Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it voluntarily paused a phase I/II study of its RNAi candidate for treating cystic fibrosis (CF) out of an “abundance of caution” while considering its next steps. “This may delay our pulmonary program a bit, but it’s just part of drug development,” said Christopher Anzalone, Arrowhead’s CEO. The halt was prompted by signals of local lung inflammation found in an ongoing chronic toxicology study in rats.
The agreement between gout player Horizon plc and RNAi expert Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. could result in a subcutaneously given, infrequently dosed fix for the disease that takes aim at xanthine dehydrogenase. “They brought us the target – it wasn’t something we were developing,” said Arrowhead CEO Christopher Anzalone, but the Pasadena, Calif.-based firm’s research on hepatocyte-directed therapies provides confidence.
HONG KONG – Final results of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s phase III open-label extension study of Takhzyro (lanadelumab) showed that continued treatment with the monoclonal antibody may help with the long-term prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks.
HONG KONG – Final results of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s phase III open-label extension study of Takhzyro (lanadelumab) showed that continued treatment with the monoclonal antibody may help with the long-term prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks as well as reducing their frequency.
Investors appear to be maintaining a bullish outlook on biopharma companies developing innovative medicines, with the BioWorld Drug Developers index currently tracking up over 5% in value so far this month heading into third-quarter earnings season.
In a deal that could bring the company as much as $1.04 billion, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. will collaborate with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to co-develop and co-commercialize an investigational RNAi-based liver disease treatment. Arrowhead’s candidate, ARO-AAT, is designed to reduce mutant alpha-1 antitrypsin protein production, which causes the disease to progress. Arrowhead will receive a $300 million up-front payment on closing in addition to development, regulatory and commercial milestones that could total $740 million.
In a deal that could bring the company as much as $1.04 billion, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. will collaborate with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to co-develop and co-commercialize an investigational RNAi-based liver disease treatment. Arrowhead’s candidate, ARO-AAT, is designed to reduce mutant alpha-1 antitrypsin protein production, which causes the disease to progress. Arrowhead will receive a $300 million up-front payment on closing in addition to development, regulatory and commercial milestones that could total $740 million.
The positive interim 24-week liver biopsy results from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s open-label phase II of its RNAi-based liver-targeted therapeutic, ARO-AAT, came as a surprise to the developers.
After being in the doldrums for the majority of the year, public biopharmaceutical companies, it appears, have turned the corner and are now on a major upswing.
