The phase IIb study results of Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s SPN-820 in treatment-resistant depression had pulled the company’s stock (NASDAQ:SUPN) down 15.6% on Feb. 19. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of adults failed to show a statistically significant improvement on the primary endpoint of change from baseline on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression rating scale. Shares closed at $33.52 apiece on Feb. 19. Read More
Research seems to be gaining ground in Wilson disease, a rare inherited condition that causes copper levels to accumulate in the liver, brain and eyes. Most people are diagnosed as children or around middle age, but the age spectrum can be wide. Monopar Therapeutics Inc. has drawn Wall Street’s attention in the space. Read More
The BioWorld Drug Developers Index extended its decline through year-end, closing 2024 down 15.25%. After dropping 11.3% by October, the index briefly rebounded, narrowing losses to 5.36% in November, before slipping again. Read More
The prospect of U.S. tariffs on pharmaceuticals became more than just speculation this week, with President Donald Trump saying those tariffs likely would begin at 25% and climb over the year. His comments came in response to a question at a Feb. 18 news conference that followed the signing of two unrelated executive orders. Asked about the planned rate for tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, Trump responded that it would be 25% and higher and it would “go very substantially higher over [the] course of a year.” Read More
Using ALK+ lung cancer patient-derived cell lines, researchers have performed phosphoproteomic screening and identified guanylate kinase 1 (GUK1) as a TKI sensitive metabolic molecule in ALK-driven lung cancer. They reported their results online in Cell on Feb. 6, 2025. Read More
China’s National Health Commission is designating a three-year period from 2025 to 2027 as the “years of pediatric and mental health services,” in line with a new pledge to achieve eight initiatives in the health care sector aimed at servicing underserved populations. Read More
The Clarivate Medtech Trends to Watch in 2024 report noted the resilience of the medtech sector in the face of changing macroeconomic factors and the preparation required to navigate the market’s many complexities. It is likely that 2025 will be no different. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Arcus, Arthex, Astrazeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cabaletta, Can-Fite, Exelixis, Kiromic, Lexicon, Recce, Septerna, Solid, Ventyx. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Allurion, Bioarctic, Biogen, Cyrano, Eisai, Formycon, Foundation Medicine, Genprex, Kyorin, Longeveron, Scisparc, Stoke, Sumitomo. Read More
