Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co. Ltd. signed a deal that could be worth more than $1 billion to take over Channel Biosciences LLC, a subsidiary of Knopp Biosciences LLC, and its Kv7 channel targeting platform. A key part of the deal is BHV-7000, formerly known as KB-3061, described as a potent activator of Kv7.2 and Kv7.3, key subunits involved in neuronal signaling and in regulating the hyperexcitable state in epilepsy. The compound is expected to enter clinical investigation this year, with focal epilepsy as the lead indication. Read More
After a rejection by the FDA in June, it looks like Orphazyme A/S is headed for disappointment in Europe too with arimoclomol for Niemann-Pick disease type C, a rare and potentially fatal inherited condition in which fat builds in tissues and organs. The Copenhagen-based company said it was summoned before experts to give an “oral explanation” about the drug, something that only occurs if the European Medicines Agency’s CHMP has developed major doubts during its review. Read More
For years, a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been out of reach. But this could change thanks to several candidates in the late-stage pharma pipeline. Among them, Moderna Inc. became one of the front-runners in the race to develop a vaccine for the virus after this week announcing that its entrant in the contest, mRNA-1345, is moving into phase III development. Read More
Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd.’s wholly owned subsidiary Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has acquired Asia-Pacific rights to two drugs from Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in a deal worth up to $662 million. “This collaboration aims to bring Kiniksa’s therapeutics to patients in the Asia Pacific Region suffering from severe autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,” said Sanj Patel, chairman and CEO of Kiniksa. “The collaboration also provides nondilutive capital, cost-sharing, and resources for clinical trials to accelerate our drug development and commercialization efforts.” Read More
A study from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the Karolinska Institute has shown that individuals who carry the major genetic risk variant for severe COVID-19 infection are less likely to contract HIV. Read More
SK Bioscience Ltd. is developing a vaccine intended to simultaneously immunize people against the flu and COVID-19. It is the first vaccine of its type to be developed in South Korea and will use the technology from Skycellflu, a cell-cultivated influenza vaccine developed by the Seongnam-si, South Korea-based company. Read More
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) always had a full schedule, but COVID-19 amped it up. William Schaffner, who joined ACIP in 1982, talks with BioWorld's Lee Landenberger about the committee and how it makes the big decisions that affect public health policy. Read More
Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Aikido, Applied DNA, Baudax, Cognetivity Neurosciences, Mannkind and Vibliome. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Arrowhead, Biocryst, Centessa, Innovent, Insilico, Jacobio, Lysogene, Point, Regulus, Sarepta, Simcere, TFF, Trevi, Vaxcyte. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Beartooth, Cantex, Cassiopea, Clover, CSL, FSD, Hitgen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Privo, Pulmatrix, Sanofi, Seqirus, Sunshine, TFF and Vibliome. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Mannkind, Orphazyme, Pfizer, Protalix, Rhythm, VBI. Read More
