The scientific establishment has launched a fight back against the Trump administration and the slew of executive orders that threaten to dismantle research funding, with a warning that the next month could be critical for the future of U.S. science.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astellas, CSL, Elixirgen, Ensoma, Genentech, Lindis, Pharmanovia, Pfizer, Telix.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Agios, Bio-Path Holdings, J&J, Mimivax, Moleculin, Sanofi.
New research has uncovered a complex interplay between extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and the transcriptional responses of cancer cells, showing how they alter their gene expression to ‘escape’ from ECM. The findings will make it easier to identify tumors that are likely to metastasize at an early stage.
A 15% cap on indirect cost reimbursement that was announced by the U.S. NIH has been stalled by a court order for the time being. But researchers remain deeply concerned about the attempt, and about the new administration’s adversarial approach to research and universities.
Pliant Therapeutics Inc., which offered few details earlier this week when it voluntarily paused enrollment in the phase IIb Beacon-IPF trial testing bexotegrast in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has taken an unusual step as it assembles a panel of outside experts to review unblinded data from the study with the goal of providing an independent recommendation.
While first-generation glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists have clearly taken the obesity market by storm, generating billions of dollars for Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly and Co., several other companies are developing follow-on products that could clean up the tolerability and adherence issues of Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).
Ligachem Biosciences Inc. landed another exclusive licensing deal to develop and commercialize antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), this time with T-cell receptor therapy specialist Daan Biotherapeutics Inc. for a cancer-targeting antibody.