Puretech Health plc has announced phase IIb data showing its reformulation of pirfenidone has improved the tolerability and increased the efficacy of the marketed antifibrotic in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The tweak on the original molecule involved substituting three hydrogen atoms with three of the heavier counterpart, deuterium, improving stability, whilst retaining the antifibrotic effect.

A year after manufacturing issues resulted in a complete response letter for cosibelimab, the U.S. FDA approved Checkpoint Therapeutics Inc.’s drug, branded Unloxcyt, as the first anti-PD-L1 antibody for use in metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma patients who are not candidates for curative surgery or curative radiation.

Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Boundless, EA Pharma, Editas, Elevation Oncology, Lakeshore, Newron.

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Actimed, Assertio, Bicycle, Corcept, Incyclix, Iteos, Jaguar, Repare.

Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Aptevo, Candel, Esperion, Inovio, Next Innovative.

New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Akari, Fairjourney, Crinetics, Fibrogen, Kalvista, Neophore, Neural, Vectory, Xilio.

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: ARS, Ascendis, Bridgebio, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Geron, Gilead, Merck, Roche, Sanofi.