After declarations from the World Health Organization and the U.S. government that monkeypox is a public health emergency, attention is turning to the pharma industry’s response to the disease. Vaccines look likely to play a crucial role in controlling monkeypox – but could antivirals play a significant part as they did in the COVID-19 pandemic? Read More
Positive data from Unity Biotechnology Inc.’s phase II study of UBX-1325, a senolytic BCL-XL inhibitor for treating diabetic macular edema, boosted the stock out of the penny range. Shares of the South San Francisco-based company’s stock (NASDAQ:UBX) rose sharply, 54% on Aug. 12, to $1.31 each. Read More
The phase III miss disclosed Aug. 11 by Kubota Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd. subsidiary Kubota Vision Inc. in Stargardt disease put more eyes on the rare, inherited, juvenile-onset form of macular degeneration, for which nothing is approved. Read More
A new method has been devised to produce generic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells at scale by directing induced pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into mature T cells in vitro. The generic T cells can then be engineered to express a range of different chimeric antigen receptors. Read More
Despite new laws and enforcement efforts, protecting intellectual property (IP) rights in China remains a big challenge for companies based in the U.S. and other countries. A case in point is China’s new patent law that came into effect in June 2021. The law provides for patent term extensions and adjustments, an important consideration for the biopharma industry since the launch of drugs in China could be hampered by long regulatory review times. Read More
The question of whether an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm should enjoy the status of an inventor has been making the rounds in various nations, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has rejected the notion based on a plain reading of the statute. The court said that the statute is unambiguous in that only natural persons can claim inventorship, but the question will be appealed to the Supreme Court, which will have an opportunity to put this debate to rest. Read More
Through the second week of August, BioWorld has tracked 439 bio/nonprofit deals worth $6.6 billion, with the bulk of that total coming within the last six weeks through the U.S. government purchasing more vaccines and therapies to fight COVID-19. Read More
Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Blue Water, Cantargia, Cerevel, Hemostemix, In8bio, Medicenna, Palisade, Rani, Terns, Tetra. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Alx, Aqilion, Graphite, Nabriva, Panbela, Rani. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Astrazeneca, Ceapro, Fortress, Ginkgo, Homology, Nanopharmaceutics, Pasithea, Synlogic, Teneotwo. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Argenx, Astrazeneca, Atyr, Everest, Maat, Menarini. Read More
