Genmab A/S entered a deal valued at about $8 billion to acquire Merus NV, gaining rights to the latter’s phase III-stage petosemtamab, a bispecific antibody initially in development for head and neck cancer, and continuing the firm’s strategy to move beyond a royalty-based structure. Under the terms, Genmab will pay $97 per share in an all-cash transaction. However, if all goes as planned and petosemtamab, which targets EGFR and LGR5, reaches the market in 2027, Genmab is anticipating multibillion-dollar sales potential.

Moonlake shares crash on phase III sonelokimab data for HS

Bar what it called a “placebo wobble,” Moonlake Therapeutics AG turned in positive results from the phase III trials of sonelokimab in treating hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), only to see its share price take a complete battering on the morning of Sept. 29. The stock (Nasdaq:MLTX) fell by almost 90% to $6.60 when the market opened, after the Zug Switzerland-based company published 16-week data from two identical trials, Vela-1 and Vela-2. While taken together the two studies were positive, Vela-2 narrowly missed reaching statistical significance. More crucially as far as the market is concerned, the overall results failed to put clear blue water between sonelokimab, an anti-ILA/IL-17F nanobody, and UCB SA’s approved HS treatment Bimzelx (bimekizumab), which hits the same targets.

Enanta’s stock surges on strong RSV data

Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s phase IIb study of zelicapavir missed its primary endpoint in treating respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) but mined enough positive results to get the company to talk about advancing the once-daily oral treatment into further studies. Top-line data showed no effect was seen on the N-protein inhibitor’s time to resolving lower respiratory tract disease symptoms compared to placebo, which was the primary endpoint. However, there was efficacy found in other areas of the study, encouraging the company to map out a larger study. The company’s stock (NASDAQ:ENTA) reacted positively to the news, with a strong 46% upswing at midday and shares going for $11.60 each.

Larimar sinks on anaphylaxis events in phase II FA study

Shares of Larimar Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:LRMR) were trading at $3.60, down $1.49, or 29%, on 25-mg and 50-mg data from the ongoing long-term, open-label study evaluating daily subcutaneous injections of nomlabofusp, self-administered or administered by a caregiver in participants with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). The Bala Cynwyd, Pa.-based firm reported consistent directional improvements across four key clinical outcomes observed in the trial relative to a Friedrich’s Ataxia Clinical Outcomes Measure Study reference population and the observed increase in skin frataxin (FXN) levels. Wall Street, though, was put off by rates of anaphylaxis in the experiment. Nomlabofusp is a recombinant fusion protein intended to deliver FXN to the mitochondria of FA patients.

Sovargen scores $550M Angelini deal for Genentech-derived SVG-105

Sovargen Co. Ltd. inked a $550 million license deal with Angelini Pharma SpA, granting Angelini development and commercialization rights to SVG-105 (paxalisib/SIM-0395), an oral small-molecule drug targeting the phosphoinostidide-3 kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/mTOR) pathways for various brain health disorders. Seoul, South Korea-based Sovargen initially gained rights to SVG-105, or paxalisib, through a $20.5 million deal with Kazia Therapeutics Ltd. in March 2024. Syndey-based Kazia gained rights to the brain penetrant small-molecule drug from Genentech Inc. (part of Roche Holding AG) in 2016.

Phase III successes in August include Sjögren’s, myasthenia gravis

In August 2025, BioWorld logged 95 clinical trial updates across phases I to III, compared to 140 tracked in July and 254 in June. Among them, 15 phase III studies delivered positive results, while one trial each reported a failure and mixed outcome. Among the successes were phase III trials of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s cemdisiran for myasthenia gravis and Novartis AG’s ianalumab for Sjögren’s disease.

Also in the news

Abbvie, Alera, Amneal, Bambusa, Crinetics, Eli Lilly, Fractyl Health, Harrow, Kura, Kyowa, Melt, N4, Ocuvex, Onconetix, Organogenesis, OSE, Regeneron, Sanofi, Sethera, Soligenix, SRI, Theratechnologies, Uniqure, Vanda