Biopharma News
Aikium's AI-Driven mRNA Engine Looks to Address Undruggable Disordered Proteins
Eswar Iyer, MS, PhD, CEO and co-founder at Aikium Inc., describes a tool to overpower the data paucity problem in proteins.
Grifols Teams Up with Startup, FcR Therapeutics, on Recombinant Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases
Under this early stage R&D collaboration, the companies aim to engineer recombinant biologics for blocking Fc receptors, which play a key role in autoimmune diseases.
Life Sciences Pioneer Lee Hood on How the Paradigm Shift Towards Precision Medicine Will Shape the Future of Health Tech and Patient Care
Hood, a pioneer of systems biology and systems medicine, shared his personal interest in starting a new peptide-based, informational-driven pharmaceutical company that would address wellness and longevity during an interview with BioPharm Internaltion at the Precision Medicine World Conference.
GSK and Oxford Collaborate to Form GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Program for Advancing Cancer Research
Under this collaboration, GSK and Oxford will combine their complementary expertise in the immune system, vaccines, and cancer biology.
FDA Approves AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu for Treating HER2-low or HER2-ultralow Breast Cancer
The approval makes Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) the first HER2-directed therapy in the United States for treating HER2-low or HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer.
LEQEMBI Gains Additional Indication in Maintenance Dosing for Early Alzheimer’s Disease with FDA Approval
FDA has approved an additional indication for LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb) as a once-every-four-weeks maintenance therapy for early Alzheimer’s disease.
Bora Biologics to Support DotBio’s Novel Antibody Against Cancer Targets
Bora said it will be involved in stages ranging from chemistry, manufacturing, and controls strategy through to clinical development.
Coave Announces €32 Million in Funding for Next-Gen Genetic Medicines
The co-leaders of the financing were Novo Holdings and Bpifrance, with other investments from Invus, UI Investissement, Seroba Life Sciences, Fund+, Kurma Partners, Omnes Capital, and Turenne Capital.
FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation to Cour Pharmaceuticals’ PBC Treatment
CNP-104 is a biodegradable nanoparticle that previously received fast track designation from FDA in January 2022, which would eventually make it eligible for accelerated approval and priority review.
FDA Fast Tracks J&J’s Posdinemab for Alzheimer’s Disease
This latest fast track designation marks the second such designation by FDA for J&J’s tau-directed investigational therapies for treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Argobio and University of Southern Denmark Launch Inverna Therapeutics, a Next-Generation RNA Company
The new company will harness splicing technology to innovate safer and more effective RNA therapies for severe genetic diseases.
Orbis Medicines Looks to Develop Biologic Drug Alternatives With New Funding
The $94 million (€90 million) Series A funding will be used to support the development of the company’s pipeline of nCycles, oral macrocycle drugs that will be focused on validated biologic targets.
Japan’s MHLW Approves Takeda’s HYQVIA Subcutaneous Injection to Treat Agammaglobulinemia or Hypogammaglobulinemia
The approval makes HYQVIA [Immune Globulin Infusion 10% (human) with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase] the first and only facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin to be approved in Japan to treat these disorders.
Roche and Innovent to Collaborate on Novel SCLC-Targeted ADC in Deal Worth Potentially More Than $1 Billion
The companies will advance the development of Innovent’s ADC candidate, IBI3009, which has received IND approvals in the US, China, and Australia.
FDA Approves First Generic Version of a GLP-1 Injection for Type 2 Diabetes
The approval of Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ liraglutide injection marks the first generic version of Victoza, a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Roche Announces Prasinezumab Missed Primary Endpoint in Phase IIb Study, but Shows Possible Benefit in Treating Early Stage Parkinson’s Disease
The results garnered from the Phase IIb study failed to achieve statistical significance in the primary endpoint.
Orexo Collaborates with Abera on Nasal Powder Vaccines
Using Orexo’s powder-based drug delivery technology, the companies will develop mucosal vaccines in an inhaled formulation.
AbbVie to Acquire Nimble Therapeutics, Further Strengthening Immunology Pipeline
In the latest of a series of acquisitions this year, AbbVie will acquire Nimble Therapeutics, which includes that company’s lead asset, an oral peptide for treating psoriasis.
AbbVie Completes $1.4 Billion Acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics, Boosting Neuroscience Pipeline
AbbVie has completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics, giving it access to Aliada’s disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.
GSK Forms Strategic Drug Development Deals with Relation and Muna
Under the deals, the parties will advance therapeutics for fibrotic diseases, osteoarthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
BioMarin Invests €60 Million to Expand Manufacturing Facility in Ireland
The company will add a new laboratory facility at its Shanbally, Co. Cork, Ireland, manufacturing site.
Cellipont Bioservices and Xiogenix Partner on Advanced Filling Systems
Cellipont Bioservices and Xiogenix Partner on Advanced Filling Systems The companies will offer Cellipont’s clients access to Xiogenix’ fill/finish system for cell therapy production.
Novartis In-Licenses Huntington’s Disease Drug Development Program from PTC Therapeutics in $2.9 Billion Deal
Under the deal, Novartis will in-license PTC518, an mRNA splice modulator for the huntingtin gene, which has the potential to be the first oral disease-modifying therapy for Huntington's disease.
Both Lilly and Amgen Invest in Major Expansions of US Manufacturing Sites
Lilly will expand its recently acquired manufacturing facility in Wisconsin with a $3 billion investment, and Amgen will expand its North Carolina facility with a $1 billion investment.
FDA Set to Review Belantamab Mafodotin Combinations for Multiple Myeloma
GSK’s Biologics License Application for belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep) as part of a combination therapy has been accepted by the US regulatory body for review.
FDA Accepts Alnylam’s Application for Cardiomyopathy Treatment
The agency will review the company’s supplemental new drug application for vutrisiran, a treatment for ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy.
FDA Approves Kedrion's Bolognana Plant for Production of PLGD-1 Therapeutic
With FDA's clearance, Kedrion can manufacture Ryplazim (plasminogen, human-tvmh), the first and only FDA-approved therapy for treating PLGD-1, at its Bolognana, Italy, site.
Sanofi Invests €40 Million to Boost Antibody Production in France
The investment will allow Sanofi to strengthen antibody bioproduction at its Lyon Gerland site in France.
Lecanemab Gets Nod from CHMP for Use in Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Eisai Europe and Biogen have received a positive opinion for the monoclonal antibody therapy to be used as a treatment of adult patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.
Aditum Bio and Leads Biolabs Form New Company, Oblenio Bio, for Developing a Therapeutic Antibody to Treat Autoimmune Disorders
Under an agreement, Leads Biolabs has granted the new company, Oblenio Bio, an exclusive option to license LBL-051, a tri-specific T-cell engager antibody.