Merck & Co. Inc. is adding to its hematology assets in the takeover of Imago Biosciences Inc. for $36 per share, an arrangement with an equity value of about $1.35 billion. Shares of Imago (NASDAQ:IMGO) took flight as Wall Street learned of the deal, ending the day at $35.59, up $18.19, or 104%. Imago is working on new drugs for myeloproliferative neoplasms and other bone marrow diseases. Lead candidate bomedemstat (IMG-7289), an orally available inhibitor of the epigenetic enzyme lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), is undergoing phase II trials for the treatment of essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera, along with other indications. Read More
Researcher, serial entrepreneur and investor Gregory Verdine has helped Fogpharma Inc. bring in a $178 million series D financing. The company plans to use the proceeds to develop its lead candidate, FOG-001, a direct beta-catenin inhibitor, which is expected to enter clinical development in an oncology indication. Read More
Tenacia Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has acquired exclusive greater China rights to certain formulations of Marinus Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s seizure therapy, ganaxolone (Ztalmy), in a deal worth up to $266 million. Read More
Two recent studies have reported new insights into the role of the tumor-associated microbiome in both drug response and metastasis. Researchers working at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, reported in the Nov. 16, 2022, issue of Nature that bacteria can promote the spreading of cancer as single cells with recruitment of myeloid host cells. In a parallel publication, the same team reported in the Nov. 15, 2022, issue of Cell Reports that the primary chemotherapy used to treat colorectal cancer (CRC), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), was less effective when the tumor included bacteria that were insensitive to 5-FU antimicrobial activity. Read More
Global interest in radiopharmaceuticals is growing, and some big deals in the space have sparked interest in the last few years. Novartis AG has spent about $6 billion in acquisitions and is seen as the global leader. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Adaptimmune, Ammax, Belite, Candel, Edigene, Escient, Immunomet, Intensity, MEI, Northwest, Oramed, Truebinding. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Apim, Blue Water, Iaso, Microvascular,Nona, Nordic Nanovector, Pfizer Replay, Sensei, Umoja, XNK. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Apellis, Bioinvent, Carmell, Eli Lilly, Emmaus, Iovance, Iveric, Kempharm, Novavax, Provention, Sanofi. Read More
