As the firm doubles down on a therapy for the rare and terrible lung disease called autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP), Savara Inc. met with little trouble raising money, disclosing March 15 a public offering that grossed $130 million.
LONDON – Positive interim data from the U.S. trial of Astrazeneca plc’s COVID-19 vaccine have added yet more evidence it is effective in older adults and quelled concerns about serious thrombotic events that led countries in Europe to pause use of the vaccine earlier this month. Overall, the vaccine showed 79% efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, and was 100% effective in preventing serious disease and hospitalization. The effect was comparable across different ethnicities and age groups, with 80% efficacy in participants over 65 years of age. The analysis is based on 141 cases of COVID-19 infection.
Following a missed primary endpoint in its phase III study in treating anti-PD-1-refractory advanced melanoma, Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc. is considering stopping the registrational trial of its synthetic Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist or pressing on toward the clinical trial’s second primary endpoint.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Amyndas, Bluesky, Clovis, Eisai, Idera, Incyte, Merck & Co., Sarepta.
Shares of mRNA therapeutics specialist Translate Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:TBIO) fell 30.9% to $17.76 on March 18 over concerns about a new interim analysis of phase I/II data for its cystic fibrosis (CF) candidate, MRT-5005. Several dosing regimens of the inhaled candidate failed to improve a key measure of lung function vs. placebo, in contrast to an earlier readout on other doses tested in the ongoing study, called Restore-CF.
Libtayo (cemiplimab-rwlc) became the first PD-1 therapy to score a phase III win in cervical cancer, a pleasing development not only for investors in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and partner Sanofi SA but for patients with the stubborn disease.
DUBLIN – Immatics NV reported unexpected signs of efficacy in a first cut of data from several phase I trials of its autologous engineered T-cell therapies in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent or refractory solid tumors.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Alessa, Erx, Eyenovia, GT, Harmony, Sage, Spruce, Versantis.
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