Gilead Sciences Inc. has synthesized indoline compounds acting as viral replication inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infection and herpes simplex virus encephalitis.
Hookipa Pharma Inc. has received clearance from the FDA for its IND application for HB-500, a novel arenaviral therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of HIV.
If there had been any lingering market concerns following the temporary partial clinical hold earlier this year for Arcellx Inc.’s multiple myeloma CAR T-cell therapy, CART-ddBCMA, they were likely put to rest as partner Gilead Sciences Inc.’s Kite unit expanded the scope of the firms’ late 2022 collaboration to include lymphomas. At the same time, Kite exercised an option to negotiate a license for Arcellx’s ARC-Sparx program, ACLX-001, in multiple myeloma.
Orsobio Inc., already in the clinic with three candidates, has completed its $60 million series A financing. The company, CEO Mani Subramanian told BioWorld, has taken its time to find the right programs, put them together and only raised capital when it saw the programs had legs. Even the series A is a measured step, as Subramanian called the financing “modest.”
The BioWorld Biopharmaceutical Index (BBI) fell through October, ending the month up just 0.98%. It remains above its low point of the year, when it was down 3.65% at the end of February.
Gilead Sciences Inc. and Assembly Biosciences Inc. have entered into a 12-year partnership to advance the research and development of novel antiviral therapies, with an initial focus on Assembly’s established areas of herpesviruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV).
What CEO Jason Okazaki called Assembly Biosciences Inc.’s “monumental” deal for new antivirals with Gilead Sciences Inc. brings $100 million right away, consisting of an $84.8 million up-front payment and a $15.2 million equity investment. Wall Street liked it, and shares of South San Francisco-based Assembly (NASDAQ:ASMB) closed Oct. 17 at $1.25, up 52 cents or 72%, on word of the 12-year arrangement. Gilead (NASDAQ:GILD) ended at $80.48, up $1.28.
Molecular glues acting as zinc finger protein Helios (IKZF2) degradation inducers are described in a Gilead Sciences Inc. patent and reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.