Artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery specialist Insilico Medicine Inc. is progressing INS018-055, its lead compound to phase II trials for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease that results in progressive and irreversible decline in lung function.
Newco Glycocore Pharma Srl is setting out to raise €10 million (US$11.2 million) in a series A round to take a novel approach to treating inflammatory respiratory diseases into the clinic, starting with a phase I/Ib trial in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Two biopharma companies entered the public markets on July 14, with Apogee Therapeutics Inc. pricing a $300 million IPO, the second largest U.S. debut this year, and Sagimet Biosciences Inc. raising $85 million. Apogee, of San Francisco, and Waltham, Mass., is advancing APG-777 and APG-808, which are in development for atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while San Mateo, Calif.-based Sagimet’s lead candidate is the FASN inhibitor denifanstat for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
First Wave Biopharma Inc. is taking apart the top-line data from its phase II study of adrulipase for treating nutrition deficiencies in cystic fibrosis patients and seems unsure exactly what it found. The company said that while the initial data found the enhanced enteric microgranule delivery formulation of adrulipase was safe, well-tolerated and was an improvement over other formulations, the preliminary data also indicate that “it is likely the primary efficacy endpoint was not achieved.”
A tough spring has settled into a cruel summer for Fibrogen Inc. as the company has stumbled for the third time in two months. The newest problem is top-line results showing the phase III Zephyrus-1 study of pamrevlumab, a monoclonal antibody, missed its primary endpoint for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
While investors focused on the top-line miss from Avalo Therapeutics Inc.’s phase II study of AVTX-002 (quisovalimab) in non-eosinophilic asthma, sending company shares (NASDAQ:AVTX) falling 89% to close at 50 cents June 26, the company pointed to promising trends seen in an exploratory analysis affirming the potential of targeting LIGHT.
Edding Group Co. Ltd. announced June 23 it filed for an IPO on the Hong Kong Exchange – news that comes amid a steep drop in China’s biopharma IPO market forecasting sluggish activity in a near-frozen “capital winter.”
Vicore Pharma Holding AB grossed about SEK500 million (US$46 million) in a directed share issue that will fund a phase IIb trial of its lead drug candidate, C-21, in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Less than two years ago, in October 2021, a group of investors bid at auction on a promising monoclonal antibody to treat asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis and other inflammatory conditions, winning the asset known as UPB-101, the sole focus of the then-newly launched Upstream Bio Inc.
Despite posting positive phase IIa data, Pliant Therapeutics Inc. stock (NASDAQ:PLRX) took a punch May 1 as shares closed 21% downward at $22.31 each. Still, the stock is in far better shape than it was a year ago when shares were going for about $5 each.
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