Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have identified the secondary bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) as a contributor to a switch from individual growth to the formation of bacterial chains by the hospital-acquired pathogen vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and have shown that the formation of such chains facilitated biofilm formation and increased antibiotic resistance. Read More
Investors will shortly be casting a keen eye on the progress of cancer biopharma companies given that the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, scheduled to take place in Chicago, is only about a month away. Prior to the release of the meeting abstracts, the presenting public companies will also be reporting their first-quarter earnings and business updates. That means there's no shortage of potential stock valuation-moving events in the near term. Read More
RNAi therapeutics developer Sirnaomics Inc. closed the second tranche of a $47 million series C financing with a $22 million investment led by CR-CP Life Sciences Fund, a Hong Kong-based joint venture established by China Resources Group and Charoen Pokphand Group in January. Proceeds from the round will support advancement of Sirnaomics' lead candidate, a siRNA-inhibiting polymeric nanoparticle therapy it is evaluating for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Read More
HONG KONG – Hong Kong-based companies Aptorum Group Ltd. and Aeneas Capital Ltd. have signed a $90 million deal with Singapore-based A*ccelerate Technologies Pte Ltd. to develop ventures in the health care and life sciences sector. Read More
The start in early April by Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co. Ltd. of the phase II/III trial with BHV-3500 in acute treatment of migraine brought renewed attention to the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist space, even as rumors swirled later in the month that the New Haven, Conn.-based firm was mulling a sale – if not of the company, then of its CGRP platform. Read More
Three phase I trials – I-PREDICT, TARGET and WINTHER – published back to back in the April 22, 2019, issue of Nature Medicine have reported progress on a central goal of precision medicine: the rapid delivery of therapy tailored to the molecular details of a patient's illness. Read More
DUBLIN – Carisma Therapeutics Inc., plans to kickstart a new era in immuno-oncology shortly by testing the first cell therapy to employ macrophages that express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Its lead program, CT-0508, comprises patients' own macrophages engineered to express HER2. It is being readied for patients with HER2-expressing cancers, such as breast, ovarian, lung, gastroesophageal and salivary-gland cancers. Read More
LONDON – A new study by genomics specialist Agendia NV shows its Blueprint gene expression diagnostic can identify those patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer who will not respond to standard anti-estrogen therapy. Read More
Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc., of San Rafael, Calif., reported revenue above consensus and reiterated 2019 guidance. Revenue totaled $400.7 million, or 13% percent better quarter over quarter and 7% better year over year. Vimizim (elosulfase alfa) sales reached $125.8 million, or 10% better quarter over quarter and 7% better year over year. Aldurazyme (laronidase) revenues totaled $45.3 million and Naglazyme (galsulfase) sales were $86.9 million. Read More
Karuna Therapeutics Inc., of Boston, submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC relating to the proposed IPO of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The offering is expected to commence after the SEC completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions. Read More
Teva Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., of Jerusalem, initiated a voluntary recall in the U.S. to the patient level, of 35 lots of bulk losartan potassium USP Tablets (six lots of 25-mg strength and 29 lots of 100-mg strength), due to the detection of N-nitroso-n-methyl-4-aminobutyric acid found in six lots of active pharmaceutical ingredient manufactured by Hetero Labs Ltd., of Hyderabad, India, that is above the FDA's interim acceptable exposure limit. Read More
