1st Biotherapeutics Inc. announced the closing of a ₩31.7 billion series D funding round Jan. 26 to advance its lead phase I oncology asset, FB-849, and portfolio of candidates for neurodegenerative diseases.
The U.S. FDA approved 27 drugs in December, the highest month of 2025. This compares to 18 approvals in November and brings the full year total to 226. This places 2025 just below the 228 approvals recorded in 2024 but well above approval numbers seen in most prior years of the past decade.
1st Biotherapeutics Inc. announced the closing of a ₩31.7 billion series D funding round Jan. 26 to advance its lead phase I oncology asset, FB-849, and portfolio of candidates for neurodegenerative diseases.
Insilico Medicine Cayman Topco has obtained IND approval from the FDA for ISM-8969 for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, enabling initiation of a phase I trial in healthy volunteers.
The FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health posted two important guidances just in the first week of the new year. The agency seems determined to sustain that pace with a new draft guidance for cuffless blood pressure monitors, apparently in response to sales of unauthorized over-the-counter devices for this indication.
Alveus Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for ALV-100, for chronic weight management, enabling initiation of a phase Ib study. Dosing has now commenced in the study.
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it received no objections from the U.S. FDA to move pilavapadin, its non-opioid candidate for diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, into phase III study, pushing company shares up near 20% on the day.
In a move that could dramatically shorten some clinical development timelines for drugs targeting multiple myeloma, the U.S. FDA issued a draft guidance on the potential use of minimal residual disease and complete response to support accelerated approvals, following the recommendation of the agency’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, which voted 12-0 in favor of the change in April 2024.
Avacta Therapeutics (Avacta Group plc) has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for FAP-Exd (AVA-6103), a Precision peptide-drug conjugate based on exatecan.
Neok Bio Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for NEOK-001, enabling initiation of a phase I trial for solid tumors. Dosing is expected to begin in the coming months, and initial clinical data are anticipated next year.