Cytomx Therapeutics Inc. CEO Sean McCarthy told BioWorld that the longish hiatus between deals broken by the tie-up with Astellas Pharma Inc. was “very deliberate. Over that period of time, we were generating our first clinical data to get experience with how the technology works in cancer patients with our first two lead programs,” both of which have reached the phase II stage. A year ago in January, he said, the South San Francisco-based firm brought aboard Chief Business Officer Nick Galli to “hit the gas pedal a bit more in business development,” which led to the signing with Astellas, of Tokyo. Shares of Cytomx (NASDAQ:CTMX) closed March 24 at $6.53, up $1.60, or 32%. Read More
Despite earlier signs it might meet the primary endpoint of a phase III trial testing its ability to terminate supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) episodes in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), a short-acting calcium channel blocker tested by Milestone Pharmaceuticals Inc. failed to do so. Read More
A survey of 149 companies by Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development found more than two-thirds of clinical trial sponsors were using or piloting at least four different data sources in their clinical trials. Read More
Before becoming the global head of Johnson & Johnson External Innovation, William Hait spent 30 years in academic medicine focused on oncology. Whenever he speaks to a group, the first question he asks is if there is anyone in the room that would like to get a disease. Read More
DUBLIN – Bio-Europe Spring’s virtual panel on the partnering dynamic between big pharma and microbiome-focused biotech firms was essentially an in-house webinar hosted by Seventure Partners, a Paris-based venture capital fund that has led the way in investing in microbiome-related therapeutics, diagnostics and other products. Read More
BEIJING – Cell therapies specialist Nanjing Iaso Biotherapeutics Co. Ltd. pocketed $60 million in a series funding B round to advance its CT-103A, an anti-BCMA CAR T therapy candidate for multiple myeloma, among other plans. Read More
BEIJING – Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Ltd. is developing neutralizing antibodies as a potential treatment for COVID-19, and the program will move on to clinical trials soon. Meanwhile, the biotech is set to launch a pre-revenue IPO on Shanghai’s STAR market. Read More
The pressure is rising on the Trump administration to activate the Defense Production Act (DPA) for the COVID-19 outbreak as the Senate yet again reconsiders an economic stimulus package. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) unveiled the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act in an effort to force the White House to mandate the production of needed supplies, a bill that is likely to languish until Congress can move on economic relief legislation. Read More
PERTH, Australia – As Australia closes its borders to all non-citizens and non-residents, it looks within the country for solutions to manage the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Akcea, Cytomx, Epimab, Mannkind, Menlo, Nordic Nanovector, PDS, Revive, Saniona. Read More
Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Apexigen, Baudax, Cel-Sci, Eyenovia, Hoth, Moberg, Novan, Promis Neurosciences. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Aravive, Avexis, Fulcrum, Leading Biosciences, Milestone, Novartis, Novavax, Oncolytics, Oncopeptides, Oncoquest, Partner, Rafael, Seelos. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Chipscreen, Gilead, Inmed, Prevail, Samsung Bioepis. Read More
