Newco Elevara Medicines Ltd. has raised $70 million in a series A to fund a phase IIa/IIb trial of ELV-001, a first-in-class, oral cyclin dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who do not have an adequate response to methotrexate and anti-TNF biologic therapies.

The failure of Alector Inc.’s phase III study of latozinemab in treating dementia halved the company’s stock on Oct. 22. That is also about the same percentage of staff that Alector is letting go after the clinical trial stumble.

Having reached peace with Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc over litigation related to its U.S. FDA-approved drug, Lumryz (sodium oxybate), Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc agreed to a cash takeover by Alkermes plc valued at about $2.1 billion, a deal Alkermes CEO Richard Pops said “puts us in the sleep market immediately on closing,” which is expected in the first quarter of 2026. All three players are based in Dublin.

While positive results from the investigator-led phase II CHOPIN trial at ESMO 2025 failed to get investors dancing, they were no doubt music to management’s ears, particularly with Delcath Systems Inc.’s third quarter earnings report missing a beat.

SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Eurofarma Laboratórios SA launched a new joint venture called Mentis Care Inc. Oct. 21, dedicated to developing an AI-powered platform for epilepsy management.