Astrazeneca plc is adding a preclinical-stage candidate to its cardiovascular pipeline via a potentially $2 billion licensing agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., which includes a $100 million up-front payment for rights to YS-2302018, an oral Lp(a) disruptor. It’s an impressive figure for such an early program, but the Cambridge, U.K.-based pharma hailed the small molecule’s potential against a range of indications, both alone and in combination regimens that could include PCSK9 inhibitor AZD-0780.
Astrazeneca plc is adding a preclinical-stage candidate to its cardiovascular pipeline via a potentially $2 billion licensing agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., which includes a $100 million up-front payment for rights to YS-2302018, an oral Lp(a) disruptor. It’s an impressive figure for such an early program, but the Cambridge, U.K.-based pharma hailed the small molecule’s potential against a range of indications, both alone and in combination regimens that could include PCSK9 inhibitor AZD-0780.
For Verve Therapeutics Inc., the good news was the first human proof-of-concept data for a single-course in vivo base-editing treatment, presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions over the weekend, showed treatment with VERVE-101 led to promising dose-dependent reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The bad news was to be found in the safety data for the 10 patients treated to date, which included a myocardial infarction in one patient deemed potentially related to treatment.
Less than two years old, Tourmaline Bio Inc. is gaining a public listing through a reverse merger with publicly traded Talaris Therapeutics Inc., as it enters a phase IIb with its lead IL-6 inhibitor for thyroid eye disease (TED).
Verve Therapeutics Inc. has entered into an exclusive research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Co. focused on advancing Verve’s preclinical stage in vivo gene editing program targeting lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), ischemic stroke, thrombosis and aortic stenosis.
In recent work, researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine applied a drug repurposing approach to identify candidates that could target inflammation in atherosclerosis.
Novartis AG’s FDA go-ahead for Leqvio (inclisiran), the first and only small interfering RNA therapy to lower LDL-C, “should come as a relief, given fears that the pandemic could again limit FDA's ability to conduct manufacturing-site inspections,” Jefferies analyst Peter Welford said. PCSK9-targeting Leqvio’s Dec. 22 approval, which came slightly ahead of the Jan. 1, 2022, PDUFA date, landed after a complete response letter about a year ago, citing unresolved facility inspection-related conditions. The drug is dosed twice per year, unlike competitors in the space.
