New data from two phase II studies from two companies showed progress in their respective Parkinson’s disease programs. The data for both therapies, from Anavex Life Sciences Corp. and Sage Therapeutics Inc., were presented on opening day, March 15, at the AD/PD 2022 Advances in Science & Therapy International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders, being held in Barcelona until March 20. Read More
Tiziana Life Sciences Inc.’s intranasal, fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody will need testing in 10 or 20 more patients to confirm the signal in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), but key opinion leaders on a conference call March 14 sounded optimistic as they checked out the prospect’s early efficacy. Read More
Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has won a green light for inebilizumab, approved by China’s NMPA for the treatment of adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) who are anti-aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) seropositive. The decision marked Hansoh’s first biologic approval.
Big pharma sponsors of clinical trials in Ukraine are putting studies on hold in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus as the conflict continues into its third week. As revealed by BioWorld last week, hundreds of clinical trials were being conducted in the two countries at the time Russian President Vladimir Putin gave orders to invade Ukraine on Feb. 20. Read More
The Gates Foundation is joining with other philanthropic funders in launching an initiative to develop small-molecule antiviral drugs to lay in as part of preparations for the next pandemic. Read More
Australians with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) will now have subsidized access to Beigene Ltd.’s BTK inhibitor, Brukinsa (zanubrutinib), as of March 1, marking the company’s first drug to be listed on Australia’s Prescription Benefits Scheme (PBS). Read More
The bipartisan PREVENT Pandemics Act, which seeks to put into U.S. law many of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, marked its first milestone March 15, with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee sending it to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation on a 20-2 vote. Read More
Everest Medicines Ltd. has acquired rights to develop and commercialize Nefecon (budesonide) for the treatment of primary IgA nephropathy in South Korea from Calliditas Therapeutics AB. Read More
By combining an activator of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax with an inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-XL, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have been able to overcome resistance to apoptosis in both a wide range of cell lines and animal studies. The team reported its findings in the March 7, 2022, issue of Nature Communications. Read More
Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Agile, Eclipse Bioinnovations, Nova Mentis Life Science, Sunshine, Tevogen. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Abeona, Adamis, Ascendis, Biogen, BMS, Bridgebio, Cansino, Faron, Fulcrum, Moderna, Nektar, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Solid. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Abbvie, Almirall, Ascletis, Biogen, Biomed, Eisai, Enochian, Eyenovia, Gain, Iaso, Imugene, Innovation, Krystal, Merck, Ovid, Passage, Periphagen, Scripps Research, University of Michigan. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astrazeneca, Corium, Cstone, Incyte, Phathom, Sifi, Sinomab, Xortx. Read More
