The approval by the U.S. FDA in October of Pfizer Inc.’s Velsipity (etrasimod), an oral sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator for moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis, brought renewed attention to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) landscape, where the hunt goes on for new alternatives. Among the promising soldiers in the march is Paris-based Abivax SA, which closed its IPO the same month.
Pfizer Inc. may have a blockbuster on its hands with the U.S. FDA’s approval of Velsipity (etrasimod), a selective sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC).
While Ventyx Biosciences Inc.’s oral S1P1 receptor modulator, VTX-002, achieved primary and secondary endpoints in a phase II ulcerative colitis (UC) trial, the company’s shares (NASDAQ:VTYX) fell 25.9%, or $7.78, closing Oct. 10 at $22.22, possibly due to a higher-than-expected placebo response and a clinical remission rate that was similar to Pfizer Inc.’s etrasimod.
One of Pfizer Inc.’s last decisions of 2021 was to shell out $6.7 billion for San Diego’s Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., a deal centered around the pipeline inflammatory disease pill etrasimod. A potential successor to Xeljanz (tofacitinib), the price New York-based Pfizer paid suggests blockbuster potential for etrasimod. Phase III results announced March 23 suggest Pfizer’s big acquisition, the fifth largest in biopharma in 2021, was money well spent.
Pfizer Inc. is to buy Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $6.7 billion, adding a potential follow-up to inflammatory diseases pill Xeljanz (tofacitinib) to its pipeline plus several other potential medicines targeting gastroenterology, dermatology and cardiology.
Data from a prospective study rolled out by Allakos Inc. last month at the Digestive Disease Week meeting made the case for broader prevalence than previously believed of eosinophilic gastritis and/or eosinophilic duodenitis – and the Redwood City, Calif.-based firm may have just the drug for the conditions in lirentelimab (AK-002).
Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. CEO Amit Munshi said “a cluster of patients in a single clinical site” skewed results of the phase IIb study testing etrasimod in atopic dermatitis (AD), and caused the selective S1P modulator to miss its primary endpoint.
BEIJING – Three-year-old Asia-focused startup Everest Medicines Ltd. closed one of the biggest financing rounds in China’s health care market this year, adding $310 million to its war chest. The firm is aiming to advance its late-stage assets in-licensed from global partners to the China market soon.
BEIJING – Three-year-old Asia-focused startup Everest Medicines Ltd. closed one of the biggest financing rounds in China’s health care market this year, adding $310 million to its war chest. The firm is aiming to advance its late-stage assets in-licensed from global partners to the China market soon.