// Biotech and Pharma Therapeutics
EyePoint sees stock surge on AMD drug trial data
December 4, 2023 / Eyepoint / Drug Trial Data / Mid-stage Study / Eye Disease
EyePoint’s medicine, called vorolanib, matched the performance of Regeneron’s top-selling drug Eylea in people with a form of age-related macular degeneration, EyePoint said. The Phase 2 trial was designed to compare vorolanib to Eylea on several measures, including its impact on visual acuity, and assess whether the latter medicine was “non-inferior” to Regeneron’s.
Absci and AstraZeneca Sign $247M Partnership for AI-Powered Drug Discovery to Fight Cancer
December 4, 2023 / AstraZeneca / Absci / AI / Cancer / Drug Discovery
Absci’s Integrated Drug Creation™ platform is a powerful combination of generative AI and cutting-edge wet-lab technologies. It generates proprietary data by analyzing millions of protein-protein interactions, which then trains its AI models. These models are further refined by validating AI-designed antibodies in the real world, creating a continuous feedback loop.
Radiopharma startup Artbio raises $90M in sign of field’s momentum
December 7, 2023 / Radiopharma / Startup / Artbio /
The idea behind radiopharmaceuticals is to harness the power of radiation in targeting tumors without causing all the destructive fallout for the body’s healthy cells. The drugs are designed to precisely deliver cell-destroying radiation directly into tumors.
Sanofi’s quiet Sarclisa chalks up a first-in-class win with eyes on a first-line multiple myeloma nod
December 7, 2023 / Sanofi / Sarclisa / Multiple Myeloma / Darzalex
Using Sarclisa on top of Takeda’s Velcade, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Revlimid and the steroid dexamethasone (VRd), significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death versus VRd alone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma not eligible for transplant, Sanofi said Thursday.
Fountain Life Acquires LifeOmic to Optimize Preventative Care
December 6, 2023 / LifeOmic / Preventative Care / Fountain Life / New Tech / Med Tech
This acquisition underscores the growing importance of proactive healthcare. As the healthcare industry shifts from reactive to preventive care, companies like Fountain Life are leading the charge with innovative technologies and personalized approaches.
// 4th Industrial Revolution
J&J Hires Thousands, Invests Millions in AI-Powered Drug Discovery
December 4, 2023 / J&J / AI / Drug Discovery
Johnson & Johnson is investing heavily in artificial intelligence and data science to power its drug discovery work and strengthen its pharmaceuticals business, according to a recent analysis by The Wall Street Journal.
AI Can Improve Hypertension Treatment in Primary Care Settings, K Health Research Reveals
December 1, 2023 / AI / Healthcare / Hypertension / K Health / CDC / Cardiovascular
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, affects nearly half of American adults and is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Optimal treatment has a proven role in reducing the risk of advanced disease and death, but historically, guidelines have been difficult to implement in day-to-day practice.
Getting to the Golden Age of Healthcare Delivery
December 4, 2023 / Healthcare / Delivery / Innovation / Med Tech
The combination of medicine and information technology have at times created dissonance and dynamic tension. Medicine has historically relied on a slow, deliberate build-up to amass a body of evidence. Whereas development of information technology is often based on quantum leaps forward that do not require the same body of evidence because the inherent risks are profoundly different.
Generative AI Transforms Nurse Hiring Experience on Incredible Health Platform
December 7, 2023 / AI / Healthcare / Telehealth
Incredible Health has introduced advanced generative AI features, now available to all users, including the “Resume Wizard” for instant and optimized resume creation. Over 30% of nurses face challenges in resume creation, and the Resume Wizard on the Incredible Health mobile app allows them to generate impactful resumes in less than 5 minutes at no cost. This feature has helped thousands of nurses find new positions, expanding opportunities for those facing barriers in the job search process.
A Modern Approach to Aging: Medicine for a Broken System
December 6, 2023 / Aging / New Tech / Innovation
But these are all urgent questions given our aging population. Never before in human history have there been so many people over 70 years old. The baby boomers are here and thanks to medical innovations and discoveries, they’re living well beyond the life expectancy of 63 back in 1900. And, this natural aging is contributing to the most common cause of death — heart disease.
// Business & Markets
Roche Jumps into Lucrative Weight-Loss Space with $2.7B Carmot Buy
December 4, 2023 / Roche / Weight-Loss / Obesity / Carmot Therapeutics / Acquisition
As per the terms of the acquisition, Roche will make an upfront payment of $2.7 billion at the transaction’s close, which the companies anticipate will occur in the first quarter of 2024, pending regulatory and anti-trust clearance. Carmot’s equity holders will also be eligible for up to $400 million in additional payments, contingent on the achievement of certain milestones.
Merck KGaA buys into Abbisko’s late-stage joint tumor med for $70M upfront
December 4, 2023 / Merck / KGaA / Joint tumor / Partnership
Merck KGaA’s year-long quest to become leaner and rely more on external innovation has led to a $70 million partnership with Chinese biotech Abbisko Therapeutics for rights to a late-stage joint tumor med called pimicotinib.
AbbVie to buy Cerevel in $8.7B bet on brain drugs
December 6, 2023 / AbbVie / Cerevel / Psychiatric Medicines / Pfizer / Neuroscience
AbbVie is restocking its drug pipeline in a big way, announcing Wednesday an $8.7 billion deal to buy neuroscience-focused Cerevel Therapeutics, just days after agreeing to a similar sized acquisition of the cancer biotechnology company ImmunoGen.
Syros’ stock up after sharing early, mid-stage AML data
December 6, 2023 / Syros Pharma / Acute Myeloid Leukemia / Layoffs / Biotech
On the heels of a 35% workforce reduction and new CEO stepping in, Syros Pharmaceuticals is sharing an early snapshot of data from an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) trial that shows a 100% response rate among nine patients.
