Oxford Biotherapeutics Ltd. is partnering with Roche AG to expand the current field of tumor antigens that can be drugged with antibodies, as part of a potential $1 billion-plus agreement. The agreement will see Oxford Biotherapeutics apply its membrane protein discovery platform to search for novel cancer cell antigens, which will be validated through the research collaboration, with Roche then taking the lead in advancing any resulting antibody programs. Read More
Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc. is getting $70 million up front and could earn up to $710 million in milestone payments in a deal with Servier for phase I-stage BDTX-4933, a small-molecule candidate targeting both RAS mutations and RAF alternations for treating solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer. Read More
Roivant Sciences Ltd. CEO Matt Cline said the firm’s unit Immunovant Inc. with FcRn blocker batoclimab has established “frankly a new bar” in myasthenia gravis (MG) as the New York-based firm reported top-line results from its phase III study and first data from period 1 of the phase IIb study with the same drug in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. The data look promising, and Immunovant intends to use the findings to help advance second-generation FcRn prospect IMVT-1402 in both indications. Potentially registrational trials are planned. The U.S. FDA has granted IND clearance. Read More
The politicization of the U.S. FTC continued March 18 with President Donald Trump firing the two remaining Democratic commissioners, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. The action leaves what’s supposed to be a five-member bipartisan panel with just two members, both of whom are Republicans. The commission already was down one member, as former Chair Lina Khan’s term expired last year and Trump’s appointee, Mark Meador, is awaiting Senate confirmation with a vote expected yet this month. Read More
The unrelenting pressure on medical practice in the U.S. has sparked some innovations, but a legislative innovation is now in the works that would fundamentally shift how at least some drugs are prescribed. The Healthy Technology Act of 2025 (H.R. 238) would allow AI and machine learning algorithms to write prescriptions for pharmaceuticals, although the lack of co-sponsors for H.R. 238 suggests that this bill is not ready for prime time just yet. Read More
Mucormycosis, a fungal infection caused by fungi from the order Mucorales, can cause severe disease, especially in immunocompromised subjects. These fungi are ubiquitous and can be found in environmental sources such as crop residues and soil. Among the multiple factors that increase the risk of mucormycosis infection are immunosuppression and diabetes mellitus. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Angitia, Compass, Enterobiotix, Genmab, Maxona, Med-Life Discoveries, Mozart, Ocugen, Taimed Biologics. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Ani, Cipla, Cyrano, Formosa, Janssen, Nanobiotix, Nference, Prime Medicine, Pyxis Oncology, QumulusAI, Resyca, TC Biopharm, Valo Health, Vincerx. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Alvotech Holding, Bioarctic, Can-Fite, Cellphire, Dr. Reddy's, Johnson & Johnson, Redhill Biopharma, Scienture. Read More
