Candel Therapeutics Inc. followed this spring’s positive phase II data in pancreatic cancer with favorable results from a phase III study testing the same drug – viral immunotherapy CAN-2409 – in localized prostate cancer. Shares of Needham, Mass.-based Candel (NASDAQ:CADL) closed Dec. 11 at $7.75, up $3.14, or 68%. Read More

Disappointing readouts from separate phase II studies in atopic dermatitis sank shares of Q32 Bio Inc. and Anaptysbio Inc., as their respective antibody candidates failed to impress in a highly competitive space. Read More

Sound Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s lead candidate, the anti-inflammatory SPI-1005 (ebselen), has produced positive pivotal phase III study data in treating Meniere’s disease, an inner-ear disorder that can lead to vertigo and deafness. Read More

CNS specialist Noema Pharma AG has added a further $44 million to its series B, bringing the total for the round to $147 million. The new financing bolsters the balance sheet as the Basel, Switzerland-based company progresses four phase II trials, with key data readouts expected in 2025. Read More

Kura Oncology, Inc. and Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd.’s selective oral menin inhibitor ziftomenib showed encouraging data across multiple studies, the most encouraging of which were in combination with other standard of care therapies in patients with NPM1-mutant and KMT2A-rearranged  acute myeloid leukemia. Read More

Researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have successfully replicated the design of regulatory T cells, achieving local targeted immune suppression and protection from CAR T-cell cytotoxicity. Many of the treatments used so far in the context of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders lead to systemic immunosuppression. In this sense, limiting immunosuppression locally to targeted tissues may help overcome systemic toxicity. Read More

Nearly three years after being terminated as president and CEO of Cytodyn Inc., Nader Pourhassan was convicted June 9 by a U.S. federal jury for his role in a securities fraud scheme to deceive investors about the Vancouver, Wash.-based company’s development of leronlimab. The jury also convicted Kazem Kazempour, the CEO of Amarex Clinical Research LLC, a contract research organization hired by Cytodyn, for his part in the scheme. Read More

New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Accent, Convergent, EMD Serono, Gen1e, Genesis, Iambic, Incendia, Xaira. Read More

Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Cardiff Oncology, Eikonizo, Maia, Novo Nordisk, Orthogon, Renaissthera, Sonnet. Read More

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: AC Immune, Affimed, ALX, Arvinas, Atyr, Biomea, Cardiff, Cervomed, Daré, Grin, Ichnos, Immix, Immune-Onc, Keros, Lyell, Immunopharma, Maat, Nanobiotix, Newamsterdam, Nurix, Olema, Pfizer, Recursion, Regeneron, Rigel, Sellas, Sumitomo. Read More

Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Ascendis, Cimeio, Er-Kim, Johnson, Kyowa, Lava, Neurobiogen, Pfizer, Poseida, Relmada, Roche, Scilex, Semnur. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Celltrion, Chimerix, Clene, Crispr,Kyrtsal, Neogap, Santhera, Uniqure. Read More