20 November 2024 Sweden-based Xbrane Biopharma and Intas Pharmaceuticals have announced an exclusive global licensing and co-development agreement for the former company’s Opdivo (nivolumab) biosimilar candidate.
Bioplatform company builder Flagship Pioneering has announced its companies Ampersand Biomedicines and Montai Therapeutics have entered into agreements to identify targeted molecules that could potentially be further developed as treatments for obesity and lung cancer. 20 November 2024
Sweden-based Xbrane Biopharma and Intas Pharmaceuticals have announced an exclusive global licensing and co-development agreement for the former company’s Opdivo (nivolumab) biosimilar candidate. 20 November 2024
A pair of industry veterans have teamed up to create Jupiter Bioventures, a San Francisco-based biotech venture foundry promised to build bold, science-driven therapeutics companies. 20 November 2024
California, USA-based biotech Cytokinetics saw its shares fall as much as 4% to $9.67 yesterday, after it announced a deal with Germany’ Bayer. 20 November 2024
The landscape of atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment is advancing with approvals of oral and topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors across the seven major pharmaceutical markets (7MM; USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Japan). 20 November 2024
Johnson & Johnson and partner Protagonist Therapeutics have reported positive topline results from two Phase III studies testing a first-in-class oral peptide. 20 November 2024
The UK’s health technology assessor the Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says that talks with the makers of Enhertu have ended without agreement, meaning guidance that does not recommend Enhertu for advanced breast cancer will remain unchanged. 20 November 2024
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) yesterday warned that health professionals and consumers are advised that the oral antihistamine promethazine hydrochloride, sold as Phenergan and other generic brands, should not be used in children under six years of age. 20 November 2024
US pharma giant Merck & Co today announced positive top-line results from the pivotal Phase III MK-3475A-D77 trial for its mega blockbuster drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in subcutaneous form. 19 November 2024
Massachusetts, USA-based firm VBI Vaccines has initiated a nationwide voluntary recall of PreHevbrio (hepatitis B vaccine), as it proceeds with bankruptcy and the shutdown of its operations. 19 November 2024
Australia’s CSL Limited plans to shut down its Californian R&D facility focused on cell and gene therapies by January 2025, signaling a shift away from ex vivo lentiviral-based technology. 19 November 2024
VarmX, a Dutch biotech developing innovative approaches for the bypass of direct oral anticoagulants targeting activated factor Xa (FXa DOACs) and inherited coagulation disorders, has appointed industry veteran John Glasspool (pictured, above) as chief executive. 12 November 2024
Trace Neuroscience, a newly launched biopharma based in San Francisco, aims to advance treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, starting with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 12 November 2024
Norwegian clinical-stage biotech Nykode Therapeutics revealed that it has received notification from Genentech, a US subsidiary of Roche, of its decision to terminate the collaboration and licensing agreement for Nykode’s VB10.NEO cancer vaccine program. 12 November 2024
Merck KGaA today announced that the Phase III MANEUVER trial of pimicotinib met its primary endpoint, demonstrating significant improvement in objective response rate (ORR) in patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). The ORR for pimicotinib at week 25 was 54.0% compared with 3.2% for placebo (p<0.0001). 12 November 2024
AstraZeneca and Merck & Co announced that their jointly developed drug Koselugo (selumetinib) has shown positive outcomes in the KOMET Phase III trial. 12 November 2024
Germany’s Bayer saw its shares tumble almost 11% to 21.76 euros this morning, as it reported level third-quarter 2024 sales while earnings declined. 12 November 2024
Twelve leading health economists have published a paper in the Forum for Health Economics and Policy that challenges the drug pricing math used by groups like the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). 12 November 2024
French biotech DiogenX, which is focused on regenerating insulin-producing beta cells for the treatment of diabetes, today announces the appointment of Dr Klara Owen as chief medical officer. 12 November 2024
23andMe, a human genetics firm and consumer health innovator, has announced a major restructuring, cutting approximately 40% of its workforce. 12 November 2024
Rubedo Life Sciences, a US biopharma developing first-in-class therapies targeting senescent cells which drive age-related diseases, has announced the appointment of Frederick C Beddingfield III, as chief executive officer and board director. 11 November 2024
The combination of Merck & Co’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Citius Pharmaceuticals’ Lymphir (denileukin diftitox-cxdl) showed promising preliminary results in an investigator-initiated Phase I clinical trial for cancer patients with recurrent solid tumors. 11 November 2024
US company IDEAYA Biosciences has exercised the option for an exclusive worldwide license for Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals’ B7H3/PTK7 BsADC program, IDE034, and has nominated it as a development candidate. 11 November 2024
On November 8, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Aucatzyl (obecabtagene autoleucel; obe-cel) from US biopharma Autolus Therapeutics' 11 November 2024
The US trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today launched new advertisements urging Congress to make sure savings on medicines go to patients, not middlemen. 11 November 2024
Geron Corporation, a biopharma company focused on telomerase inhibition therapies, has announced a $375 million financing agreement aimed at supporting the commercial rollout of Rytelo (imetelstat). 11 November 2024
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals has announced a major strategic overhaul, reducing its workforce by almost half to focus on driving Lupkynis (voclosporin) growth. 11 November 2024
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Company Spotlight
Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class muscle activators as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which muscle performance is compromised and/or declining.