Japanese drugmaker Eisai today that the humanized antisoluble aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody Leqembi (lecanemab) has been launched in South Korea. 28 November 2024
UK-based immunotherapy firm Centauri Therapeutics has secured a £1 million ($1.25 million) grant from PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy) to further develop its Alphamer technology. 25 November 2024
Germany’s Evotec says it has taken notice of the statement made by Halozyme Therapeutics on November 22, stating that it has withdrawn its non-binding proposal to acquire Evotec for 11.00 euros per share in cash. 23 November 2024
Colorado, USA-based OncoVerity announced the closing of a series A extension led by existing investors, argenX and RefinedScience. The value was not disclosed, but this extension follows a $30 million Series A fundraiser in March 2023. 22 November 2024
Sweden-based BioArctic saw its fall 7.5% to 139.90 kronor on Friday, after its announced that its partner, Japan’s Eisa, has updated its revenue outlook for the Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi (lecanemab) for the 2024 fiscal year (FY), which runs from April 2024 through March 2025. 11 November 2024
Danish biotech Gubra announces that Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim has decided to discontinue the development of the long-acting neuropeptide Y receptor type 2 (NPY2R) agonist BI 1820237 in obesity. 4 November 2024
Japanese drugmaker Eisai has completed the rolling submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lecanemab-irmb (US brand name Leqembi) subcutaneous autoinjector for weekly maintenance dosing after it was granted Fast Track designation by the FDA. 1 November 2024
Following a re-examination, the European Medicines Agency’s human health committee, CHMP confirmed its initial recommendation to refuse the granting of a conditional marketing authorization for Masitinib AB Science’s masitinib. 18 October 2024
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and SHINE Europe have secured a 10.5 million euro ($11 million) grant to advance European production of terbium isotopes for cancer treatments. 17 October 2024
Danish dermatology focused LEO Pharma has announced the launch of Anzupgo (delgocitinib) cream in Germany for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE), for whom topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate. 15 October 2024
French pharma major Sanofi revealed it has entered into negotiations with private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) for the potential sale of a 50% controlling stake in Opella, its consumer healthcare business. 14 October 2024
The UK’s new 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access, and growth (VPAG) came into force at the beginning of January this year. 4 October 2024
GigaGen has been awarded a contract by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 4 October 2024
Oxford, UK-based Enara Bio today announces the closing of a $32.5 million Series B financing supported by a strong syndicate of new and existing biotech investors. 3 October 2024
French drugmaker Mitem Pharmavhas the worldwide acquisition of Desferal (deferoxamine), a major MITM in hematology, from Swiss giant Novartis. 25 September 2024
The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) is further expanding its focus on life sciences by opening an institute for biomedical artificial intelligence (AI) based on a 150 million euros ($166.8 million) funding from the German non-profit Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation (BIS). 18 September 2024
UK drugmaker GSK might be trading lower following Thursday’s nomination of vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr as the USA’s next health secretary, but the day brought good news for the group elsewhere in the business. 15 November 2024
Oxford, UK-based rare respiratory diseases focused AlveoGene today revealed it has been granted a Rare Pediatric Disease designation (RPDD) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AVG-002, its novel, inhaled gene therapy for lethal neonatal surfactant protein B (SP-B) deficiency. 15 November 2024
Shares of German drug discovery company Evotec leapt 20% to 10.33 euros this morning on the revelation that the USA’s Halozyme Therapeutics has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire Evotec for 11.00 euros per share in cash, implying a fully-diluted equity value of around 2.0 billion euros ($2.12 billion). 15 November 2024
BeiGene has announced plans to rebrand as BeOne Medicines, a move the cancer specialist says reflects its commitment to fighting cancer through collaboration. 15 November 2024
Swiss generic and biosimilar medicines major Sandoz today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for Afqlir (aflibercept) 2mg vial kit and pre-filled syringe for intravitreal injection. 15 November 2024
USA-based Paratek Pharmaceuticals has released positive top-line data from a Phase IIb trial evaluating its oral antibiotic omadacycline in adult patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease. 15 November 2024
Merck & Co has entered into an exclusive global license to develop, manufacture and commercialize LM-299 from China-based clinical-stage biotech LaNova Medicines, bringing the US pharma giant into the newly attractive PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody space. 15 November 2024
ALX Oncology Holdings, a Californian immuno-oncology company, has announced the appointment of Alan Sandler as chief medical officer (CMO). 14 November 2024
Privately-held Montanan firm Microbion has announced promising findings from its Phase II study of pravibismane, a topical treatment aimed at addressing diabetic foot ulcer infections (DFI). 14 November 2024
USA-based ARTBIO, a radiopharma firm working on alpha radioligand therapies, has entered a global licensing and research partnership with Berlin-based 3B Pharmaceuticals (3BP). 14 November 2024
While sky high expectations for Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide have not yet been realized, more positive data add to a growing sense that the future could be as bright as imagined. 14 November 2024
Germany’s Merck KGaA was trading 5% lower as Thursday’s trading day neared its end, after the company announced its third-quarter financial results and outlook for the rest of the year. 14 November 2024
Swiss clinical-stage biopharma AC Immune saw its shares gain 8% to $3.38 in US trading this morning, after it released positive interim safety and immunogenicity data from the Phase II VacSYn clinical trial evaluating ACI-7104.056. 14 November 2024
This week, we discuss a novel AI-driven approach to drug development, and its potential to transform the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. 14 November 2024
Danish dermatology specialist LEO Pharma today announced that Swissmedic, Switzerland’s national regulatory agency for approving and overseeing therapeutic products, has granted marketing approval for Anzupgo (delgocitinib) cream. 14 November 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of PTC Therapeutics’ gene therapy for the treatment of AADC (aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase) deficiency, making it the first-ever gene therapy approved in the USA that is directly administered to the brain. 14 November 2024
US ophthalmology specialist Ocular Therapeutix announced that Namrata Saroj has joined the Company on a full-time basis as chief business officer (CBO). Dr Saroj previously served as development strategy consultant to Ocular since February 2024. 14 November 2024
Digital therapeutics company GAIA has announced the signing of a licensing agreement for attexis with fellow German firm MEDICE Arzneimittel Pütter. 14 November 2024
New York-based Metsera, a biopharma developing medicines for obesity and metabolic diseases, has closed a $215 million Series B financing to further advance its portfolio of clinical-stage, nutrient-stimulated hormone (NuSH) analog peptides. 14 November 2024
Pharma major Bristol Myers Squibb and US biotech Cabaletta Bio are set to present promising Phase I data on CD19-directed CAR-T therapies for severe, refractory lupus at the American College of Rheumatology 2024. 14 November 2024