Bioelectronic medicine startup Setpoint Medical Corp. raised $80 million in a preferred stock financing co-led by new investors Norwest Venture Partners and Viking Global Investors. The company has also secured a line of credit for up to $65 million, bringing total access to capital to up to $145 million.
Bio-Thera Solutions Ltd. has obtained NMPA approval for BAT-1806 to treat rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and cytokine release syndrome. BAT-1806 is the world’s first tocilizumab biosimilar approved for marketing, according to Guangzhou, China-based Bio-Thera.
In one of the first large preclinical deals of 2023, Evoq Therapeutics Inc. is licensing for up to $685.5 million its Nanodisc technology to Gilead Sciences Inc. to develop new rheumatoid arthritis and lupus treatments. The potential payout includes up-front fees, an option exercise and milestone payments across both programs. Evoq also could receive tiered royalties on any sales that result.
Researchers from Eydis Bio Inc. reported the discovery and preclinical characterization of a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 7 (MAP3K7/TAK1) inhibitor, EYD-001, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Silo Pharma Inc. plans to initiate a pilot study of SPU-21, its novel joint-homing peptide targeting rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in human synovial tissue surrounding joints and tendons.
A research team at Duality Biologics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. has discovered a novel anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), DB-2306, as a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of autoimmune disease.
Based on an analysis of critical transcription factors, researchers have stratified rheumatoid arthritis (RA) into two subtypes where gene expression was driven by RAR-α or TGF-β, respectively. The findings, published in Nature Communications on Oct. 20, 2022, by researchers from the University of California, San Diego, give new insights into factors that affect the treatment response in RA, and could point to novel treatment strategies.
Following a research program to identify inhibitors of protein kinases TBK1 and IKK-ε, Domainex Ltd. has nominated DMXD-011 as a preclinical drug candidate.
Elasmogen Ltd. has secured a “transformational” £8 million (US$10 million) in new funding with which to move its shark-based, antibody-like constructs toward the clinic.
