Ipsen’s Onivyde is now FDA approved as a first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer, triggering a milestone payment to Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, the drug’s original developer. Merrimack plans to dissolve operations but its shareholders will receive payouts from the Ipsen payment.
Abivax pulled off stock market deals in the U.S. and Europe that infuse the biotech with capital to continue clinical development of a small molecule for inflammation that’s differentiated from biologic therapies. In other biotech IPO news, Cargo Therapeutics and Invea Therapeutics both filed paperwork to go public.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Johnson & Johnson is committing up to $60 million for global rights to a Nanobiotix therapy that enhances radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. A Phase 3 test of the nanoparticle-based therapy is expected to yield preliminary data in 2024.
Ipsen drug Bylvay is now FDA approved for treating pruritus, or severe itching, which is a complication of the rare liver disease Alagille syndrome. The oral drug was previously approved for treating pruritus in another rare inherited liver disease called PFIC.
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.
Alban de La Sablière, global head of partnering at Sanofi for the past six years, has joined artificial intelligence biotech Owkin as its first chief business officer. In addition to finding more business partnerships, de La Sablière will also oversee expansion of Owkin’s internal drug and diagnostics pipeline.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Sanofi is collaborating with Scribe Therapeutics to use the startup’s CRISPR technology to create cell therapies based on natural killers, a type of immune cell that has cancer-killing capabilities. The pharma giant is paying Scribe $25 million up front to kick off the deal.
Sanofi breast cancer drug amcenestrant has failed in a Phase 3 clinical trial, leading the pharmaceutical giant to discontinue all clinical development of the small molecule. The move means Sanofi is out of the competitive chase to develop a so-called “oral SERD” therapy for patients with a certain type of breast cancer.
Ipsen has been an active dealmaker lately, and it just struck another one that takes the pharmaceutical company into a new area of drug research. The Paris-based company is collaborating with Marengo Therapeutics on the development of two drugs that selectively activate T cells to fight cancer.
The FDA placed a partial clinical hold on late-stage tests of Sanofi multiple sclerosis drug tolebrutinib after some patients developed drug-induced liver injury. While U.S. tests are paused, Sanofi said clinical testing in other countries is continuing with additional safety monitoring.
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Sanofi won European Commission approval for two therapies that treat rare enzyme deficiencies. Xenpoyzme is the first treatment for acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) while Nexviadyme is a successor to a blockbuster Sanofi drug for Pompe disease.
Ipsen is paying $247 million to acquire Epizyme, a cancer drug developer with one FDA-approved product: follicular lymphoma therapy Tazverik. The drug is a modest seller now, but more cash could be paid out if the small molecule hits sales targets in coming years.
Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline weathered clinical trial delays for their Covid-19 vaccine, but the partners now have data to support filings seeking regulatory authorizations. Key features of the vaccine may be able to persuade the vaccine hesitant; it may also be well-suited for use as a booster.
Sanofi is the latest company to strike a deal for a Parkinson’s disease drug candidate that targets the protein alpha synuclein. The asset from ABL Bio is a bispecific antibody designed to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
Sanofi’s new alliance with artificial intelligence biotech Exscientia spans up to 15 small molecule drugs in cancer and immunology. If drugs from the partnership reach the market, Exscientia could earn as much as $5.2 billion in milestone payments.