Candid Therapeutics Inc. launched with ex-China control of two bispecific T-cell engager antibodies that it plans to develop for autoimmune diseases. The San Diego-based company will start off with a pocketful of cash, having raised over $370 million for the development of the in-licensed candidates.
During a webinar arranged by Demy-Colton, panelists discussed a wide range of potential outcomes that might occur depending on which political party ends up in power next year. From tweaks to the Inflation Reduction Act to new laws to the Federal Trade Commission's regulation of M&As, there’s potential for the government to have substantial effects on the drug development industry.
Diakonos Oncology Corp. has developed a process to manufacture dendritic cell vaccines that the company believes are substantially more potent than its predecessors.
Ideaya Biosciences Inc. appears to be in the lead to develop a treatment for tumors with deletions in both copies of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP). Despite the large market with an estimated annual incidence rate in the U.S. of approximately 75,000 patients, there are no FDA approved therapies for MTAP-deleted solid tumors.
Exsilio Therapeutics emerged from stealth mode on June 25, 2024, with $82 million from a series A financing that was co-led by Novartis Venture Fund and Delos Capital. The company plans to use naturally occurring, mobile genetic elements to integrate therapeutic genes at a defined location in the genome, making it safer than random integration, which can cause tumor formation.
The obesity market is hot with Novo Nordisk A/S generating $6.3 billion in sales from its semaglutide-containing drugs, Ozempic, Saxenda, Rybelsus and Wegovy, in the first quarter of 2024 and Eli Lilly and Co. bringing in $2.3 billion for its tirzepatide-containing drugs, Zepbound and Mounjaro, in the same quarter. It appears unlikely the market will be a two-horse race for much longer though.
Exsilio Therapeutics emerged from stealth mode on June 25, 2024, with $82 million from a series A financing that was co-led by Novartis Venture Fund and Delos Capital. The company plans to use naturally occurring, mobile genetic elements to integrate therapeutic genes at a defined location in the genome, making it safer than random integration, which can cause tumor formation.
Marea Therapeutics came out of stealth mode on June 18, after raising a combined $190 million through its series A and B financings. The series A round was led by Third Rock Ventures, and the series B round was led by Sofinnova Investments and co-led by Forbion, Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund and Venbio.
With its hands full developing QRL-101 and QRL-201, both in clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with plans to expand into other neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia, Quralis Corp. has decided to out-license its preclinical ALS and FTD drug, QRL-204.
Altrubio Inc. secured up to $225 million in an oversubscribed series B financing round, led by BVF Partners LP. The full amount is dependent on Altrubio meeting certain undisclosed milestones. New investors RA Capital Management, Cormorant Asset Management and Soleus Capital, and existing investors Amoon Fund and Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing, as well as other new and existing investors, also participated in the financing round.
