Strong data for pegylated interferon lambda, Eiger Biopharmaceuticals Inc.’s experimental COVID-19 treatment, boosted the company stock (NASDAQ:EIGR) 23% on Feb. 9 as the company continues to seek regulatory approval. That approval path is blocked as interferon lambda is not currently approved by the U.S. FDA for any use. In October, the company said it would not submit emergency authorization use request after feedback from the FDA. Read More
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) found in a new study that 77% of clinical programs focused on pain therapeutics five years ago are no longer active and that financings of companies working in the space are lackluster at best. Meanwhile, oncology companies, targeting an overall smaller market, have raised huge sums of venture capital money, $9.7 billion in 2021 vs. pain and addiction companies’ $228 million. Read More
TVM Capital Life Science has invested $25 million in Lamab Biologics Inc., which is taking forward a new twist on an old story in tackling allergic conditions. The asset-centric virtual company is developing a novel monoclonal antibody directed at immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which are responsible for mediating allergic responses. Read More
Zhimeng Biopharma Inc. found a global partner for its hepatitis B virus (HBV) program, licensing rights to GSK plc for CB-06, an oral small-molecule Toll-like receptor 8 agonist. Pending positive data from an ongoing phase I study, GSK will gain rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the drug for chronic HBV infection, either for use in combination or as a sequential treatment with bepirovirsen. Read More
With China taking steps to enact or propose amendments to more than 60 intellectual property (IP)-related laws and regulations over the past few years, drug and device companies doing business in the country need to keep abreast of the changes. Despite China’s efforts, most of the participants in the Feb. 9 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s quarterly China IP webinar indicated in a pre-webinar survey that they have yet to see much of an improvement in China’s enforcement and regulation of IP rights. Read More
U.S. drug prices continue to be in the crosshairs of Congress, with the Senate Judiciary Committee once again sending five bipartisan bills targeting anticompetitive pricing tactics to the full Senate Feb. 9 with do-pass recommendations. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Astria, Bayer, Cassava, Century, Creative Medical, Seres. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Aligos, Asieris, Atara, Evotec, Opiant, Oramed, Pierre Fabre, Revir, Spexis. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Annovis, Appili, Leo, Neurosense, Santhera, UCB. Read More
