Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s license agreement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) for signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)6 inhibitor KP-723 could presage further deals in STAT6, where a number of developers are active. Kaken’s arrangement with J&J involves the global development, manufacturing and sale of KP-723, which has reached the preclinical stage. Tokyo-based Kaken will take the drug through phase I trials, after which J&J takes over. Read More
Certa Therapeutics Pty Ltd. has acquired Occurx Pty Ltd. in a move to strengthen its pipeline to target multiple fibrotic diseases as both companies share a focus on targeting GPR68, a defined G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) receptor that mediates signaling pathways associated with inflammation and fibrosis and is thought to be a master switch of fibrosis. Read More
After the funding feast sparked by the pandemic, European biotech has emerged from the famine that followed, with venture capital raised this year finally exceeding the 2020 total.After the funding feast sparked by the pandemic, European biotech has emerged from the famine that followed, with venture capital raised this year finally exceeding the 2020 total. Read More
2024 was another banner year for GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on multiple fronts. They continued to expand into new indications, and provide their developers with both rich remuneration and scientific acclamation. There are now seven approved GLP-1RAs. Commercially, the most successful one so far is semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy or Ozempic depending on the indication. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Achilles, Astrazeneca, Bionomics, Bio-Thera, City of Hope, Enanta, Fuse-AI, Heron, Johnson & Johnson, Neuphoria, Pfizer, Tabuk, Xlife. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astrazeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, Hikma, Sumitomo. Read More