kidney diseases and $120 million to support that antibody and other biologic drugs in its pipeline.
Redesign Health launches new telehealth startup to treat autoimmune disease
Motto is the latest startup built at Redesign Health. The startup is virtual care platform that is now available for Californians and Texans with autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. It seeks to increase access to care by offering virtual appointments with rheumatologists, condition management services and lifestyle coaching on its telehealth platform.
‘Limited efficacy’ dooms GSK drug once considered a blockbuster prospect
GSK drug otilimab failed a Phase 3 test in rheumatoid arthritis. Though the antibody drug met the main goal in two other pivotal studies, GSK said the limited efficacy in the third study means the company will not seek regulatory approval.