Strong top-line results from Immunovant Inc.’s phase IIa clinical trial of IMVT-1401 in treating moderate to severe generalized myasthenia gravis increased the competition with Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Argenx SE in the crowded anti-FcRn space.
DUBLIN – Even by any normal measure of European biotechnology investment, the first two quarters of 2020 were memorable. If it maintains the present momentum, Europe’s drug development sector is on course for a record-breaking year, having already raised $5.034 billion in publicly disclosed equity investments. That puts it well ahead of any other year – the sector edged to a new high in 2019 when it raised $7.739 billion over the full 12 months – but, of course, comparisons with any other year seem irrelevant. This year is like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything.
Argenx SE’s later-stage effort with antibody fragment efgartigimod in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) was designed with guidance from the phase II trial that showed 75% of patients had a durable response of at least six weeks.
According to an analysis conducted by BioWorld of the first quarter 2020 financial reports filed by the top 100 public biopharmaceutical companies ranked by market cap, and excluding big pharma companies, the amount that was invested in research and development (R&D) during the period increased by 13% compared to the same period last year.
