The 2022 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award has been awarded to Richard Hynes, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Erkki Ruoslahti, of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Timothy Springer, of Harvard Medical School “for discoveries concerning the integrins, key mediators of cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion in physiology and disease.” Read More
After two years of talks, privately held Ventus Therapeutics Inc. and Novo Nordisk A/S have signed an exclusive worldwide license deal to commercialize candidates from Ventus’ portfolio of peripherally restricted NLR pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inhibitors. Along with Roche Holding AG’s September 2020 acquisition of Inflazome Ltd. and Novartis AG’s buyout of subsidiary IFM Tre in April 2019, this is another step by big players to get into the NLRP3 space. Read More
Trefoil Therapeutics Inc. has reported promising data from a phase II trial suggesting its engineered version of fibroblast growth factor 1, TTHX-1114, may speed and improve recovery of patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy who are undergoing a surgical procedure called Descemet stripping only. Read More
The U.K. could be downgraded as a place to research and launch new medicines because of economic shocks and a looming rebate of 30% or more on sales of branded products, according to industry sources. Read More
U.S. lawmakers concerned about unconfirmed clinical benefit of drugs with accelerated approval got more fodder for their arguments in a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). According to that report, which was released Sept. 29, Medicare and Medicaid have spent more than $18 billion over the past few years covering 18 drugs granted accelerated approval that haven’t completed their confirmatory trials even though the trial completion dates have passed. Read More
Recognizing that academic sponsors and nonprofits are major contributors to the development of advanced therapy medical products (ATMPs) and diagnostic and delivery devices, the EMA is launching a pilot program to help them navigate the challenging regulatory requirements in the space. Read More
An analyst recently observed that mental health treatments are stuck where cancer was 50 years ago. However, there have been major advancements in developing psychedelic medicines to address that problem. BioWorld staff writer Lee Landenberger talked with James Lanthier, the CEO of Mindset Pharma, which is developing what it calls “next-generation” psychedelic medicines to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Altimmune, Alumis, CNS, Eisai, Evommune, SAB, Shanghai Henlius, Shionogi, Sparrow. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: AN2, Atara, Enanta, Forge, Idera, Immunovant, Excision. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Ambulero, Azura, Biosyngen, Celltrion, Maruishi. Read More
