Since the advent of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, the space has steadily grown hotter, a situation on which Anima Biotech Inc. has capitalized by way of a potential $580 million-plus deal with Abbvie Inc. to deploy mRNA biology modulators for three targets across oncology and Immunology.
As expected, the U.S. FDA gave its go-ahead to lecanemab, an amyloid-beta binder for mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild AD from Biogen Inc. and Eisai Co. Ltd, which have assigned to the compound the brand name Leqembi.
Parties to Astrazeneca plc’s potential $1.8 billion takeover of Cincor Pharma Inc. are keeping mum about contingent value rights included in the deal for baxdrostat, the phase III-bound aldosterone synthase targeter in the works to treat hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Another acquisition that captured headlines as the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference launched in San Francisco: the $1.4 billion-plus agreement whereby Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. will take ownership of Amryt Pharma plc. And there was more, as Ipsen SA pledged $952 million to make Albireo Pharma Inc. its own.
As expected, the U.S. FDA gave its go-ahead to lecanemab, an amyloid-beta binder for mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild AD – together known as early AD – from Biogen Inc. and Eisai Co. Ltd, which have assigned to the compound the brand name Leqembi.
The serious adverse event in the first phase I/II patient dosed with nulabeglogene autogedtemcel (nula-cel) – a gene editing, autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) – may have involved the quality of the stem cells and not the conditioning regimen or characteristics of the patient at baseline. But researchers won’t know until more work is done.
Recent news from Quralis Corp. and Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. highlighted the potential for targeting the Kv7 potassium channel, of special interest to a handful of developers lately.
After Vera Therapeutics Inc.’s disappointing 24-week data from the Origin phase IIb study with atacicept in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), Wall Street is looking forward to more results at 36 weeks, due later this year.
Jasper Therapeutics Inc. may have found a way around toxicity with current approaches in sickle cell disease (SCD) conditioning approaches, if phase I/II data with briquilimab stay consistent – and the drug already has proved itself across a range of indications. Wall Street liked the prospect, sending the Redwood City, Calif.-based firm’s shares (NASDAQ:JSPR) on a wild ride to close at $2.74, up $2.26, or 476%.
Viral specialist Gilead Sciences Inc.’s U.S. FDA clearance for twice-yearly Sunlenca (lenacapavir) in combination with other antiretroviral therapies for HIV-1 infection provides heavily treatment-experienced patients a new option, and gives the company room to flex with new add-ons.
Biopharma just wouldn’t be biopharma without continuing innovation. Even in a year rife with economic and regulatory turmoil, the industry still achieved major advancements set to change the health care landscape going forward. Standouts for 2022 include cell therapy and gene editing approaches making significant gains, while industry celebrated a new checkpoint inhibitor added to the oncology armamentarium.
