Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc’s launch of a phase I/IIa trial with LB-101, a PD-L1xCD47 candidate that emerged from the Lockbody platform, highlighted the firm’s efforts against solid tumors. But the diversified company has more in the works, including a registrational study with subcutaneous (subcu) Serpinpc, designed to treat hemophilia (hemo) B. Centessa has a program in narcolepsy, too.
Ciliatech SAS reported positive news for people suffering from glaucoma who want to avoid the complications that come with using existing glaucoma procedures. Results from the SAFARI 1 clinical trial, using its first-generation cilio-scleral inter-positioning device (CID) implant in patients with open angle glaucoma, showed marked stability of intraocular pressure (IOP), along with a significantly reduced need for glaucoma medication 24 months on from surgery.
Histosonics Inc., the developer of a non-invasive platform that uses sonic beams to destroy tissue, treated the first patient in its phase I study of the procedure as a treatment for kidney tumors at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Services Trust in the U.K.
Shares of Avidity Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:RNA) dropped 15% March 30 as the company disclosed details of the serious adverse event (SAE) that prompted a partial clinical hold in September 2023 on the phase I/II trial testing AOC-1001 in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).
Astellas Pharma Inc.’s zolbetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting Claudin 18.2, met the primary endpoint for progression-free survival as well as secondary endpoints for overall survival in the phase III Glow trial in CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.’s phase III data with Caplyta (lumateperone) 42 mg in major depressive disorder (MDD) with mixed features (MF) and in patients with bipolar depression with MF may augur well for the ongoing, late-stage program with the compound as an adjunctive treatment in MDD.
Shares of Biomea Fusion Inc. (NASDAQ:BMEA) rocketed up 89% to close at $29.30 March 28 after the company reported early cohort data from its Covalent-111 phase I/II trial, showing treatment with the lowest dose of menin inhibitor BMF-219 reduced median A1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes by 1% at only four weeks.
Hopes remain for Unity Biotechnology Inc.’s UBX-1325 in diabetic macular edema (DME) following a phase II miss in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where data from part A of the study called Envision fell short of the non-inferiority threshold when compared to Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.) through 24 weeks.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Astrazeneca plc’s candidate for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (hATTR-PN), eplontersen, has continued to improve disease progression out to 66 weeks, according to Ionis.
Phase II data that rolled out from Merck KGaA with its Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor evobrutinib in relapsed multiple sclerosis (MS) put more eyeballs on the mechanism. It’s already well validated in oncology, but resistance has arisen there, and at least two firms – Beigene Ltd. and Nurix Therapeutics Inc. – are striving for solutions with degrader candidates.
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