Seed Therapeutics Inc. signed a massive deal with Eli Lilly and Co. on Nov. 12, a date that resonated deeply with Seed’s CEO, Lan Huang. Twenty-one years earlier to the day she published a pioneering paper on cancer signaling pathways involving p53 degradation in Science. “It’s a magical coincidence that exactly 21 years later we have this deal with Lilly,” she told BioWorld, a deal with protein degradation at its core. In the new research collaboration and license agreement, Seed will receive $10 million cash up front to fund research along with a $10 million equity investment from Lilly. Read More
DUBLIN – The contest to bring a safe and effective gene therapy for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) to market is intensifying. Two of the three contenders with clinical-stage programs reported initial 12-month data from phase I/II trials and are now looking ahead to pivotal trials and beyond. Read More
Although the global impact of a novel virus like SARS-CoV-2 has so far reached devastating proportions, it has spurred science at an unprecedented rate with potential vaccines developed under a year now nearing U.S. authorization. But while some may say the end to this pandemic is in sight, an actual date is blurry at best, as manufacturing and supply capabilities muddy the outlook. Read More
3D Medicines Inc. has licensed in from Aravive Inc. a phase Ib-completed GAS6/AXL inhibitor known as AVB-500 in a deal worth up to $219 million. The Chinese firm will have the rights to develop and commercialize the drug candidate across all oncology indications in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Read More
HONG KONG – Kira Pharmaceuticals is riding high after completing a $46 million fundraiser and appointing Frederick Beddingfield as CEO. “The $46 million comprises a series A of $18 million and a series B of $26 million, with investors Quan Capital, 6 Dimensions Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, and Sinopharm Capital participating in both rounds,” Beddingfield told BioWorld. Read More
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer meeting, which concludes on Nov. 14, features a wide range of sessions that delve into the most recent advances in tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, providing an excellent opportunity for investors and analysts alike to stay up to date on new therapeutics to improve cancer treatments. Overall, data presented at the meeting appears to have been well received, a factor that has helped push up the value of the price weighted BioWorld Cancer index this month. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Annexon, Atara, Axcella, Biocryst, C4, Calcimedica, Gelesis, Harpoon, Ionis, Medicinova, Orchard, Orphan Technologies, Puretech, Retrophin, Roche, Silverback, Sumitovant, Urovant. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Aerie, Agios, Amgen, Bayer, Biomarin, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Heron, Innate, Menari, Moderna, Roche, Samsung, Shionogi, Sobi, UCB, Viiv. Read More
