Shares of Inmune Bio Inc. sank $3.18, or almost 60%, to trade at $2.16 on word that its phase II Mindful trial testing TNF inhibitor Xpro (pegipanermin) in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) missed the primary endpoint as measured by the Early/Mild Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite score. Inmune said it sees a path forward, however, and will meet with the U.S. FDA before the end of 2025. The company plans to pursue partners for an AD phase III trial.

Abbvie adds to in vivo CAR T efforts via $2.1B Capstan buy

Abbvie Inc. is shelling out up to $2.1 billion to acquire CAR T player Capstan Therapeutics Inc., gaining rights to a phase I-stage program targeting CD19 as well as its in vivo cell engineering platform. The announcement comes on the heels of recently published data detailing Capstan’s delivery approach using targeted lipid nanoparticles and marks Abbvie’s latest foray into the CAR T space.

China clears mazdutide as first dual GCG/GLP-1RA for weight loss

Innovent Biologics Inc. announced June 27 that it gained National Medical Products Administration’s (NMPA) approval of mazdutide as a new weight loss therapy for obese or overweight patients in China. Mazdutide is a dual glucagon/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GCG/GLP-1) receptor agonist originally discovered by Eli Lilly and Co. Innovent gained rights to develop and commercialize mazdutide in China in August 2019 under undisclosed terms. Mazdutide is “the first and fastest-developed GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist in the world,” according to Lei Qian, Innovent vice president of clinical development.

UK launches pharmacogenomics project targeting GLP-1s

The increased use of GLP-1 receptor agonists has led on to an increase in reports of acute pancreatitis in people taking these weight loss drugs in the U.K. That has prompted the launch of a pharmacogenomics project to investigate if there are any genetic links underlying the occurrence of this adverse event.

With new flu data, Moderna reconsiders its COVID combo

Solid phase III efficacy results for Moderna Inc.’s seasonal influenza vaccine, mRNA-1010, may lead the company to resubmit a BLA for a flu/COVID-19 combo shot it has been developing. Moderna’s flu vaccine produced a superior relative efficacy that was 26.6% higher than a comparator standard-dose seasonal influenza vaccine in people ages 50 and older. Moderna has been waiting for this efficacy data since May 21, when, after discussions with the U.S.FDA, the company voluntarily pulled the pending BLA for the vaccine combo mRNA-1083. Moderna said it plans to send the BLA back to the FDA before the end of 2025.

Also in the news

Achieve Life Sciences, Aicella, B&L, Biocryst, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calico Life Sciences, Channel Therapeutics, Cidara, Cormedix, Inmed Pharmaceuticals, Innovent, Invetechm, Kymera Therapeutics, Lyra Therapeutics, Mabwell Bioscience, Neurocrine Biosciences, Omeros, Qiagen, Schrödinger, Storm Therapeutics, Turnstone Biologics, UCB