Personalized medicine, also referred to as precision or targeted medicine, continues to have a significant impact on the treatment of diseases, particularly cancer. Over the past decade or so there has been a dramatic surge in research and development investments in this field. According to the Washington-based Personalized Medicine Coalition, there are about 286 such medicines on the market currently, a number that has more than doubled from the 132 that were available in 2016, representing the largest four-year increase since the PMC began tracking personalized therapies back in 2008.
In a world where the traditional way of conducting business has been disrupted for most of the year, companies for the most part appear to have adapted well to the prevailing environment. BioWorld conducted a short poll to determine readers’ own experiences during these challenging times and how they believed this new normal might reshape their approach to doing business going forward.
There has been a recent renaissance in the interest in radiopharmaceuticals used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, as well as their combined use (theranostics). A recent Canadian partnership between Admare Bioinnovations and the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization (CPDC) aims to take advantage of the country’s expertise in the field and leverage promising radiopharmaceutical innovations into potential commercial opportunities.
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer meeting, which concludes on Nov. 14, features a wide range of sessions that delve into the most recent advances in tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, providing an excellent opportunity for investors and analysts alike to stay up to date on new therapeutics to improve cancer treatments. Overall, data presented at the meeting appears to have been well received, a factor that has helped push up the value of the price weighted BioWorld Cancer index this month.
According to an analysis conducted by BioWorld of the third-quarter 2020 financial reports filed by public biopharmaceutical companies with market caps greater than $1 billion, and excluding big pharma companies, the amount that was invested in research and development (R&D) during the nine-month period increased by almost 21% compared to the same period last year. The spending was bolstered by companies turning their attention to focus their research on therapies and vaccines to tackle COVID-19.
When entrepreneurs and emerging businesses raise seed capital for a new business or generate funding for business growth, they often turn to the exempt offering framework under the Securities Act. However, when doing so, they are faced with a confusing and complex system that must be navigated. To simplify the process, the SEC has announced that it is amending its rules that govern offering exemptions, which small and medium-sized business rely on to raise capital.
The dramatic increase in COVID-19 infections in Europe and the U.S., combined with information overload surrounding the lead up to the Nov. 3 contentious U.S. presidential election, was more than enough to send investors to the sidelines in October.
The pace at which companies are integrating the sophisticated tools of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into their early stage drug discovery and development programs is accelerating, as evidenced by the creation of new dedicated AI-focused biopharma companies and the eagerness of drug developers to partner with AI firms.
Two complete response letters for group members dispatched this month by the FDA was enough to contribute to a flat performance in October for the BioWorld Neurological Diseases index. Overall, the price-weighted index has remained underwater for most of the year with its value down about 5% during this period.
The pace at which companies are integrating the sophisticated tools of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into their early stage drug discovery and development programs is accelerating, as evidenced by the creation of new dedicated AI-focused biopharma companies and the eagerness of drug developers to partner with AI firms. A panel at the BIO Investment Forum delved into the impact of AI on the sector and its ability to assist scientists in uncovering the intricacies of disease mechanisms and lead them toward novel drug targets.
