Wuxi Biologics (Cayman) Inc. is providing an exclusive license to GSK plc for a preclinical bispecific T-cell engaging antibody along with the option of three additional bi- and multispecific TCE antibodies developed by Wuxi. In exchange, Wuxi will receive an up-front payment of $40 million and up to $1.46 billion in additional payments for research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones across the four TCE antibodies. Wuxi Biologics, of Shanghai, is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales. Read More
In the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization is monitoring two omicron subvariants, BA.5.2 and BF.7, causing a surge of COVID-19 cases in China. It also is keeping abreast of rising XBB.1.5 cases and declining BQ.1 cases in Europe and the U.S., where hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks. Global cases in the last month are trending below the same timepoints in 2020 and 2021, and deaths are significantly down, suggesting a move toward an endemic stage. Read More
The eyes certainly have it. There are plenty of ocular gene therapies being studied in a crowded field and now there is a new one as Perceive Biotherapeutics Inc. has closed on a $78 million series B financing. Read More
After comparing the response to the two types of vaccines for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) based on its fusion protein (F), prefusion (pre-F) versus postfusion (post-F) vaccines, scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Astrazeneca plc have demonstrated that targeting the pre-F protein led to better protection. No more bets on RSV immunization based on the post-F protein of the virus. Laboratories can now bet all on red for the pre-F technology. Read More
Recent news from Quralis Corp. and Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. highlighted the potential for targeting the Kv7 potassium channel, of special interest to a handful of developers lately. Read More
Upholding a 2021 jury verdict against a hedge fund adviser accused of making fraudulent statements to drive down Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s stock price, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit shot down Gregory Lemelson’s arguments that his statements related to the company and its lead drug, Promacta (eltrombopag), were opinions protected by the First Amendment and that they were not material. Read More
The process used by Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office PTO) to review patent disputes has become an issue yet again, thanks to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). According to the GAO report, 75% of respondents to a survey of PTAB judges said that oversight practiced at PTO affected their independence in adjudicating cases, but that view was not universally held by these judges, leaving stakeholders with a vague picture as to the nature of the processes handled by the PTAB. Read More
New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Apellis, Biogen, Celularity, Kalvista, Minervax, Nanoscope, Oncternal, Pheast, Remix, Reset, Sellas, Zyversa. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Arugula, Bicycle, Biomarin, Checkpoint, Daiichi, Enlivex, IGC, Infex, Jasper, Kamada, Phathom, SFA, Surge, Tiziana, Transcenta. Read More
