Novo Nordisk A/S presented a mixed bag of R&D results for its cardiometabolic assets in the first half of 2024 as it axed three drug candidates but advanced one to a late-stage study. In the search for greener pastures beyond a crowding obesity market, Novo announced Aug. 7 that it advanced ziltivekimab into a phase III study to assess the subcutaneous therapy’s cardiovascular outcomes in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Researchers from Indiana University have presented data from a study that aimed to assess the potential of suppressing GABA metabolism through inhibition of its degradation enzyme, GABA aminotransferase (GABA-AT), as novel analgesic strategy. The effect of next-generation GABA-AT inhibitor OV-329 was assessed in C57BL/6J mice that were intraperitoneally injected with paclitaxel to generate neuropathic nociception. Treatment with OV-329 attenuated the development and maintenance of paclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivity.

Researchers at Leiden University have synthesized semisynthetic guanidino lipoglycopeptides with in vitro and in vivo activity gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

In December 2020, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC bought Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s approved acute myeloid leukemia drug, Tibsovo (ivosidenib), and the rest of its oncology business in a deal valued at up to $2 billion. Now, the U.S. FDA has approved one of those assets, with the brand name Voranigo (vorasidenib), for treating gliomas.

Researchers from Merck & Co Inc. have presented preclinical data for the novel Nav1.8 inhibitor MSD-199, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

Tokyo-headquartered Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. said Aug. 1 that it will acquire Boston-based Jnana Therapeutics Inc. through a potential $1.125 billion M&A deal. Under the terms, Otsuka will work to close the transaction by the third quarter of 2024, with $800 million paid out to Jnana shareholders, along with up to $325 million in additional development and regulatory milestones payments.

Big pharma continues to invest heavily into molecular glue degraders. The latest deal has Eisai Co. Ltd. striking up a research collaboration that could bring Seed Therapeutics Inc. up to $1.5 billion in up-front and milestone payments. The two said they plan to discover, develop and commercialize MGDs for several undisclosed neurodegeneration and oncology targets.

Researchers from the University of Brescia have presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of novel fibroblast growth factor (FGF) trap small molecules, being developed for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM).

Meta Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the FDA has granted rare pediatric disease designation to its investigational new drug META-001-PH for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria (PH), an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder in which oxalate is overproduced and deposited in the body.