A licensing deal worth potentially up to $1.2 billion with Sanofi SA has breathed new life into Novavax Inc., which has struggled to compete in the COVID-19 space with powerhouses Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc.
In a research collaboration that could bring in up to $600 million, Metaphore Biotechnologies Inc. has become the third Flagship Pioneering company this year to cut a development deal with mighty obesity space player Novo Nordisk A/S.
A boy participating in the phase II Daylight study of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) “has passed away suddenly,” according to Pfizer Inc. The participant had received fordadistrogene movaparvovec, a mini-dystrophin gene therapy, in early 2023. The fatal serious adverse event was reported May 3 as a cardiac arrest, Pfizer told BioWorld. Pfizer, together with the independent external data monitoring committee, is reviewing the data to understand the potential cause, the company added.
Prologue Medicines Inc. has launched to develop therapeutics created from the viral proteome, which are proteins produced across all viruses. It’s a newer twist on harnessing the power of the proteins that regulate biology.
Top-line data from Glycomimetics Inc.’s pivotal phase III study of uproleselan in 388 patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia missed its primary endpoint. The data crippled the stock, which closed at the low point of its 10-year existence.
Ending a late 2021 deal that was potentially worth billions, Moderna Inc. and Metagenomi Inc. are going their separate ways. The two had been collaborating on gene-editing R&D to develop therapies for treating serious genetic diseases. Moderna said it agreed with Metagenomi to end the deal as “Moderna continues to strategically prioritize its research and development investments.”
While Nrx Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s oral antidepressant NRX-101 failed, producing a not statistically significant 33% reduction in suicidality along with a 70% reduction in the symptoms of akathisia, the company said it plans to forge ahead and conduct a registrational study.
A readout of phase III data of buntanetap in Parkinson’s disease is up next as Annovis Bio Inc. tries to recover from the market’s reaction to mixed phase II/III results in Alzheimer’s disease. The company’s stock (NYSE:ANVS) dropped 60% when the data were released on April 29 and continued downward on April 30, with shares closing 23.5% lower at $5.57 each. The shares’ 12-month peak was on Dec. 27 at $19.54 each.
Amidst a slew of end-of-week, positive EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) opinions is Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s Fruzaqla (fruquintinib). The selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors-1, -2 and -3 is for adults with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer.
In a $2.4 billion deal, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc. is merging with Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Ono is acquiring all of Deciphera’s outstanding stock shares for $25.60 each in cash. The merger helps Osaka, Japan-based Ono strengthen its oncology portfolio and its presence in the U.S.
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