While the 12-month data from Bridgebio Pharma Inc.’s phase III ATTRibute-CM study testing acoramidis in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy were deemed “puzzling” in late 2021, the 30-month results reported July 17 proved far more pleasing to investors. The trial hit all its endpoints and showed promising results on exploratory markers, sending company shares (NASDAQ:BBIO) up 76%, to close at $32.04, up $13.82.
Dose-limiting toxicities in a phase I/II study led Theseus Pharmaceuticals Inc. to quit work with lead compound THE-630, a pan-variant KIT Inhibitor for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), but the company plans to nominate another such candidate in the same indication during the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, the firm is prioritizing THE-349, a fourth-generation EGFR inhibitor for non-small-cell lung cancer, due for an IND application in the fourth quarter of this year.
Although shares of TG Therapeutics Inc. took a hit on word of positive phase III data in multiple sclerosis (MS) from competitor Genentech, a unit of Roche Holding AG, the results may not end up affecting much the market showdown between the CD20 players.
First Wave Biopharma Inc. is taking apart the top-line data from its phase II study of adrulipase for treating nutrition deficiencies in cystic fibrosis patients and seems unsure exactly what it found. The company said that while the initial data found the enhanced enteric microgranule delivery formulation of adrulipase was safe, well-tolerated and was an improvement over other formulations, the preliminary data also indicate that “it is likely the primary efficacy endpoint was not achieved.”
Nodthera Ltd. claims to be first to demonstrate it is possible to modulate the NLRP3 inflammasome in the brain, after showing there were reductions in inflammatory and disease-specific biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid after seven days of daily administration of its lead product, NT-0796, an oral NLRP3 inhibitor.
As investors continue to weigh VRDN-001’s chances against Tepezza (teprotumumab, Horizon Pharmaceuticals plc) in thyroid eye disease, Viridian Therapeutics Inc. popped the lid off positive preliminary data from the ongoing phase I/II trial with the intravenous full antagonist antibody to the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor.
Seven deaths and five respiratory-related, treatment-emergent adverse events in a group of 40 aged and very unwell cancer patients rang alarm bells for ADC Therapeutics SA. The company has voluntarily paused enrollment in its phase II Lotis-9 study of Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) and rituximab (Lonca-R) for treating previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in those who are considered frail or unfit.
Finding ways to turn “cold” tumors “hot” remains an ambition pursued by drug developers with differing approaches – combination regimens hold particular appeal – and one up-and-comer in the effort that has gained the notice of Wall Street lately is Carisma Therapeutics Inc. Philadelphia-based Carisma is advancing CT-0508, an autologous HER2-targeted CAR-macrophage therapy in phase I, used alongside Keytruda (pembrolizumab), the PD-1 receptor binder from Merck & Co. Inc.
China’s Center for Drug Evaluation and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety cleared Transcenta Holdings to begin phase III pivotal trials of osemitamab (TST-001) in combination with nivolumab and chemotherapy for first-line treatment of HER2-negative, Claudin 18.2 expressing locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal cancer.
Microba Life Sciences Ltd. has started dosing patients in a phase I trial of its gut microbiome-derived therapeutic, MAP-315, for ulcerative colitis, the major form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).