Sanofi SA is getting deeper into oncology and immunology therapy development through buying Dren Bio Inc.’s myeloid cell engager for deep B-cell depletion, DR-0201. The deal could reach as high as $1.9 billion for privately held Dren. Sanofi is paying a hefty $600 million up front, and milestone payments to come could add up to $1.3 billion.
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) and their collaborators have cast new light on the mechanisms by which hepatic stellate cells control liver metabolism and regeneration. The work builds on the concept of angiocrine signaling, established 15 years ago.
The unrelenting pressure on medical practice in the U.S. has sparked some innovations, but a legislative innovation is now in the works that would fundamentally shift how at least some drugs are prescribed. The Healthy Technology Act of 2025 (H.R. 238) would allow AI and machine learning algorithms to write prescriptions for pharmaceuticals, although the lack of co-sponsors for H.R. 238 suggests that this bill is not ready for prime time just yet.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Alvotech Holding, Bioarctic, Can-Fite, Cellphire, Dr. Reddy's, Johnson & Johnson, Redhill Biopharma, Scienture.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Ani, Cipla, Cyrano, Formosa, Janssen, Nanobiotix, Nference, Prime Medicine, Pyxis Oncology, QumulusAI, Resyca, TC Biopharm, Valo Health, Vincerx.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Angitia, Compass, Enterobiotix, Genmab, Maxona, Med-Life Discoveries, Mozart, Ocugen, Taimed Biologics.
The politicization of the U.S. FTC continued March 18 with President Donald Trump firing the two remaining Democratic commissioners, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. The action leaves what’s supposed to be a five-member bipartisan panel with just two members, both of whom are Republicans. The commission already was down one member, as former Chair Lina Khan’s term expired last year and Trump’s appointee, Mark Meador, is awaiting Senate confirmation with a vote expected yet this month.
Roivant Sciences Ltd. CEO Matt Cline said the firm’s unit Immunovant Inc. with FcRn blocker batoclimab has established “frankly a new bar” in myasthenia gravis (MG) as the New York-based firm reported top-line results from its phase III study and first data from period 1 of the phase IIb study with the same drug in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. The data look promising, and Immunovant intends to use the findings to help advance second-generation FcRn prospect IMVT-1402 in both indications. Potentially registrational trials are planned. The U.S. FDA has granted IND clearance.
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