Cutia Therapeutics Ltd. raised HK$465 million (US$65 million) in a Hong Kong IPO on June 12, with almost half of the proceeds going toward furthering its lead product to treat adipose accumulation. Cutia’s shares moved a little higher on the first day of trading, opening at HK$21.80, rising 0.46% and closing at HK$21.95. Read More
Since late 2006, when hiked levels of aldosterone and increases in blood pressure foiled Pfizer Inc.’s torcetrapib, researchers have been wary of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors. But not all researchers. Among the still-hopeful is Newamsterdam Pharma NV, which recently rolled out positive phase II data with obicetrapib, and the company is forging ahead despite other CETPs that have not fared well in late-stage testing after performing nicely in phase II, including candidates from Merck & Co. Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co. Read More
Seeking to repurpose a validated oncology drug target for atherosclerosis is Bitterroot Bio Inc., a biotech company that introduced itself to the world on the back of a sizable $145 million series A, funds it intends to use to advance its lead monoclonal antibody, BRB-002, toward the clinic. Read More
The U.S. FDA approved the temporary importation of the unapproved chemotherapy drug cisplatin from Qilu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to help address a shortage of drugs used in cancer treatments in the U.S. The decision opened the possibility of more Chinese drugs making their way to the U.S. market, but some warned that this decision would be likely be a one-off. Read More
Using his new platform as chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is again pushing the Biden administration to reinstate, and strengthen, a “reasonable pricing clause” in all future research agreements involving government agencies, especially those funding drug R&D. Read More
The need to reauthorize the U.S. Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) prompted a June 13 hearing in the House of Representatives, but a major fissure appeared between the Republican and Democratic Parties regarding FDA’s authorities for managing drug shortages. Read More
New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Biogen, Black Diamond, Damona, Dem, Galapagos, Generate, Jasper, Longeveron, Mei, Reata, Regulus, Senda, Tiziana, Umeå. Read More
New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the European Hematology Association Congress, including: Actinium, Aptose, Cellectis, Disc, Geron, Gracell, Humanigen, Innate, Innovent, Kura, Modus, Nkarta, Salarius, Sumitomo. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Aardvark, ABVC, Actinium, Celldex, Ideaya, Intellia, Kymera, Mustang, Ocular, Oxurion, Pharvaris, Skye, Sumitomo, Vaccitech. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Applied Stemcell, Avicanna, Future Fields, Jenthera, Novaliq, Panbela, Senju. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astrazeneca, Bloomsbury, Lantern, Merck & Co., Neobiosis, Pharmala, Phathom. Read More
