DUBLIN – Blueprint Medicines Corp. is banking $775 million, including $675 million up front and another $100 million as an equity investment, from a co-commercialization deal with Roche Holding AG and its Genentech subsidiary involving RET inhibitor pralsetinib. The deal also includes up to $927 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestones, $90 million of which are described as “near-term,” plus tiered royalties on ex-U.S. sales, ranging from the high-teens to mid-twenties. Read More
BEIJING – Besides advancing its neutralizing antibodies for COVID-19, Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd. is aiming to expand its pipeline. On July 13, it entered a collaboration with Revitope Oncology Inc. Read More
Inmune Bio Inc. CEO Raymond Tesi told BioWorld his firm is taking an “oncology-style” approach to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as the firm tests next-generation tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor XPro-1595 against neuroinflammation. Read More
HONG KONG – Chinese biotech giant Beigene Ltd. launched a $2.08 billion registered direct offering this week, the largest offering of its kind ever recorded globally. Beigene executives said net proceeds will primarily be used for general corporate purposes such as R&D for existing or new drugs in the pipeline. Read More
While biopharmaceutical research is currently concentrating on the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease has provided a sharp reminder that our focus should not be lost on infectious diseases as a whole, along with the growing global problem of antibiotic resistance (AMR), which has the potential to dwarf COVID-19 in terms of deaths and economic costs, according to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA). Read More
Cytokinetics Inc.’s new deal with RTW Investments gives the company a new presence in Asia and a strong influx of cash that should last at least two or three years. Read More
Patients with triple-refractory multiple myeloma who are running out of options may soon have a new lifeline. That’s if the FDA follows the unanimous vote of its Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) and grants accelerated approval to Glaxosmithkline plc’s (GSK) belantamab mafodotin as a fifth-line therapy for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Read More
BEIJING – Androgen receptor (AR) antagonist developer Kintor Pharmaceutical Ltd., of Suzhou, China, is going to provide its proxalutamide (GT-0918) to an ongoing clinical trial in male patients, led by U.S. firm Applied Biology Inc., in Brazil for COVID-19, after preliminary clinical research suggested a potential link between androgenetic alopecia and COVID-19 pathogenesis. Read More
LONDON – An independent U.K. inquiry has found that failure to take seriously concerns raised by patients has resulted in life-threatening problems caused by medical devices and drugs being ignored for decades. Read More
Two weeks after receiving a letter from the FDA citing deficiencies in the NDA seeking approval for VP-102 (cantharidin 0.7% topical solution) in molluscum contagiosum, Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. disclosed an unsurprising complete response letter. Read More
Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Aldeyra, Altimmune, Arctic Vision, Ionctura, Macomics, Osmotica, Revolution, Santhera. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Akebia, Albireo, Bioarctic, Biogen, Dynavax, Eisai, Galera, GSK, Histogen, Inmune, Landos, Medicago, NMD, Rigel, Sotio. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Celyad, Deciphera, Fosun, IMV, Inflazome, Janssen, Vanda, Verrica. Read More