In top-line data from the Pathway phase III trial with Transcon PTH in hypoparathyroidism, Ascendis Pharma A/S provided “what many have been waiting for: a way of therapy to not only boost serum calcium into the normal range, but to make sure that the kidney issues [are] also handled,” said Aimee Shu, vice president of clinical development in endocrinology and co-director of the study, during a conference call with investors.
Tyra Biosciences Inc.’s recent deal with Xcures Inc. drew more attention to the already popular FGFR inhibitor space in oncology, as the pair made known a collaboration on a real-world biomarker study involving patients with FGFR-mutant bladder cancer who are given once-daily, oral Balversa (erdafitinib, Johnson & Johnson), a pan-FGFR blocker approved in April 2019.
Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s scientific advice briefing document is asking the EMA for ideas on how to proceed with lead asset QRX-003 for Netherton syndrome (NS).
Ahead of data due any day from Turning Point Therapeutics Inc. with repotrectinib (repo) in ROS1-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), CEO Athena Countouriotis said her firm’s product already is differentiating itself from the likes of Xalkori (crizotinib, Pfizer Inc.) and Rozlytrek (entrectinib, Roche Holding AG).
Alopexx Inc. filed for an IPO that would bank as much as $17 million to continue the firm’s investigations of bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections that express the antigenic target poly N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG).
As Neubase Therapeutics Inc. gears up to unveil preclinical data from its myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) effort during the MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference later this month, investors are watching other programs moving through pipelines – but none of the research, except for that underway by Avidity Biosciences Inc., has entered the clinic.
Biocon Ltd. said its subsidiary Biocon Biologics Ltd. has agreed to buy out partner Viatris Inc., bringing aboard the latter’s biosimilars business, for $3.34 billion.
With the first global approval by Health Canada in hand, Medicago Inc. aims to provide 20 million doses this year of Covifenz – which itself represents another first, as a plant-originated, virus-like particle, recombinant, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine. “Hopefully, if all goes well, we’ll be able to do it faster than the last day of the last month” of the year, said Brian Ward, medical officer of Quebec City-based Medicago, a unit of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp., which partnered on Covifenz with Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK).
Biocon Ltd. said its subsidiary Biocon Biologics Ltd. has agreed to buy out partner Viatris Inc., bringing aboard the latter’s biosimilars business, for $3.34 billion, including cash of $2.34 billion and compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS) in BBL, valued at $1 billion.
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co. Ltd. signed a deal that could be worth more than $1 billion to take over Channel Biosciences LLC, a subsidiary of Knopp Biosciences LLC, and its Kv7 channel targeting platform. A key part of the deal is BHV-7000, formerly known as KB-3061, described as a potent activator of Kv7.2 and Kv7.3, key subunits involved in neuronal signaling and in regulating the hyperexcitable state in epilepsy. The compound is expected to enter clinical investigation this year, with focal epilepsy as the lead indication.
