Allogene Therapeutics Inc.’s decision to preferentially pursue first-line treatment of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) with CAR T cemacabtagene ansegedleucel (cema-cel, previously known as ALLO-501A) met mixed reviews on Wall Street. Read More
Shares of Applied Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:APLT) dropped 36% Jan. 5 on news that its oral aldose reductase inhibitor, AT-001 (caficrestat), failed to reach statistical significance in a phase III study in patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy. The New York-based firm, however, pointed to positive trends in the Arise-HF study that could offer a path forward, albeit via a partner. Read More
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc. is picking up LG Chem Ltd.’s oral small-molecule drug, LB-54640, for potentially $305 million, effectively growing its MC4R pipeline that houses U.S. FDA-approved Imcivree (setmelanotide) for genetic obesity disorders. Read More
The field of peptides is exploding, Perpetual Medicines Corp. co-founder, chairman and CEO Kerry L. Blanchard recently told BioWorld, “with a projected growth rate far surpassing large and small molecules, and gene therapies. The area is underinvested, too, so this is a good opportunity to focus on peptide therapeutics.” Read More
Kynexis BV recently launched with a series A of €57 million (US$62 million) and a lead asset, Kyn-5356, that targets the kynurenine pathway. The company is preparing for clinical trials that will test the compound for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. Read More
The biopharma industry concluded 2023 on a positive note regarding financings, with an increase of 17% in value over last year. A total of $70.97 billion was raised from financings in 2023, up from $60.81 billion raised in 2022. Value is down, however, from $118.29 billion in 2021 and $134.53 billion in 2020, but is higher than all previous years tracked by BioWorld from 2011-2019.In December,$4.18 billion was raisedthrough 928transactions in December, down 27% from the $5.74 billion tracked by BioWorld in November. Read More
Eisai Co. Ltd. and Oita University in Oita Prefecture, Japan, developed a first-of-its-kind machine learning model to predict amyloid beta accumulation in the brain using a wristband sensor. The model, which collects biological and lifestyle data from daily life, is expected to enable screening for brain amyloid beta accumulation to identify those at risk for Alzheimer's disease, particularly because amyloid beta begins to accumulate in the brain about 20 years before the onset of the disease. Read More
If we unraveled the DNA of the 46 chromosomes of a single human cell, it would barely measure 2 meters. If we did the same with the rest of the body, if we aligned the 3 billion base pairs of its 5 trillion cells, we could travel the distance from the Earth to the Sun more than 100 times. It seems unreachable. However, that is the unit of knowledge of the large sequencing projects achieved in 2023. From the generation of the human pangenome to cell-by-cell maps of the brain and kidneys, scientists this year have completed several omics collaborative projects stored in large international databases. Now, what’s the plan? Read More
As industry gears up for the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference to kick off 2024, take a moment to review the successes and challenges that defined 2023. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Alimera, Genascence, Glycomimetics, GPN, Immutep, Inflarx, Kynexis, Lyndra, Rhythm, Sitryx, Soligenix, Starton, Tango, Tryp. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Allovir, Astrazeneca, Compass, Debiopharm, Greenbook, Insilico, Intellia, Kymera, Menarini, Nimbus, Omniose, Praxis, Proqr, Repare, Stemline, Sensorion, Tenacia. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Avenue, Biomx, Emergex, Innate, Kyverna, Medicus, Ocuphire, Quanta, Ultragenyx, Vcare, Verrica. Read More
