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Today's Rundown

With $415M on the line, Genmab taps Synaffix for antibody-drug conjugate technologies
Exelixis nabs Merck veteran as chief medical officer on quest to expand its R&D footprint
Ovid lands AstraZeneca in a comeback licensing deal, the first in a series
Biogen, Ionis see no need to change the formula for Spinraza successor
2021 drug approvals: In a year dominated by COVID, biopharma managed to deliver 55 new drugs
Transatlantic VC veterans tap Novo Holdings to raise $124M rare disease fund
BridgeBio's 'baffling' heart disease drug fail 'de-intensifies' competition for Alnylam
Johnson & Johnson ships another bispecific off to FDA, this time in multiple myeloma
Biogen-Eisai's potential Aduhelm sequel drug granted speedy review by FDA
Degrading a protein nexus oncogenes rely on to drive prostate cancer
AstraZeneca taps Ionis to join crowd of companies gunning for rare heart disease in deal worth billions in biobucks
How strange DNA structures could inspire cancer drug development

Featured Story

With $415M on the line, Genmab taps Synaffix for antibody-drug conjugate technologies

By Nick Paul Taylor

It’s a story of new year, new antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology at Genmab. Having previously partnered with ADC Therapeutics and Seagen, Genmab has now identified Synaffix as a good fit for its antibody expertise—and has committed up to $415 million in milestones to gain broad access to the technologies.

Exelixis nabs Merck veteran as chief medical officer on quest to expand its R&D footprint

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Oncology specialist Exelixis has tapped Vicki Goodman, M.D., as its new chief medical officer and executive vice president of product development and medical affairs. Goodman will take a leading role in the company’s newly announced plans to expand development to the East Coast.

Ovid lands AstraZeneca in a comeback licensing deal, the first in a series

By Annalee Armstrong

After shedding its lead asset in Angelman syndrome, Ovid Therapeutics has spent the past eight months figuring out its next steps. Now, the central nervous system disease-focused biotech is back with the first stage in that comeback: a deal to license a library of AstraZeneca’s preclinical candidates for epilepsy and other neuropathic conditions.

Biogen, Ionis see no need to change the formula for Spinraza successor

By Annalee Armstrong

When it comes to spinal muscular atrophy, Biogen and Ionis are two peas in a pod. The companies have signed yet another licensing deal to develop a next-generation treatment for the genetic disorder after the success of Spinraza.

2021 drug approvals: In a year dominated by COVID, biopharma managed to deliver 55 new drugs

By Eric Sagonowsky

Each year, many scientists and other experts working in the biopharma industry see years of their work culminate in FDA approvals. With the COVID-19 crisis stretching into its third year, the 2021 batch of new drug approvals clearly demonstrates that the sector has learned how to operate in a pandemic.

Transatlantic VC veterans tap Novo Holdings to raise $124M rare disease fund

By Nick Paul Taylor

Novo Holdings and experienced venture capitalists on both sides of the Atlantic have come together to create a new fund focused on rare diseases. Led by VCs who spent years at Lundbeckfonden Ventures and NEA, Sound Bioventures will use its initial €110 million ($124 million) to back biotechs that are either in or on the cusp of the clinic.

BridgeBio's 'baffling' heart disease drug fail 'de-intensifies' competition for Alnylam

By Kyle LaHucik

BridgeBio's shot at entering a competitive market for a rare heart condition narrowed Monday after a "baffling" result in a phase 3 clinical trial where placebo patients bested those who received the treatment in a walk test.

Johnson & Johnson ships another bispecific off to FDA, this time in multiple myeloma

By Annalee Armstrong

Johnson & Johnson has shipped bispecific multiple myeloma candidate teclistamab off to the FDA for a potential approval. Bispecifics have been getting a lot of buzz—and cash—from the Big Pharma crowd this year, as this class of medicine has the potential to tackle cancer in more than one way.

Biogen-Eisai's potential Aduhelm sequel drug granted speedy review by FDA

By Annalee Armstrong

Biogen and Eisai’s next Alzheimer’s treatment-in-waiting lecanemab has been granted a fast-track tag by the FDA, setting up a swift path through the regulatory process.

Degrading a protein nexus oncogenes rely on to drive prostate cancer

By Angus Liu

Scientists at the University of Michigan describe a novel PROTAC degrader of a protein nexus that several cancer-promoting genes depend on to drive prostate cancer. In mouse models, the drug showed synergies with Pfizer and Astellas' Xtandi.

AstraZeneca taps Ionis to join crowd of companies gunning for rare heart disease in deal worth billions in biobucks

By Annalee Armstrong

Ionis’ heart disease drug has had many names over the years, and, now, it has yet another plus a Big Pharma partner in AstraZeneca and billions in potential biobucks down the line. Eplontersen is the drug at the heart of the deal, formerly known as IONIS-TTR-LRx and at one time as AKCEA-TTR-LRx.

How strange DNA structures could inspire cancer drug development

By Angus Liu

DNA abnormalities can disrupt normal cellular processes and give rise to cancer. Now, scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology hope their findings on the role of two unusual DNA structures in the formation of B-cell lymphoma could inform the design of new cancer drugs.