Coming off a U.S. FDA approval of the first GLP-1 in pill format, Novo Nordisk A/S leaned further into oral drug delivery efforts, partnering with Vivtex Corp. to develop next-generation oral formulations of peptide and protein therapeutics in a potential $2.1 billion deal that marks the highest-profile news for Vivtex since the firm spun out of MIT in 2018.
GSK plc is paying $950 million cash to acquire 100% of 35Pharma Inc.’s equity and pipeline, including phase II-ready candidate HS-235 for pulmonary hypertension. The acquisition agreement comes a day after GSK added two small interfering RNA assets from Nanjing, China-based Frontier Biotechnologies Inc. through a license deal reaching up to $1 billion.
Antiretroviral therapies against HIV have been in use for more than 30 years and have enabled people living with HIV to maintain undetectable viral levels. Many of them are aging in good health. However, others present symptoms of cognitive decline. HIV can reach the brain and establish a reservoir there. Yet, it is still unknown what this reservoir is like, which cells are affected, and which comorbidities are typical of aging or are associated with the virus.
Regulatory snapshots for biopharma and med tech, including global submissions and approvals, and other regulatory decisions and designations: Allurion, Armata, Beren, Allurion, Bracco, Cstone, Dr. Reddy’s, Eli Lilly, Guerbet, J&J, Reunion, Sandoz, Savara, Tessera, Teva, Vanda.
Clinical updates for biopharma and med tech, including data readouts and publications: Abivax, Aim Immunotech, BMS, Gossamer, J&J, Moonlake, Novo Nordisk , Virion.
New hires and promotions in the biopharma and med-tech industries, including: Akari, Foghorn, Ideaya, Merck, Neutrolis, Pelage, Smsbiotech, Synthekine, Zura.
In yet another upheaval in an agency already racked by upheaval, the U.S. CDC announced Feb. 23 that Ralph Abraham, its principal deputy director, chose to step down, effective immediately, so he could “address unforeseen family obligations.”