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Today’s Big News

Feb 14, 2025

Moderna’s norovirus vaccine trial placed on FDA hold over reported case of Guillain-Barré syndrome

Otsuka breaks up with cancer candidates on strategic grounds

Allogene’s phase 1 lymphoma data show CAR-T could ‘leapfrog’ competition: analysts

Corbus posts first US data on challenger to Pfizer’s ADC Padcev

Boston biotech Bambusa banks $90M for next-gen bispecifics

Chutes & Ladders—Neumora overhauls C-suite after phase 3 flop

Genentech archives diversity reports amid site update, examines ‘potential implications of executive orders’

A heartwarming roundup of cardiovascular news and most-loved stories

Featured

Moderna’s norovirus vaccine trial placed on FDA hold over reported case of Guillain-Barré syndrome

By James Waldron

A trial of Moderna’s norovirus vaccine in the U.S. has been put on hold by the FDA over a reported case of neurological disorder.

Otsuka breaks up with cancer candidates on strategic grounds

By Nick Paul Taylor

Otsuka has broken up with a clutch of clinical cancer candidates. The Japanese drugmaker said strategic reasons—the pharma equivalent of “it’s not you, it’s me”—underpinned the decision to ax the assets.

Allogene’s phase 1 lymphoma data show CAR-T could ‘leapfrog’ competition: analysts

By James Waldron

Two months after Allogene abandoned plans for its CAR-T in leukemia, analysts have suggested that fresh phase 1 data in lymphoma show the therapy can “leapfrog” the competition.

Corbus posts first US data on challenger to Pfizer’s ADC Padcev

By Nick Paul Taylor

Corbus Pharmaceuticals has posted the first Western clinical data on its would-be rival to Pfizer’s Padcev. The overall readout is in line with the Chinese data that drummed up excitement in the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) last year, but investors sent Corbus’ stock down 10% in premarket trading.

Boston biotech Bambusa banks $90M for next-gen bispecifics

By Gabrielle Masson

Bambusa Therapeutics has raised about $90 million to build out a pipeline of next-gen bispecific antibodies targeting immunological and inflammatory (I&I) conditions.

Chutes & Ladders—Neumora overhauls C-suite after phase 3 flop

By Darren Incorvaia,Zoey Becker

After its depression candidate failed a phase 3 trial and disappointed analysts, Neumora is shaking up its leadership team. President and CEO Henry Gosebruch is leaving the company effective Feb. 14, and will be replaced as CEO by co-founder Paul Berns and as president by Joshua Pinto, Ph.D.

Genentech archives diversity reports amid site update, examines ‘potential implications of executive orders’

By Gabrielle Masson

Roche’s U.S. biotech subsidiary Genentech has wiped its website of past diversity reports as the company’s diversity and inclusion page undergoes construction.

A heartwarming roundup of cardiovascular news and most-loved stories

By Andrea Park,Gabrielle Masson

This week on "The Top Line," we celebrate Valentine's Day with a discussion about heart-related updates and the stories we've loved covering so far this year.

Conduit taps Charles River to build preclinical autoimmune case for AstraZeneca diabetes asset

By Darren Incorvaia

Before taking its repurposed diabetes drug candidate into a phase 2 lupus trial, Conduit Pharmaceuticals is tapping Charles River Laboratories to help test the asset in a preclinical model of the autoimmune disease.

Bristol Myers Squibb comes up short in bid to expand Opdualag in melanoma

By Kevin Dunleavy

Bristol Myers Squibb is striking out in its attempts to broaden the label of its first-in-class combo drug Opdualag. On Thursday, the company revealed that a phase 3 trial of Opdualag as an adjuvant treatment for patients with completely resected state III and stage IV melanoma did not achieve its primary endpoint.

Trump creates MAHA commission on chronic disease, chaired by RFK

By Noah Tong

Immediately following Senate confirmation, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been named chair of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which will be focused on chronic disease and transparency in medical research.

Fierce Pharma Asia—Astellas' investment focus; Mitsubishi Tanabe's buyout; Leqembi's 'expansion phase'

By Angus Liu

Astellas is shifting its investment focus toward more established modalities and later-stage opportunities, its chief strategy officer said. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is being sold to Bain Capital for about $3.3 billion. Eisai expects a Leqembi "expansion phase" on the horizon. And more.

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