Entera Bio Ltd. has announced promising pharmacokinetic (PK) results from its collaborative research combining a proprietary long-acting GLP-2 agonist developed by Opko Health Inc. with Entera’s proprietary N-Tab technology.
Positive phase III data from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc. with once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-2 analogue apraglutide failed to impress Wall Street, and shares of the Boston-based firm (NASDAQ:IRWD) closed Feb. 29 at $9.43, down $5.69, or 37.6%. The experiment called Stars tested apraglutide to reduce parenteral support in adults with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure. Rare and severe, the condition affects about 18,000 adults in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Based on the latest data, Ironwood plans to submit an NDA to the U.S. FDA and other regulatory filings.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. presented early results for two candidates for short bowel syndrome (SBS) and hyperinsulinemia, two diseases with limited approved therapies, at the recent annual meeting of the Endocrine Society (ENDO 2023) in Chicago.
Once weekly vs. once daily injections plus increased potency vs. Gattex (linaclotide) inspired Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its $1 billion takeover of Vectivbio Holding AG, which brings aboard the phase III-stage synthetic glucagon-like peptide-2 analog apraglutide, potentially a best-in-class agent for short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure.
Eclipse Regenesis Inc. received a National Institutes of Health fast track grant of $1.7 million to advance development of the Eclipse Xl1 system for short bowel syndrome. The spring-like Eclipse device harnesses mechanotransduction to stimulate growth of new, functional intestinal tissue. Short bowel syndrome is a devastating and rare condition that leads sufferers with too little small intestine to extract sufficient nutrients to sustain life. The grant for Menlo Park, Calif.-based Eclipse came through NIH’s small business innovation program.
Vectivbio Holding AG’s IPO last month shone light on short bowel syndrome (SBS), where the company has advanced the glucagon-like peptide-2 analogue apraglutide to the phase III stage. The company aims to show an advantage over same-class Gattex (teduglutide) from Takeda Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., cleared by the FDA in December 2012 for adults with SBS and in May 2018 for children at least 1 year of age.
9 Meters Biopharma Inc., of Raleigh, N.C., is newly born from the merger of Innovate Biopharmaceuticals Inc. and privately held RDD Pharma Ltd., of New York and Tel Aviv, Israel. About $22 million in new financing, led by Orbimed Advisors Ltd., and the signing of another merger into the new company of Richmond, Calif.-based Naia Rare Diseases Inc., which develops GLP-1 to treat short bowel syndrome, completes 9 Meters’ new path.