Within just a few hours, Molecular Partners AG reported both a potential snag in securing emergency use authorization (EUA) for its Darpin antiviral, ensovibep, and the loss of a half-billion-dollar partnership with Amgen Inc. for the phase I-stage 4-1BB-targeting compound MP-0310. While neither update is likely to dampen prospects for the company’s overall Darpin pipeline, the near-term investor disappointment was enough to send shares (NASDAQ:MOLN) closing 37% lower April 27, after dropping to their lowest point since the Zurich, Switzerland-based firm priced its $63.8 million IPO on Nasdaq in June 2021. Read More
Amira Barkal’s grandmother’s long fight against chronic leukemia was the germ of the idea that’s become Pheast Therapeutics Inc., which just closed a series A financing. Her treatment in a clinical trial that gave the world Gleevec (imatinib, Novartis AG) changed both of their lives. Read More
Ashvattha Therapeutics Inc. secured $69 million in a series B financing that it said will strengthen its ability to develop hydroxyl dendrimer-based medicines and accelerate efforts to advance its candidates to the clinic. Read More
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Vivo Capital LLC have launched a joint venture named Visirna Therapeutics for RNA interference therapeutics in the greater China market. Arrowhead is the majority shareholder of the new entity, while Vivo invested $60 million in the new entity. Read More
Shares in Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Inc. rose sharply after Pfizer Inc. invested $25 million and struck a deal to catalyze development of the company’s WEE1 inhibitor ZN-c3, an oral drug designed to make cancer cells self-destruct. Read More
Among the attention-getters at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting April 8-13 was protein-degradation specialist Kymera Therapeutics Inc., which made the preclinical case for its approach in murine double minute 2 (MDM2) research vs. an inhibitor. The MDM2 space has grown increasingly busy in recent years, with large and small biopharma concerns moving ahead with research in all phases of development. Read More
Making his first in-person appearance April 27 before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was prepared to answer questions about President Joe Biden’s fiscal 2023 budget that would increase HHS’ discretionary budget to $127 billion, nearly a 27% increase over the 2021 enacted level. Read More
New trial results presented by Shionogi & Co. Ltd. at the 32nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases showed the company’s 3CL protease inhibitor, S-217622, was well-tolerated, with the potential to rapidly clear SARS-CoV-2, Simon Portsmouth, executive medical director at Shionogi, told BioWorld. Read More
New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Ambagon, Carisma, Catamaran, Clover, Cyteir, Erasca, Exo, First Wave, Galapagos, Genenta, Highland, Jnana, Meiragtx, Moderna, Rome, Vedere. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: ABVC, Arrowhead, Bergenbio, Citius, Galecto, Jubliant, Novaliq, Point, Protagonist, Sotio, Starton, Valneva. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Editas, Evoke, Gamdia, Gilead, Lemonex, OncoC4, Pharming, VBL. Read More
