In one of the biggest deals of the waning year, Novo Nordisk A/S is buying Akero Therapeutics Inc. to bolster its metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-treatment portfolio. In the $5.2 billion deal, Akero brings its fibroblast growth factor 21 analogue, efruxifermin, which is in a phase III study for treating those with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis and those with cirrhosis.

Confo Therapeutics NV has secured a 2-year €1 million (US$1.2 million) grant from Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) to advance research and development of ultra-long-acting medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including bi- and multispecific antibody formats for obesity and other metabolic and endocrine disorders.

Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is licensing Hinge Bio Inc.’s multispecific antibody-based therapy HB-2198 in Japan for multiple autoimmune indications, starting with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Although type 2 diabetes tends to get more airtime, type 1 diabetes also had drawn a number of the developers to the table. Recently winning the attention of Wall Street is SAB Biotherapeutics Inc., which offered data during the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Biomea Fusion Inc. are among the other players.

Cartography Biosciences Inc. has closed a $67 million series B financing to support its pipeline of T-cell engaging bispecific and multispecific antibody therapeutics that target novel and highly specific tumor antigens.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is neuroinflammatory disease characterized by optic neuritis and myelitis with presence of anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies. Satralizumab is an anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) humanized antibody approved for preventing relapses in NMOSD (AQP4 IgG positive) in adults and children in Japan.

Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is licensing Hinge Bio Inc.’s multispecific antibody-based therapy HB-2198 in Japan for multiple autoimmune indications, starting with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Anaptysbio Inc. said it intends to split into two publicly traded companies – one for developing a pipeline, the other for managing royalties – each with its own business model. The royalty company will hold and manage the rights to big-earning Jemperli (dostarlimab) royalties from collaborator GSK plc, along with imsidolimab milestones and royalties from Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Rakuten Medical Inc. is advancing a pipeline of solid tumor therapeutics built on its Alluminox platform worldwide, having gained conditional early approval of ASP-1929, an Alluminox-derived photoimmunotherapy, in Japan in 2020.

Experts agree that the earlier Alzheimer's disease is detected, the sooner action can be taken. And so, the key to preventing deterioration is identifying the most effective early biomarkers, those that can spot the disorder and help halt its progression. Recent advances in the field have pushed a new era of early detection through blood-based biomarkers and personalized medicine strategies based on each patient’s genetic, immunological and clinical profile.