The uptick in Parkinson's disease (PD) programs that began in the first half of this decade is accelerating across the span of drug development, leading to a recent approval, multiple candidates in late-stage development and M&A in the space.
Investors in Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. breathed a sigh of relief, and moved shares (NASDAQ:AUPH) higher, after learning that both study doses in the phase IIb AURA-LV (Aurinia Urine Protein Reduction in Active Lupus Nephritis) study of lupus nephritis (LN) candidate, voclosporin – added to standard-of-care mycophenolate mofetil and a forced oral corticosteroid taper – met 24-week pre-specified secondary endpoints compared to control.
Amgen Inc. took a global exclusive license, with an option on a second, to develop and commercialize cardiovascular treatments using the subcutaneous RNAi delivery platform developed by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.
At face value, Fortis Therapeutics Inc. might seem like just another pretty preclinical immuno-oncology (I-O) project. But Jay Lichter, president and CEO of Fortis and COI Pharmaceuticals Inc. – which is housing the startup – and managing director of Avalon Ventures called the San Diego-based company's platform "absolutely the most advanced program we've ever seen, with the most high-quality data."
After Monday's market close, Kite Pharma Inc. reported top-line results from a pre-planned interim analysis of the phase II portion of its ZUMA-1 trial indicated lead candidate, KTE-C19, indicating the anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy met the primary endpoint, with an ORR of 76 percent (p
The Medicines Co. (MDCO) and Roche AG unit Hoffmann-Laroche Inc. are joining the effort launched by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), to develop products to combat the emerging threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, often referred to as superbugs.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. snagged Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. as its latest collaborator in a global deal on lead pain asset fasinumab, a nerve growth factor (NGF) antibody in phase III development for osteoarthritis (OA) and phase II development to treat chronic low back pain.
After months of speculation, Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. hit pay dirt, gaining accelerated approval – and a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher (PRV) – from the FDA for its Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) drug, eteplirsen, branded Exondys 51.
Delinia Inc.'s $35 million series A sets up the Cambridge, Mass.-based startup to drive straight down the fairway in targeting regulatory T cells (Tregs) to treat autoimmune diseases. Sofinnova Partners and Atlas Venture were co-leads in the round, with Atlas venture partner Saurabh Saha named president and CEO.
Novavax Inc. learned just how badly the Street treats negative surprises, as its shares (NASDAQ:NVAX) plummeted, hitting a one-year low of $1.16, following the phase III failure of its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F-protein recombinant nanoparticle vaccine candidate in older adults.
