Hot on the heels of a groundbreaking deal brokered by the U.K.’s NICE to finance an antibiotic with a subscription-style payment plan, three European life sciences companies have formed a joint venture (JV) to create next-generation antimicrobials and diagnostics to fight antimicrobial resistance. Read More
Skyhawk Therapeutics Inc. has cut a deal with Sanofi SA to discover and develop small molecules to treat targets in oncology and immunology, adding to its lengthy list of partnerships. Read More
Treating sooner in the disease course – “hit them hard, hit them early,” as CEO Tahir Mahmood put it – may change outcomes for the better with AMT-101, the candidate from Applied Molecular Transport Inc. (AMT) tested in a combo trial against ulcerative colitis (UC), officials said during a conference call with investors.
So near and yet so far for Nordic Nanovector ASA, which has ditched the phase IIb trial of its lead product, Betalutin, just short of completing recruitment, after an independent review cast doubts on the level of efficacy previously reported for the targeted radiopharmaceutical. Read More
Oxford University has opened the doors to its new Pandemic Sciences Institute, a £100 million (US$119.5 million) initiative to build on the research and experience of COVID-19, to counter future pandemic threats. Read More
Helixon Ltd. raised ¥500 million (US$75 million) in a series A round for its artificial intelligence (AI) drug development platform. The Beijing-based company is building a next-generation AI computing platform by combining it with self-developed high-throughput experimental technologies, aiming to provide drug developers with an intelligent system for molecular computation, simulation and design. Read More
Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is progressing three of its targeted copper theranostics through the clinic that are based on its sarcophagine technology that securely holds copper isotopes inside a cage-like structure, called a chelator. The SAR technology allows a unique pairing of copper isotopes, copper-64 and copper-67, for both cancer diagnosis and therapy. Read More
While the U.S. Congress struggles to patch together statutory restraints on prescription drug prices, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with the FDA’s help, is taking steps to cut back the patent thickets some drug companies are using to ward off the competition that would bring those prices down. Read More
Patent subject matter eligibility under Section 101 of the Patent Act has proven controversial for patents in the U.S. thanks in no small part to Supreme Court jurisprudence in cases such as Alice v. CLS Bank and Mayo v. Prometheus. In the latest development, the court has declined to hear the American Axle case, leaving many observers despairing of any chance of restoring a decent patent system for personalized medicine, companion diagnostics and even the use of artificial intelligence in drug development. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Abbisko, Anebulo, Arctic Vision, Arrivent, Arrowhead, Ascletis, Ayala, Fulcrum, Innovent, Orexo, Seagen, Vertex. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Amylyx, Aneurotech, Dyne, Hyloris, Novavax, Pfizer, Sanofi, Xbrane. Read More
