Gilead Sciences Inc. will acquire Forty Seven Inc. for $4.9 billion, or $95.50 per share in cash, bringing Gilead magrolimab, an anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody being developed to treat several cancers, including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Read More
Paris-based Sanofi SA won FDA clearance of the intravenously given CD38-directed cytolytic antibody Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc) in combination with pomalidomide (Pomalyst, Celgene Corp.) and dexamethasone (dex) for adults with multiple myeloma (MM) who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide (Revlimid, Celgene Corp.) and a proteasome inhibitor. Read More
Lowering levels of tau protein improved multiple symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in two different mouse models of the disease, both of which are driven by hyperactivity of the mTOR PI3 kinase pathway. Read More
LONDON – Immunocore Ltd. has closed a series B round that will bring in more than $130 million, breathing fresh energy into its T-cell receptor programs in cancer and extending the reach of the technology into infectious and autoimmune diseases. Read More
SAN DIEGO – At the Biocom 10th Annual Global Life Sciences Partnering Conference, panels of pharma executives highlighted what they're looking for to supplement their pipelines and offered advice that ran the gamut from company formation to the courting process to strategies for partnering pipeline drugs and platforms. Read More
With new phase III multiple myeloma (MM) data in hand from Newton, Mass.-based Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.’s Xpovio (selinexor), Wall Street began speculating about what the results might mean in the marketplace. Read More
LONDON – The EU launched a “Corona” response team, bringing together oversight of all the separate strands put in place to control the virus, as the infection spread to 18 of 27 member states, with 2,100 confirmed cases and 31 deaths. Read More
COVID-19 is bringing more pressure to bear on Congress to pass S. 2723, the Mitigating Emergency Drug Shortages (MEDS) Act, which has been sitting in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee since Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced it in October 2019 – a few months before the novel coronavirus emerged. Read More
Under steady pressure to accelerate development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and treatments for COVID-19 as the global death toll reached 3,085 people on the afternoon of March 2, biopharma companies continued to detail progress, including in updates at a White House meeting between pharmaceutical executives and administration officials, including President Donald Trump. Read More
DUBLIN – Redx Pharma plc has put together a rescue package with two heavyweight investors that should ensure the company’s immediate future. Redmile Group LLC and Sofinnova Partners plan to provide up to £26.3 million (US$33.6 million) in funding to the struggling drug discovery and development firm. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Abbvie, Albireo, Cytodyn, Evelo, Eyepoint, Galera, GW Pharmaceuticals, Karyopharm, Medivir, Merck, Orthotrophix, Urovant, VBI, Vivus. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Acino, Astrazeneca, Atnahs, Azurrx, Bayer, Dynavax, Evqlv, Faron, GW, Hypera, Immunoprecise, Mateon, Ophirex, Sanofi, Sumitomo Dainippon, Takeda, Unum. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Almirall, Athenex, Cerovene, Cyclo, Janssen, Lilly, Mallinckrodt, Meiragtx, Morphosys, Pfizer, Prevail, Sanofi, Takeda, Virpax. Read More
