Shanghai- and San Diego-based Degron Therapeutics Inc. secured a potential $1.2 billion deal with Tokyo-headquartered Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. May 23 for a multitarget collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement for molecular glue degraders. “It is a breakthrough technology in the small-molecule drug discovery field,” Degron CEO Lily Zou told BioWorld. “People talk about cell and gene therapy, but small molecules are still the mainstream of drug discovery, [with] more reach.” Read More
Grey Wolf Therapeutics Ltd. added $50 million to its series B, bringing the total for the round to $99 million and providing funding to expand the scope of an ongoing phase I/II trial of its lead antigen modulation program. Read More
Once-daily insulin treatment is getting a challenge from Novo Nordisk A/S’s once-weekly option. The U.S. FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee meets Friday, May 23, to review the BLA for once-weekly Awiqli (insulin icodec), a human insulin analogue from Novo for adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Read More
A woman who allegedly made nearly $300,000 last year on insider trading based on undisclosed information about a pending biopharma acquisition will have to disgorge her profits, along with interest, to the U.S. Treasury, but she will face no other penalties. Read More
Milleporesigma, Merck KGaA’s North American life sciences business, agreed to acquire Mirus Bio LLC from Gamma Biosciences LP for $600 million. Mirus develops tailored transfection solutions that deliver nucleic acid into cells used in production of viral vector-based gene therapies. It also provides contract development and manufacturing services. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to U.S. regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Adlai, Aerovate, Biovie, Citius, Coya, Eupraxia, Imvax, Indaptus, Inflarx, Irlab, Kinaset, Neurocrine, Noema, Protagenic, Resolute, Scholar Rock, Zai Lab. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Achilles, Arcturus, Deimos, Dimerx, Etherna, G1, Genmab, Genor, Legend, Maxcyte, Pepper, Profoundbio, Temple Street. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astrazeneca, Cartesian, Daiichi, Innocan, Rhythm, Sandoz. Read More
