U.S. private equity group Carlyle is extending its reach into biotech financing through the acquisition of London-based venture capital firm Abingworth, with which it is forming Launch Therapeutics, an operating company that will fund and manage late-stage clinical development of programs sourced from pharma and biotech companies. The move will enable further scaling of the clinical co-development model Abingworth first devised in 2009. Read More

With 11 approved therapeutics in a diversity of targets and indications, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have proved their clinical mettle. But they have not yet reached their full clinical potential, which, in the opinion of Astrazeneca plc’s Kenneth Thress, could transform patient care. The strength of ADCs, he told the audience at an educational session at the 2022 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2022), is that it can turn anything into a targeted therapy. Read More

In the summer of 2020, when Veru Inc. began researching sabizabulin for treating COVID-19 patients, the company’s CEO was cautioned that the virus could be gone by the time a therapy could be developed. Nearly two years later, Veru still has the compound in development and just reported phase III data that could propel it toward an emergency use authorization. Read More

Oncology specialist Affimed NV is pushing forward with clinical development of technology that encourages natural killer cells to attack solid tumors. The move, supported by data the company presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), is backing its creation of “innate cell engager” molecules. Read More

The biopharma industry signed on to a new pledge to increase the availability of innovative drugs across the EU and shave months from the time patients in some EU member states must wait for access to new drugs. Members of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations committed to file for pricing and reimbursement in all EU countries as soon as possible and no later than two years after receiving central EU market authorization – if local systems allow it. Read More

NEC Corp. subsidiary NEC Oncoimmunity AS recently received $4.8 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to fund the development of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 variants and other betacoronaviruses. Read More

A quick look back at top stories.

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New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Anpac, Bergenbio, Evofem, Faeth, Index, MBX, Moderna, Neuvogen, Spruce, Tscan, Vesigen. Read More

New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, including:  2seventy, Aadi, Abcellera, Adagene, Adaptimmune, Affimed, Agenus, Aim Immunotech, Amgen, Anaveon, Antengene, Araris, Arcellx, Asher, Atyr, Bantam, Beyond Air, Bicycle, Biomea, Biontech, Blueprint, Bluesphere, Calithera, Cardiff, Carisma, Catamaran, Cellectis, Checkmate, Circle, Clovis, Cogent, Coherus, Compass, Context, Corbus, Cytoimmune, Cytovia, F-star, Junshi, Medicenna, Nikang, T-knife, Tvardi, Y-mabs. Read More

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Advaxis, Aeon, Alzamend, Asana, Aspen, Beigene, Biocryst, Deinove, Diffusion, Dystrogen, Editas, ITM, Krystal, Leo, Lumos, Maat, Medicinova, Moderna, Neurosense, Nicox, Scancell, Sellas, Stalicla, Veru. Read More

Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Biontech, Beigene, Biocytogen, BMS, Boundless, Evotec, Indivior, Olix. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Biogen, Deinove, Gilead, Glaxosmithkline, Merck, Neurosigma, Novavax, Serum Institute. Read More