Dewpoint Therapeutics Inc. and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. have entered a research collaboration worth up to $480 million to advance Dewpoint’s novel TDP-43 small-molecule condensate modulator for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Under terms of the deal, Boston-based Dewpoint will receive an undisclosed up-front payment and is eligible to receive R&D-based milestone payments up to $480 million. Upon reaching those milestones, Osaka, Japan-based MTPC will have an exclusive option to license the program and assume responsibility for global clinical development and commercialization. Dewpoint will also receive tiered royalties on net sales. Read More
Voyager Therapeutics Inc.’s recent selection of a lead development candidate, VY-1706, for its tau silencing gene therapy program in Alzheimer’s disease brought renewed attention to the target, which continues to intrigue a substantial lineup of developers. Bellwether data rolled out this fall from UCB SA and Roche AG at the Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease meeting in Madrid. Read More
Beijing Hanmi Pharm. Co. Ltd. broke ground on a ₩140 billion (US$98.65 million) large-scale project to build a near-500,000-square-foot China base near Beijing Capital International Airport in efforts to increase the company’s local production, R&D and office capabilities. Read More
Biopharma companies have raised $97.42 billion through November 2024, up 46% from $66.79 billion during the same period in 2023 and also more than $56.56 billion in 2022. However, this year’s total still trails the record highs of 2020-2021. November financings totaled $3.6 billion, a significant decline from $7.13 billion in October and $9.11 billion in September. Read More
A ketone body, a molecule derived from the metabolism of acids to obtain energy when glucose is not available, could become an effective ally in treating Alzheimer’s or preventing the effects of aging on the brain. A group of scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have studied the role of β-hydroxybutyrate as a signaling metabolite of misfolded proteins by interacting with them and altering their solubility, a mechanism that allows their elimination, as observed in preclinical models. Read More
The European Commission approved Novo Holding A/S’ acquisition of Catalent Inc., a global contract development and manufacturing organization expected to help Novo Nordisk A/S keep up with increasing demand for its GLP-1 drug, Wegovy (semaglutide). Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: CG, Cynata, Medicenna, Monte Rosa, NTC, Protara. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Agenus, BMS, GSK, Muna, Northstar, Peptidream, Zhifei. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Affimed, Artiva, Astrazeneca, Bioarctic, Eisai, Genentech, Iliad, Merus, Mesoblast, Mind Medicine, Neuraxpharm, Nobias , Phanes, Roche. Read More
