Detailed research over the past decade has shown that that the protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a master regulator of type I interferons and as such plays an essential role in activating innate immunity. STING’s importance in orchestrating the body’s response to pathogenic, tumor, or self-DNA in the cytoplasm has made it a hot target in immunology research and drug discovery and several biopharma companies have started programs dedicated to this area spanning infectious and inflammatory diseases as well as cancer.
After a steady upward trend since the beginning of the year, the BioWorld Infectious Diseases index has hit a speed bump for the first time and dropped almost 8% so far in August. Companies in the group focusing on treatments for COVID-19 took the brunt of the valuation decline as investors became notably anxious about other drug developers making it to market sooner with their COVID-19 therapies.
Continuing a trend that began in June, the largest biopharma deals of 2020 have all occurred this summer, led by the $6.3 billion global partnership on cancer immune therapies between Tango Therapeutics Inc. and Gilead Sciences Inc. earlier this month.
The number of FDA approvals tracked by BioWorld have continued their steady incline, with a total of 129 logged through July, placing 2020 at a five-year high.
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