A look back at pharma news to Dec 2

3 December 2016

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Deaths in primate studies, and the laboratory work necessary to rule out risks to humans, have scuppered Arrowhead Pharma’s clinical-stage pipeline, says EP Vantage, the editorial arm of the Evaluate group. The RNAi specialist has cancelled work on its hepatitis B lead, ARC-520, and two other projects using its intravenous EX1 delivery vehicle.

Shares plunged 60% on the news, taking its market capitalization to cash levels, as the California-based group fired 30% of its workforce and rebooted itself on preclinical projects delivered subcutaneously and acting outside liver tissue. Arrowhead was fortunate to have signed Amgen on as a partner on its cardiovascular programs in September – the $5 million raised with that deal will help extend its cash runway to 2019.

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