In one of the first large preclinical deals of 2023, Evoq Therapeutics Inc. is licensing for up to $685.5 million its Nanodisc technology to Gilead Sciences Inc. to develop new rheumatoid arthritis and lupus treatments. The potential payout includes up-front fees, an option exercise and milestone payments across both programs. Evoq also could receive tiered royalties on any sales that result. Read More
Jasper Therapeutics Inc. may have found a way around toxicity with current approaches in sickle cell disease (SCD) conditioning approaches, if phase I/II data with briquilimab stay consistent – and the drug already has proved itself across a range of indications. Wall Street liked the prospect, sending the Redwood City, Calif.-based firm’s shares (NASDAQ:JSPR) on a wild ride to close at $2.74, up $2.26, or 476%. Read More
New research published in BMJ Open claims there are inconsistencies in Amgen Inc.’s phase III Fourier study for cholesterol lowering. Cardiac deaths were numerically higher in those taking the PCSK9 inhibitor Repatha (evolocumab) combined with a statin than those in the placebo group, the research noted. Read More
Newron Pharmaceuticals SpA has reported positive six-month data for its selective sodium channel blocker, evenamide, as an add-on therapy to antipsychotic drugs in chronic, treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Patients who had responded at the initial six-week evaluation showed continued improvements in symptoms of psychosis, while others who had not responded at six weeks did so by six months. Read More
One of the snarkier ways to describe psychology – and unfortunately, not a completely incorrect one – is as the study of behavior in white rats and college sophomores. For a long time, biomedical research suffered a parallel problem: of white mice and white men. Things are slowly improving as far as diversity in clinical research is concerned, and there are a number of species other than mice that are widely used because they are well-suited to study certain processes. Read More
Immunotherapy company Cartherics Pty Ltd. is leading a consortium that received a AU$5.4 million (US$3.6 million) grant from the Medical Research Futures Fund to develop a new approach to enhance cancer therapy by engaging the patient’s own immune system to complement CAR cell therapy. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Acadia, Adimmune, Aditxt, Alligator, Alteogen, Aurinia, Biocytogen, Blacksmith, BMS, Everest Medicines, Famy Life Sciences, Forge, Hansa, Hansoh, Lotte, Mayne, Merck KGaA, Neoimmunetech, Novartis, Orion, Oyster Point, PDS, Sun, Tessa, Therapeuticsmd and Viatris. Read More
