DUBLIN – Dyno Therapeutics Inc., an early stage gene therapy firm applying artificial intelligence to advanced capsid engineering, has entered partnerships with Novartis AG and Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., in ophthalmic indications and muscle diseases, respectively, which have over $2 billion in biobucks attached. Read More
The phase III pivotal trial of mavacamten, an oral, allosteric cardiac myosin modulator for treating symptomatic, obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, from Myokardia Inc., of Brisbane, Calif., hit its primary and all of its secondary endpoints. Read More
After being hit with the major financial market meltdown when the COVID-19 outbreak decimated U.S. capital markets during March that saw the valuations of public biopharmaceutical companies developing new medicines plummet, it appears that they have put that reversal behind them with a dramatic price surge in April. Read More
By delivering the protein follistatin via gene therapy, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis were able to increase skeletal muscle mass, decrease fat, and reverse obesity-related arthritis in mice who developed osteoarthritis as a result of a high-fat diet. Read More
LONDON – Support is growing for human challenge trials in COVID-19 to be approved in order to speed up development of effective vaccines against the pandemic infection. Read More
Having a COVID-19 therapy approved through an emergency use authorization (EUA) is not the same as having access to it, even if it’s free. Accounting for one-third of the nearly 4 million COVID-19 cases confirmed globally as of Monday and 28.5% of the 278,957 deaths, the U.S. is getting 40% of the 1.5 million vials of remdesivir Gilead Sciences Inc. is donating worldwide. Read More
HONG KONG – The Japanese government is tightening its grip on its listed companies, including those working on promising COVID-19 treatments. On May 8, the Japanese Ministry of Finance released a list of 518 companies that would be subject to stricter restrictions on receiving foreign investments. Read More
DUBLIN – Tolerogenixx GmbH is on track to move its cell-based immune tolerance induction therapy for kidney transplant recipients into a 200-patient phase IIb trial, following the publication of promising data from a phase Ib trial, in 10 patients, in which all participants had a successful transplant at one-year follow-up. Read More
HONG KONG – South Korea’s Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has filed a new drug approval application for Rolontis (eflapegrastim) with the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MDFS). Read More
About 15 months after closing its multibillion-dollar acquisition of Loxo Oncology Inc., Eli Lilly and Co. has secured an accelerated FDA approval for the first of the deal's headline assets, the RET kinase inhibitor selpercatinib, now branded as Retevmo. Read More
Three biopharma drugs are up for FDA approval this week, including one new chemical entity, dasotraline, from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. to treat binge eating disorder, and two other candidates that are part of supplemental filings for expanded indications. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: 4D Pharma, Infinity, Kiniksa, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Oyster Point, Protalix, Strongbridge, Tolerogenixx. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: 9 Meters, Appili, Astrazeneca, Bellerophon, Crispr, Daiichi, Histogen, Lilly, Merck, Relief, Tracon, Vertex. Read More