Biopharma News

FDA's 2025–2026 guidance changes would substantially streamline biosimilar development, including by reducing comparative efficacy and switching-study requirements. Here's what's confirmed, what industry has criticized about the existing pathway, and what's still unresolved.

The FDA has cleared daraxonrasib, the first RAS(ON) tri-complex inhibitor to reach approval, validating a mechanism-driven platform approach to a historically undruggable oncogene family in pancreatic cancer.

HaemaLogiX has dosed the first patient in its Phase 1 KOALA trial of KMCAR T-cell therapy, a novel CAR-T designed to selectively target kappa-restricted multiple myeloma cells while sparing healthy immune cells, with the treatment reported as well tolerated and a second patient enrolling at a higher dose.

4basebio and Genezen have entered an expanded, non-exclusive collaboration giving drug developers access to 4basebio's hpDNA cell-free synthetic DNA technology within Genezen's viral vector development and manufacturing services, aiming to streamline gene and cell therapy programs from early development through commercial manufacturing.

A retrospective cohort study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism found that sustained Zepbound (tirzepatide) use in adults over 55 with obesity was associated with lower monthly healthcare costs and fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits compared with untreated matched controls.

Welcome to The BioPharm Brief, your daily snapshot of developments shaping the biopharmaceutical industry. It’s a busy day for FDA action, with two approvals and a new designation spanning cancer, autoimmune disease, and rare disease. Here’s what we have today.

The FDA has approved two zanidatamab-hrii-containing regimens for first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, based on Phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01 data showing a median overall survival of more than two years, marking the second FDA approval for the bispecific antibody in under two years.

The FDA has granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to Mahzi Therapeutics' MZ-1866, an investigational AAV9-TCF4 gene replacement therapy for Pitt Hopkins syndrome, as the Phase 1/2 UNITE study surpasses 50% enrollment.

The FDA has approved IMAAVY (nipocalimab-aahu), an FcRn-blocking antibody from Johnson & Johnson, as the first therapy specifically approved for warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA), based on Phase 2/3 ENERGY trial data showing durable hemoglobin response and reduced fatigue versus placebo.

The FDA has extended the PDUFA target action date for Capricor Therapeutics' deramiocel BLA from August 22 to November 22, 2026, after the company submitted 24-month HOPE-3 open-label extension data supporting a refined indication focused on upper limb function.

The FDA has accepted for priority review GSK's sBLA for Jemperli (dostarlimab) in previously untreated stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer, based on AZUR-1 data, with a PDUFA date of February 2027 and eligibility for the National Priority Voucher program.

Today’s BioPharm Brief covers promising early-stage lung cancer data from AbbVie, an NMPA-accepted NDA for Leads Biolabs’ opamtistomig in rare neuroendocrine cancer, and a first-in-human trial of a brain-penetrant bispecific T-cell engager for glioblastoma.

Amplitude Therapeutics has entered a strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to discover and develop trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA) vaccine candidates for infectious diseases with high unmet need, with Lilly holding an option to add up to two additional targets.

Adaptin Bio has opened enrollment in a first-in-human Phase 1 trial of APTN-101, a bispecific T-cell engager built on the company's BRiTE platform designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and target EGFRvIII-positive glioblastoma. The trial, conducted with Duke University, will enroll up to 15 adult patients with WHO Grade IV malignant glioma.

This edition of The BioPharm Brief covers FDA approvals for Pasatru in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva and Genglycos in glycogen storage disease type Ia, along with a new bispecific CAR-T entering clinical development for large B-cell lymphoma.

Kirsten Detrick, chief representative, USA, at Basel Area Life Sciences Supercluster, discusses why emerging biopharmaceutical companies should incorporate market access and commercial considerations earlier and how Basel’s concentration of cross-functional talent can support product development and launch.

The FDA has approved Genglycos (pariglasgene brecaparvovec-opnr), a one-time AAV8 gene therapy, to reduce cornstarch dependence in patients eight and older with GSDIa, the first approved treatment to target the disease's underlying genetic cause.

AbelZeta Pharma has reclaimed global rights to prizloncabtagene autoleucel from Janssen and secured FDA clearance to begin US trials, positioning the anti-CD20/CD19 bispecific CAR-T for patients who relapse after existing CAR-T therapies.

This week’s BioPharm Brief covers positive phase 3 melanoma results for Merck and Moderna’s individualized neoantigen therapy, a personalized cancer vaccine manufacturing platform entering clinical use, and a new brain-penetrant antibody approach for glioblastoma.

AI tools that extract information from unstructured medical records could help oncology practices identify eligible clinical trial patients, surface care gaps, and compare treatment outcomes across real-world cohorts, according to Shaalan Beg and Eron Kelly of ConcertAI.

Real-time process analytics and digital manufacturing systems could generate the reliable data needed for artificial intelligence to deliver more predictive insights in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, according to Bryan Hassell, founder and CEO of Nirrin Technologies.

NTx Bio's NTxscribe CORE platform is being used by Baylor College of Medicine to manufacture mRNA for DOC1021, Diakonos Oncology's personalized dendritic cell vaccine, now dosing patients in a Phase 1 trial for refractory melanoma.

Today’s BioPharm Brief looks at a long-acting anti-VEGF therapy entering clinical trials, the first commercial use of imlifidase in Australia for kidney transplantation, and FDA Fast Track designation for a platelet-derived biologic for chronic sciatica.

Eyconis has dosed the first patients in OVERTURE, a phase 1b/2a first-in-human trial of EYC-0305, an investigational anti-VEGF antibody fragment designed for six-month or longer dosing intervals in wet age-related macular degeneration, marking the company's transition to clinical-stage status.

The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to C-1101, Consano Bio's investigational platelet-derived multi-protein biologic for chronic, painful lumbosacral radiculopathy, following the drug's recent IND clearance and as the company advances a Phase 1 trial evaluating the epidural injection.

Today’s BioPharm Brief looks at an oncology trial discontinuation, an AI-designed glioblastoma vaccine, and an expanded biosimilars collaboration.

Evaxion has added EVX-05, an AI-designed, off-the-shelf therapeutic vaccine targeting glioblastoma, to its pipeline, discontinuing the EVX-03 program as part of a broader R&D refocus while maintaining its cash runway into the second half of 2027.

OncoC4 has dosed the first patient in a phase 1 trial of ONC-783, a T-cell engager targeting neoCD24, a cancer-specific glycoform of CD24, positioning the subcutaneously administered candidate as a potential treatment across multiple solid tumor types.