Conditionally active antibody specialist Cytomx Therapeutics Inc. has agreed to work with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. to discover and develop new bispecific antibodies with what the partners said is the potential to "widen the therapeutic window and help minimize off-target effects."
An uptick in positive clinical data reported in recent months has helped nudge the BioWorld Biopharmaceutical Index (BBI) to its highest point this year. BBI is up by 15.58%, significantly higher than the 1.36% increase recorded at the end of August, just as statistically significant clinical results began to roll in from a number of biopharma companies.
Once pharma’s great hope to replace opioid painkillers, it looks like the end for nerve growth factor (NGF) inhibitors after Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. quietly axed fasinumab, the late-stage painkilling injection it was developing in partnership with Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has elected to exercise its right to advance a therapeutic antibody candidate, discovered in partnership with Abcellera Biologics Inc. as part of a multitarget collaboration between the companies, into further preclinical development.
Decibel Therapeutics Inc. has received clearance from the FDA for its IND application to initiate a phase I/II trial of DB-OTO in pediatric patients, potentially in infants younger than 2 years of age.
What was once effective is now a non-starter. Newly updated guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) caution against using the COVID-19 treatments sotrovimab, from GSK plc and Vir Biotechnology Inc., and Regen-Cov (casirivimab + imdevimab), from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. Omicron, the group said, has rendered the monoclonal antibodies ineffective.
Success in two pivotal studies of high dose Eylea (aflibercept) has significantly strengthened Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s market position. But the company will face stiff competition from biosimilars and Roche Holding Group’s recently approved Vabysmo. After struggling for much of the year, the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based company’s stock (NASDAQ: REGN) rose about 20% this week. It closed 2% upward on Sept. 9 at $724.32 per share.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Inmazeb and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP’s Ebanga earned a ringing endorsement from the World Health Organization (WHO) in its first ever guideline on Ebola therapies. In releasing the guideline Aug. 19, WHO officials celebrated the fact that Ebola is no longer “a near certain killer” – provided treatment starts as soon as possible following diagnosis.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. proposes to buy Checkmate Pharmaceuticals Inc. though an all-cash price of $10.50 per share for about $250 million. That’s pretty much on target with Checkmate’s April 19 closing share price (NASDAQ:CMPI) of $10.35, as the stock gained a staggering 326% on the day.