It took resolving issues from two complete response letters for Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. to finally land U.S. FDA approval of Pedmark. The injectable formulation of sodium thiosulfate is for reducing the risk of platinum-induced ototoxicity associated with cisplatin in pediatric patients 1 month and older with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors. Approval of the NDA arrived Sept. 20, three days before its Sept. 23 PDUFA date.
Ocular gene therapy firm Sparingvision SA raised €75 million (US$75 million) in a series B round to fund its transition to clinical development. The company is about to move its lead program, the mutation-agnostic gene therapy SPVN-06, into a phase I trial in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). “We are in the middle of the regulatory submission process,” CEO Stéphane Boissel told BioWorld.
Success in two pivotal studies of high dose Eylea (aflibercept) has significantly strengthened Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s market position. But the company will face stiff competition from biosimilars and Roche Holding Group’s recently approved Vabysmo. After struggling for much of the year, the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based company’s stock (NASDAQ: REGN) rose about 20% this week. It closed 2% upward on Sept. 9 at $724.32 per share.
Researchers from Roche Holding AG disclosed the discovery and preclinical evaluation data for RG-7774 (vicasinabin), a novel cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R) agonist being developed for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Kuria Therapeutics Inc. has closed its first fundraising round to support ongoing preclinical development activities ahead of a planned series A raise.
Questioners probed the fine points during Iveric Bio Inc.’s conference call, but news proved unmistakably good with Zimura (avacincaptad pegol) in geographic atrophy (GA), and shares of the firm (NASDAQ:ISEE) closed Sept. 6 at $15.70, up $6.26, or 66%, on positive top-line data from Gather 2, the firm’s second phase III study.
Taiwan’s Brim Biotechnology Inc. announced a capital raise of $18 million to advance its lead candidate, regenerative peptide therapy BRM-421, to phase III trials for dry eye syndrome.
Taiwan’s Brim Biotechnology Inc. announced a capital raise of $18 million to advance its lead candidate, regenerative peptide therapy BRM-421, to phase III trials for dry eye syndrome. It’s designed to offer relief from dry eye symptoms by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of stem cells to repair damage to the cornea. “Our goal is restoration and repair of the damage caused by DES,” said Brim founder and CEO Haishan Jang.
Ophthalmic therapy and device developer Alcon SA, of Geneva, further strengthened its portfolio by buying Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc. for about $770 million in equity. Aerie’s financial guidance for its glaucoma franchise puts net product revenue at $130 million to $140 million for all of 2022.
Turn Biotechnologies is advancing its development of preclinical ophthalmic therapeutic products, notably TRN-004, a tailored protein cocktail to rejuvenate targeted cells in the eye.