Positive top-line data from phase II and III studies of lorundrostat for treating uncontrolled or resistant hypertension propelled Mineralys Therapeutics Inc.’s stock sharply upward on March 10. The phase III Launch-HTN study hit its primary endpoint in reducing systolic blood pressure and the phase II Advance-HTN study also met its primary endpoint of a clinically meaningful reduction in blood pressure. Oral lorundrostat targets dysregulated mineralcorticoid aldosterone as a selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor. Mineralys estimated there to be about 15- to 20-million patients with uncontrolled hypertension in the U.S. On March 10, the Radnor, Pa.-based company’s shares (NASDAQ:MLYS) closed 42% upward at $14.96 each.

A new multi-omics approach to unpicking how noncoding gene variants influence the development of common chronic diseases has identified tens of thousands of instances where variants have an impact on gene expression levels and gene splicing, the post-transcriptional modification that allows one gene to code for multiple proteins.

Astrazeneca plc’s good news with its oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) and estrogen receptor antagonist, camizestrant, when used as part of a combo in breast cancer raised optimism for the approach, which has caught on in various biopharma quarters.

Septerna Inc.’s stock plunged as much as 68% throughout the day Feb. 18 on news that the company was stopping a phase I trial of SEP-786 in healthy volunteers following two severe events of elevated unconjugated bilirubin in the highest dose cohort of the multiple ascending-dose portion of the study.

EMA approval of the Alzheimer’s disease therapy Leqembi (lecanemab) has stalled once again, after the European Commission did not as usual nod through the agency’s recommendation, but told it to examine safety data that have recently become available.

At the 66th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, a plethora of companies presented clinical trial data highlighting their drugs targeting Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) in patients with blood cancers.