In a deal that could top out at about $2.2 billion, Septerna Inc. is getting $200 million up front from Novo Nordisk A/S in a collaboration to develop oral treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic indications. There will be four programs for discovering, developing and commercializing small molecules targeting G protein-coupled receptors, which includes GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors, with both companies putting their shoulders to conducting research from discovery to choice of candidate.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is delaying the phase III data readout from the X-tole2 trial with azetukalner in focal onset seizures (FOS) from the second half of 2025 to early 2026 but remains busy with NDA plans.

Planting seed money and “wishing” is not enough to claim “irreparable harm” to secure a preliminary injunction or to establish the standing required to appeal a patent board decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled May 7 in two decisions involving Incyte Corp. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Verastem Oncology Inc. CEO Dan Paterson said he is “not expecting a huge bolus [of ovarian cancer patients] at the beginning” of Avmapki/Fakzynja’s launch, but momentum will build over time. “Based on our market research, this [drug] is the most likely thing for them to go on next,” he added, noting that patients tend to be on the drug for an average of 18 months.

Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc. is making another run at U.S. FDA clearance for reproxalap in dry eye disease (DED) after nailing the primary endpoint in a phase III randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled dry eye chamber trial of 0.25% ophthalmic solution.