Astellas Pharma Inc.’s zolbetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting Claudin 18.2, met the primary endpoint for progression-free survival as well as secondary endpoints for overall survival in the phase III Glow trial in CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.’s phase III data with Caplyta (lumateperone) 42 mg in major depressive disorder (MDD) with mixed features (MF) and in patients with bipolar depression with MF may augur well for the ongoing, late-stage program with the compound as an adjunctive treatment in MDD.
Shares of Biomea Fusion Inc. (NASDAQ:BMEA) rocketed up 89% to close at $29.30 March 28 after the company reported early cohort data from its Covalent-111 phase I/II trial, showing treatment with the lowest dose of menin inhibitor BMF-219 reduced median A1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes by 1% at only four weeks.
Hopes remain for Unity Biotechnology Inc.’s UBX-1325 in diabetic macular edema (DME) following a phase II miss in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where data from part A of the study called Envision fell short of the non-inferiority threshold when compared to Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.) through 24 weeks.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Astrazeneca plc’s candidate for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (hATTR-PN), eplontersen, has continued to improve disease progression out to 66 weeks, according to Ionis.
Phase II data that rolled out from Merck KGaA with its Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor evobrutinib in relapsed multiple sclerosis (MS) put more eyeballs on the mechanism. It’s already well validated in oncology, but resistance has arisen there, and at least two firms – Beigene Ltd. and Nurix Therapeutics Inc. – are striving for solutions with degrader candidates.
Dupixent (dupilumab) continues to expand its scope, this time potentially leading it and its developers into a new, multibillion dollar blockbuster market. Dupixent hit the primary and all key secondary endpoints in a phase III study of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Ancora Heart Inc. reported 12-month data showing its Accucinch system significantly improves outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients, including positive changes in cardiac structure and function. The results, presented at the Technology and Heart Failure Therapeutics conference (THT 2023) in Boston, were simultaneously published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.
89bio Inc.’s top-line phase IIb data from the 216-subject study called Enliven testing pegozafermin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pushed shares (NASDAQ:ETNB) to a closing price March 22 of $13.68, up $2.75, or 25%. The drug, due next for phase III investigation, is a glycopegylated analogue of fibroblast growth factor 21.
Astellas Pharma Inc.’s zolbetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting Claudin 18.2, met the primary endpoint for progression-free survival as well as secondary endpoints for overall survival in the phase III Glow trial in CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.