Data presented to the American Society of Clinical Oncology and taken from Hookipa Pharma Inc.’s ongoing phase I/II study for treating advanced human papillomavirus 16-positive (HPV16+) cancers underwhelmed investors as the stock (NASDAQ:HOOK) sagged 19.25% on June 8.
The FDA has lifted clinical holds on four studies from Bluebird Bio Inc., following recent similar actions with other gene therapy programs. Two of the studies concern phase I/II and phase III clinical trials of the gene therapy Lentiglobin (BB-1111) in treating sickle cell disease. The remaining two studies are phase III clinical trials of betibeglogene autotemcel gene therapy, which share a vector with Lentiglobin, for treating transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.
A day before its June 5 PDUFA date and three months after its original PDUFA, Ryplazim (plasminogen, human-tvmh), from Liminal Biosciences Inc., won FDA approval for treating plasminogen deficiency type 1 hypoplasminogenemia, becoming the first approved therapy for the rare genetic disorder.
Updated interim data from the ongoing dose-escalation portion of Harpoon Therapeutics Inc.’s phase I/IIa study of HPN-424 showed the metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer therapy may move on to a dose expansion.
Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc. saw shares dip after releasing initial top-line data from an interim analysis of the phase III Balance clinical trial of pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102) to treat Fabry disease. The 24-month, randomized, double-blind, active control study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of 1 mg/kg of PRX-102 dosed every two weeks compared to agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme). Two of the study’s 78 patients dropped out because of treatment emergent adverse events and one left because of a related adverse event.
In reporting positive data from a phase III study of sugemalimab in treating stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Cstone Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Eqrx Inc. have the first anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody demonstrating progression-free survival in patients with concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy. The data built on positive data released in August from another phase III study showing sugemalimab (CS-1001) prolonged PFS when used as a first-line treatment for stage IV squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC plus standard-of-care chemotherapy, hitting the study’s primary endpoint.
Alkermes plc worked its way through a complete response letter (CRL) issued in late 2020 as the FDA has approved Lybalvi (olanzapine and samidorphan) for treating adults with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. The once-daily, oral antipsychotic treatment, the company’s first, is for maintenance monotherapy or acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes and as a monotherapy or adjunct to lithium or valproate. The therapy had a June 1 PDUFA date.
In reporting positive data from a phase III study of sugemalimab in treating stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Cstone Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Eqrx Inc. have the first anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody demonstrating progression-free survival in patients with concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy.
There are now two FDA-backed monoclonal antibody COVID-19 treatments after the agency granted Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) emergency use authorization (EUA) for single-dose sotrovimab to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and children as young as 12. Vir Biotechnology Inc. collaborated on the program.
The brakes have now been pumped twice at Larimar Therapeutics Inc. as the FDA placed a clinical hold on its CTI-1601 Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) clinical program, and the company won’t close on a planned $95 million private placement financing. Larimar’s stock (NASDAQ:LRMR) took a battering May 26 as shares slumped 33.46% to close at $8.99.