Fujifilm to invest $200M in cell therapy production
December 6, 2023 / Fujifilm / Cell Therapy / Drug Manufacturing / Drug Research
The investments will go to two subsidiaries focused on cell therapy production. One of them, Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, is a developer of human induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as cells derived from them. The other, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, is a contract manufacturer that makes biologics and other therapies.
// Legal & Regulatory
Lilly cancer drug cleared by FDA for expanded leukemia, lymphoma use
December 4, 2023 / Eli Lilly / Cancers / FDA / Leukemia / Lymphoma / Oncology
Lilly’s oncology division is sometimes overshadowed by its metabolic medicine and neurology businesses, but cancer drugs were the second biggest contributor to the company’s $25 billion revenue through the first nine months of the year. Long-lived drugs like Alimta and Erbitux still make contributions, but the company is counting on newer drugs like Jaypirca and Retevmo to boost growth.
Lawmakers want to know why it took the FDA so long to rule on decongestant phenylephrine
December 4, 2023 / FDA / Robert Califf
Last year, roughly 250 products that contain the decongestant phenylephrine—including popular brands such as Sudafed, NyQuil, Benadryl and Tylenol—rang up sales of nearly $1.8 billion. Just one problem: Oral phenylephrine doesn’t work.
Russian national pleads guilty in Trickbot malware case
December 5, 2023 / Russia / Cyberattacks
A Russian national pleaded guilty today to his role in developing and deploying the malicious software known as Trickbot, which was used to launch cyberattacks against American hospitals and other businesses, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
In letter to lawmakers, cancer patient advocates call for more action in fighting drug shortages
December 6, 2023 / Drug Shortage / American Society of Clinical Oncology / American Cancer Society
As the year comes to a close, shortages of key cancer drugs have no end in sight. Joining the effort to push legislators to respond, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) illustrated the impact of shortages on patients and laid out potential solutions in a letter to congressional leaders.
Pharvaris’ oral hereditary angioedema med slashes attacks in comeback from FDA hold
December 6, 2023 / Pharvaris / Hereditary Angieoedema / FDA / Drug Development
Patients taking Pharvaris’ preventative oral medicine for hereditary angioedema experienced an 84.5% reduction in monthly attacks during a phase 2 study. The results represent a comeback for the medicine, which was placed on a clinical hold by the FDA last year.
// Research & Development
Merus shares dip as interim lung cancer data reveal 3 patient deaths
December 4, 2023 / Merus / Non-small Cell Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer / Bispecific Antibodies
MCLA-129 is being assessed in 60 patients across three expansion cohorts in an open-label phase 1/2 study, with a main goal of improving the overall response rate. The therapy is a bispecific antibody targeting EGFR and c-MET, which are believed to be dysregulated in many tumors such as non-small cell lung cancer.
Prostate cancer focal therapy could improve costs and patient outcomes
December 1, 2023 / Prostate Cancer / New Study
A study led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Imperial Biomedical Research Centre has revealed that minimally invasive focal therapies for prostate cancer are more cost-effective and improve patient outcomes.
Pharvaris shares spike as drug appears to prevent symptoms of rare disorder
December 6, 2023 / Pharvaris / Preventative Drug
Pharvaris has been testing the drug, known scientifically as deucrictibant, as a potential treatment for hereditary angioedema, a rare genetic disorder in which patients experience episodes, or “attacks,” of rapid and severe swelling. The company announced late last year that its therapy, when used on demand, significantly reduced the symptoms associated with these attacks in a mid-stage clinical trial.
FDA Accepts Priority Review of BMS Opdivo, Chemo in Bladder Cancer Race
December 6, 2023 / FDA / Bristol Myers Squibb / Cancers
Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo is charging ahead seeking another indication. The FDA on Tuesday accepted the priority review of BMS’ application for the cancer drug in combination with cisplatin-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
Elli Lilly Cancer Drug Lands Its Second FDA Approval This Year
December 4, 2023 / Eli Lilly / Cancers / FDA Approval
Friday’s accelerated approval for Jaypirca covers the treatment of adults with either chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The once-daily oral drug is a small molecule designed to block Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, or BTK, a cancer-driving enzyme. While other drugs already do this, Lilly’s molecule has an edge.
// Politics
Biden warns Big Pharma: Make your drugs cheaper or the US government will override your patents
December 7, 2023 / Biden / Drug Prices
The Biden administration is putting pharmaceutical companies on notice, warning them that if the price of certain drugs is too high, the government might cancel their patent protection and allow rivals to make their own versions.
U.S. Supreme Court weighs Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
December 5, 2023 / Supreme Court / Purdue Pharma / Opioid Settlement
The U.S. Supreme Court debates Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement and whether company owners, the Sackler family — who have not filed for personal bankruptcy, can be held liable for the opioid epidemic.
Diabetes ‘epidemic’ gets a Senate hearing
December 7, 2023 / Diabetes / Senate Hearing
The White House today will take a long-awaited step to potentially broaden the government’s authority to undermine patents for medicines developed with taxpayer funding — including considering a drug’s price as one part of the framework, my co-author Sarah and I report.
Secretary of state sets out priorities for UK health and social care systems
December 6, 2023 / UK Health
Health and social care secretary Victoria Atkins has set out new priorities to improve the health and social care system in the UK.
The new commitments intend to make the health and social care system faster, simpler and fairer for patients.
Sen. Bill Cassidy Eyes Legislation to Improve Access to Gene Therapies
December 6, 2023 / Gene Therapies / Legislation
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, is asking stakeholders for feedback regarding gene therapies, with an eye toward crafting legislation that could make these expensive treatments more accessible for patients.