Medicxi has made its first ever investment in China – and its biggest single commitment to date – putting $40 million into D3 Bio Inc. The investment by the London-based venture capital firm will accelerate development of D3’s lead program D3S-001, a second generation KRAS G12C inhibitor, which is in phase II development in advanced solid tumors.
With high hopes for its LPA1R antagonist program, Contineum Therapeutics Inc. has priced an IPO of 6.9 million shares of its class A common stock at $16 per share as it seeks to generate $110 million in gross proceeds. The San Diego-based company began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker CTNM on April 5, with shares ending the day at $15.40, down 3.8%. There have been nine other biopharma IPOs so far in 2024.
After reviewing data from its phase II trial of farnesoid X receptor agonist ASC-42 in primary biliary cholangitis, Ascletis Pharma Inc. said it was quitting development of the molecule in all indications.
Addex Therapeutics has offloaded its portfolio of preclinical allosteric modulation drugs into Neurosterix, a new company that arrives on the scene with a $63 million series A round.
Acorda Therapeutics Inc. has filed for bankruptcy and agreed to sell its assets, including rights to its three commercialized drugs, to German biopharma Merz Therapeutics GmbH for $185 million. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Eiger Biopharmaceuticals Inc. also filed for bankruptcy.
The possibility for expanding Bristol Myers Squibb Co.’s S1P modulator, Zeposia (ozanimod), into Crohn’s disease took a hit on disappointing data from the initial analysis of its Yellowstone study, the first of two phase III trials. Results showed the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, defined as clinical remission as measured by the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index at week 12.
The U.S. biopharma and med-tech industries are adding their voice to that of Gilead Sciences Inc. in urging the California Supreme Court to review the Gilead Tenofovir Cases, which seek to hold the drug company liable for how and when it developed its pipeline of HIV drugs.
Novo Nordisk A/S is the latest drug company to be challenged by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has made tilting at prescription drug prices one of the hallmarks of his tenure as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Despite numerous marketed anti-seizure medications in the U.S., patients with epilepsy continue to experience breakthrough seizures and tolerability issues compounded with drug interactions and side effects, leaving room for companies like Praxis Precision Medicines Inc. to fill treatment gaps. The Boston-based company presented phase IIa proof-of-concept data March 26 showing that in an evaluation of photo paroxysmal response, its once-daily oral small-molecule treatment, PRAX-628, resulted in a complete response in three epilepsy patients receiving 45 mg of the drug and four patients receiving 15 mg for a combined complete response rate of 88%.
Kazia Therapeutics Ltd. has out-licensed paxalisib as a potential treatment for intractable epilepsy in focal cortical dysplasia type 2 and tuberous sclerosis complex disease in a carve-out deal with Sovargen Co. Ltd. for $20.5 million plus sales royalties.
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