In a deal worth up to $1.8 billion, Biogen Inc. is buying Human Immunology Biosciences Inc. (Hibio), bolstering its late-stage immune-disease treatment portfolio and diversifying its pipeline. The massive amount comprises $1.15 billion up front and as much as $650 in potential milestone payments. The deal in rare diseases brings Biogen phase III-ready felzartamab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively depletes CD38-positive plasma cells and natural killer cells. Hibio also is developing izastobart, an anti-C5aR1 antibody. Both assets were in-licensed from Morphosys AG in June 2022. Hibio also has mast cell programs in the discovery stage.
HERV-H LTR-associating protein 2 (HHLA2) is known to play immunosuppressive roles by interacting with killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL3 (KIR3DL3). The expression of HHLA2 in cancer is associated with poor patient outcomes, making it a promising therapeutic target for immunotherapy. Nextpoint Therapeutics Inc. has presented data on their monoclonal antibodies NPX-267 and NPX-887, which target KIR3DL3 and HHLA2, respectively.
Pheast Therapeutics Inc. has announced the presentation of preclinical data for PHST-001, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting CD24, a macrophage checkpoint.
Apogee Therapeutics Inc. has selected a development candidate for its APG-990 program, a subcutaneous half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting OX40L, initially being developed for atopic dermatitis.
Three years ago when Keting Chu pondered the name for a new biopharma company that would fold in infectious disease assets from Novartis AG, she looked out over her West Coast backyard. “I was looking for a name that made you think of California,” she told BioWorld. She nixed the idea of incorporating redwood trees into the name, but then she saw the blue jays flying around those trees and thought, “that’s a beautiful bird.” Hence, Chu founded and became CEO of Bluejay Therapeutics Inc., first raising $20 million through a series A in June 2021 and a $41 million series B in August 2022. On May 9, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company closed a $182 million series C round, with plans to accelerate development of lead compound BJT-778 to treat chronic hepatitis D virus, a condition for which there are no approved therapeutics in the U.S.
Memo Therapeutics AG has added a further CHF20 million (US$22 million) to its series C, bringing the total for the round to CHF45 million and enabling the company to expand the phase II trial of its lead program, AntiBKV, in neutralizing BK virus infection in immune compromised kidney transplant recipients.
The bifunctional antibody approach continues to pay off for Zenas Biopharma Inc., which banked an upsized $200 million series C preferred stock financing led by SR One along with NEA, Norwest Venture Partners and Delos Capital. Enavate Sciences and Longitude Capital participated significantly as well.
The administration of a cross-reactive monoclonal antibody (MAb) protected hamsters and African green monkeys (AGM) several days after Nipah virus (NiV) infection.
The FDA has cleared Oncoc4 Inc.’s IND application for ONC-841, a potential first-in-class Siglec-10-blocking antibody for the treatment of solid tumors.
Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd. and Celltrion Inc. are making headway in Europe and U.S. with respective follow-on biologic products, with Samsung Bioepis the latest to gain EMA approval for Pyzchiva, a Stelara (ustekinumab, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.) biosimilar, on April 23.
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