The BioWorld Biopharmaceutical Index (BBI) saw an 8.15% increase at the close of May, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which rose by 2.64%, and the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, which was up by 0.7%. The BBI previously showed a strong performance in Q1, followed by a dip for all three indices in April, before all rebounded in May.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astrazeneca, Innocare, Neurotech, PTC.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Aphaia, Atai, Cessation, Gilead, Janssen, Jazz, Kiromic, Mendus, PTC, Silence, Vaxxinity.
Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. CEO Douglas Ingram said he expects “ferocious” demand for gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec), granted full approval by the U.S. FDA for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Shares of the Cambridge, Mass.-based firm closed June 21 at $16.72, up $37.22, or about 30% on the news.
Alzheon Inc. has raised $100 million in a series E financing round to push its oral drug candidate for early Alzheimer’s disease (AD), ALZ-801 (valiltramiprosate), through a late-stage, Apolloe4 study.
Quoted biotech investor Syncona Ltd. is still struggling with the fallout from one of the worst bear markets on record, reporting its net asset value fell from £1.25 billion (US$1.58 billion) to £1.24 billion in its 2023-24 financial results on June 20. That is despite a restructuring toward more mature companies, with 70% of the portfolio now invested in clinical-stage assets.
The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator is up and running, with more than $1 billion already pledged to the effort that’s aimed at supporting the sustainable growth of Africa's manufacturing base and contributing to the African Union's goal of producing 60% of the vaccines required by African countries by 2040.