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’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.
Hear executives from Quantum Health, Surescripts, EY, Clinical Architecture and Personify Health share their views on digital transformation in healthcare.
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 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.
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.
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.
The future looks bright for the integrated specialty pharmacy model – for health systems, providers, and most importantly, for patients.
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 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.
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.
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.
Executives from Imagine360, Verily, BrightInsight, Lantern, and Rhapsody shared their approaches to reducing healthcare costs and facilitating digital transformation.
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.
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.
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.
Dice Therapeutics reported the first human data for its oral psoriasis drug designed to hit the same pro-inflammatory protein blocked by blockbuster antibody drugs from Novartis and Eli Lilly. The potential for Dice’s pill to offer a competitive oral alternative pushed the biotech’s stock skyward by nearly 80%.
Rubius Therapeutics is laying off about 75% of its workforce in a restructuring that spells the end of its red blood cell therapies in early clinical development for cancer. The biotech is turning its focus to a new platform for making cell therapies that it says offers key advantages over its current technology.