Encellin Inc. has announced the closing of a US$9.9 million financing round that will support the company’s development of its cell encapsulation platform with an initial focus on type 1 diabetes.
Biomea Fusion Inc.’s diabetes treatment produced enhanced glycemic control at week 26 courtesy of its 200-mg cohort. It’s the latest advance for the company’s candidate that also has strong prospects in treating leukemia. Top-line data from the ongoing phase II Covalent-111 study of BMF-219, a covalent menin inhibitor for regenerating insulin-producing beta cells, demonstrated that about 40% of participants, four of 11 patients, in the 200-mg cohorts showed a durable reduction, 1% or more, in the amount of blood sugar attached to the type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients’ hemoglobin. The data came from participants who had received the last dose in a four-week treatment.
Dexcom Inc. achieved the first integrations of an automated insulin delivery system (AID) approved for use in the U.S. with its G7 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) integrating with Tandem Diabetes Care Inc.’s T2:slim X2, announced on Dec. 6, and integration with the Ilet Bionic Pancreas made by Beta Bionics Inc. revealed on Dec. 7.
One of the largest med-tech deals of 2023 was wiped off the charts when Medtronic plc terminated a $738 million agreement to acquire South Korean wearable insulin patch maker Eoflow Co. Ltd., citing “multiple breaches” under its agreements, on Dec. 6.
Preveceutical Medical Inc. is working to accelerate the completion of its preclinical diabetes and obesity dual gene therapy program. The company is pursuing a dual-gene therapy strategy using in vitro validated Smart-siRNA sequences, which when paired with its proprietary bioresponsive lipid-nanoparticulate delivery systems, effectively target the PTPN1 gene.
The same mechanism of action deployed by Eli Lilly and Co.’s obesity drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) helped lure Roche Holding AG to the buyout of Carmot Therapeutics Inc., as the pharma giant agreed to pay $2.7 billion up front for the privately held outfit, promising another $400 million if milestones are met.
With hybrid closed-loop systems for automated insulin delivery increasingly being seen as life changing for people with diabetes, Vicentra BV has teamed up with Diabeloop SA and Dexcom Inc. to launch a system to help people with type 1 diabetes manage their condition.
Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3), highly expressed in the liver, intestine, and adipose tissues, is an enzyme that preferentially incorporates polyunsaturated fatty acyl chain into lysophospholipids. Previous work showed that LPCAT3 and phospholipid remodeling play a crucial role in regulating glucose metabolism and contribute to the development of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.
The Swedish Medical Products Agency has authorized Uppsala University's clinical trial application to initiate an investigator-sponsored, first-in-human study of UP-421, an allogeneic, primary islet cell therapy engineered with Sana Biotechnology Inc.'s hypoimmune technology, in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Astrazeneca plc will pay up to $2 billion for Eccogene Co. Ltd.’s oral weight loss candidate, ECC-5004, as big and small pharma players alike work to gain ground in the burgeoning obesity market where Eli Lilly and Co. scored the latest U.S. FDA approval of Zepbound (tirzepatide).