Eisai’s Cheung moves to biotech

Today’s Big News

Feb 1, 2024

Roche, which fell out of Alzheimer’s market, previews next effort that ‘drops plaque like a stone’


Roche, pipeline bulging from deal spree, axes 8 oncology and neurology programs to speed up R&D


Deal hungry Merck plans more phase 3 launches than in 2023


After Eisai retirement, Ivan Cheung is back to lead Massachusetts biotech


Kyverna sets IPO range, eyeing $180M haul to fund broad autoimmune CAR-T clinical trial program


Takeda acts as Protagonist, paying $300M for licensing rights to late-stage hematology asset


Novavax's 2nd round of job cuts reached 12% of staff, though execs say that should be it for now


Beyond sensational headlines of transmitted Alzheimer's, scientists see stronger case for prion theory

The Top Line Podcast: Don’t miss out on the newest episode. Listen now.

 

Featured

Roche, which fell out of Alzheimer’s market, previews next effort that ‘drops plaque like a stone’

Think Roche is out of the Alzheimer’s disease business? Think again.
 

Top Stories

Roche, pipeline bulging from deal spree, axes 8 oncology and neurology programs to speed up R&D

Roche has removed eight phase 1 and 2 oncology and neurology candidates from its pipeline as part of a set of “trade-offs” intended to “increase the overall portfolio value and speed up development.”

Deal hungry Merck plans more phase 3 launches than in 2023

Merck plans to launch more phase 3 trials in 2024 than it did in 2023, underscoring the company's mid-to-late-stage growth plan. Meanwhile, CEO Rob Davis says the company is hunting for more mid-sized deals. 

After Eisai retirement, Ivan Cheung is back to lead Massachusetts biotech

Former Eisai leader Ivan Cheung, the face of approved Alzheimer's disease medicine Leqembi, is taking the top spot at NextPoint Therapeutics.

Kyverna sets IPO range, eyeing $180M haul to fund broad autoimmune CAR-T clinical trial program

Kyverna Therapeutics has laid the foundations for the next major IPO of 2024. Having filed last month, the autoimmune cell therapy biotech set the terms for an offering that could gross around $180 million Thursday.

Takeda acts as Protagonist, paying $300M for licensing rights to late-stage hematology asset

Takeda is paying Protagonist Therapeutics $300 million upfront to develop and commercialize a late-stage rare hematology asset, inking a pact that gives the California-based biotech the chance to write its own ending.

Novavax's 2nd round of job cuts reached 12% of staff, though execs say that should be it for now

Novavax says 12% of its workforce was cut as part of a second wave of layoffs announced at the end of 2023, bringing last year’s full-year staff reduction to about 30%. 

Beyond sensational headlines of transmitted Alzheimer's, scientists see stronger case for prion theory

A case series published Jan. 29 in Nature Medicine by scientists at University College London reported that five patients who were given growth hormones derived from human cadavers as part of an obsolete childhood medical treatment later developed early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. 

Trialbee, Massive Bio link up to connect cancer patients with clinical trials

Recruitment specialist Trialbee and Massive Bio, which uses an AI-enabled mapping platform to track patient experiences, are partnering to boost enrollment of cancer patients into ongoing clinical trials.

In Medicare negotiation process, HHS sends 1st price offers as industry blasts lack of transparency

Despite litigation and denouncements from the biopharma industry, Medicare price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act are rolling on. And today, the government is sending out its first round of offers on affected drugs.

CRO Ichor Life Sciences launches clinical trial services unit

Ichor Life Sciences, a CRO based in upstate New York, has launched a clinical trial services unit to serve clients in preclinical studies through late-stage trials and regulatory approval.
 
Fierce podcasts

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‘The Top Line’: Closing the $1 trillion women’s health gap

While it’s a known fact that women, on average, live longer than men, a recent report unveils a nuanced reality—women also spend more of their lives grappling with poor health. This week on “The Top Line,” Ayla Ellison, editor-in-chief of Fierce Healthcare and Life Sciences, explores the root causes behind this disparity and the multifacted nature of the women’s health gap.
 

Resources

Whitepaper

The Oncology Market – 2023 Year in Review

This paper offers a detailed review of key events and developments in the oncology market during 2023.  It’s a helpful “status report” that informs how the market is likely to evolve in 2024. It covers, vaccines, radiopharmaceuticals, ADCs, CAR-Ts, bi-specifics, & more.

Whitepaper

Developing and Manufacturing Drugs with HPAPIs

Discover how to effectively classify highly potent APIs and the steps required to develop containment protocols and manufacturing processes that are both safe and efficient.

eBook

7 “Make or Break” Factors for Emerging Biopharma Companies

This e-book explores 7 factors that are critical to the success of emerging biopharma companies, whether they plan to out-license, partner, or launch & commercialize products.  It’s an essential resource for emerging companies with products in all stages of development.
 

 

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