BioWorld: The Daily Biopharmaceutical News Source

Merus combo trounces Keytruda in head-and-neck phase II
Investor hopes rose sharply for Merus NV’s phase III trials – data should roll out next year – with bispecific antibody petosemtamab after mid-stage results impressed Wall Street in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Shares of Utrecht, the Netherlands-based Merus (NASDAQ:MRUS) jumped, too, closing May 23 at $55.14, up $13.54, or 33%, on interim data as of the Feb. 27 cutoff date.

Merus combo trounces Keytruda in head-and-neck phase II
Investor hopes rose sharply for Merus NV’s phase III trials – data should roll out next year – with bispecific antibody petosemtamab after mid-stage results impressed Wall Street in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Shares of Utrecht, the Netherlands-based Merus (NASDAQ:MRUS) jumped, too, closing May 23 at $55.14, up $13.54, or 33%, on interim data as of the Feb. 27 cutoff date.
Imunon ovarian cancer prospect impresses with survival benefits
Imunon Inc. soared by 179% on the heels of phase II Ovation 2 data showing that its IMNN-001 immunotherapy led to a 13-month increase in overall survival among women with ovarian cancer. Patients in the intent-to-treat population, receiving the drug plus standard-of-care neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy (N/ACT), achieved median overall survival (OS) at 46 months vs. 33 months with N/ACT alone. Increased activity was seen among patients treated with poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, with the median OS not yet reached after more than five years vs. 37 months in the control arm.
Yanked from the market in 2022, GSK’s Blenrep gets an EU redo
GSK plc’s Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) is heading back to the market three years after being withdrawn, with the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommending approval of the antibody-drug conjugate in combination therapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Adalta sees promise in new 'East to West' strategy for T-cell therapies
Adalta Ltd. is outlicensing all of its internal products and focusing instead on inlicensing early stage T-cell assets from Asia, mostly from China, Adalta CEO Tim Oldham told BioWorld. Dubbed its “East to West” strategy, Adalta is integrating Asia's prowess in T-cell therapy development with the efficiency and quality of Australia's clinical and manufacturing ecosystem to create a pathway connecting Eastern innovation in cellular immunotherapies with Western regulated markets and patients.
Tectonic, Tenax, others aim for shift in heart failure
News from Tectonic Therapeutic Inc. in January took away some of Wall Street’s jitters about the relaxin pathway brought about by Eli Lilly and Co.’s recent moves, but another big pharma player – Astrazeneca plc – is still providing suspense in pulmonary hypertension in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Today's news in brief
BioWorld briefs for May 23, 2025.
Alteogen merges two subsidiaries, forming Alteogen Biologics
Alteogen Inc. completed a merger between two subsidiaries – Altos Biologics Inc. and Alteogen Healthcare Inc. – branding the new entity as Alteogen Biologics Inc.
Cinclus and Zentiva have a plan for reflux in Europe
Cinclus Pharma Holding AB has chosen Zentiva k.s. to handle manufacturing and commercialization duties in Europe for linaprazan glurate, which is being developed to treat severe erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.
In search of lower prices, FDA enhances Rx import program
It’s been nearly five years since the U.S. FDA, under the first Trump administration, issued a final rule and guidance on state importation plans (SIP) for importing less expensive prescription drugs from Canada. Yet only one state, Florida, has an approved SIP. In hopes of adding to that number, the FDA is enhancing its drug importation program to ease the way for states and tribes to bring prescription medicines in from Canada, at Canadian prices.
Holiday notice
BioWorld's offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day in the U.S. No issue will be published Monday, May 26.

BioWorld

Today's news in brief

BioWorld

BioWorld MedTech

BioWorld Asia

BioWorld Science

BioWorld Premium