Female biotech CEOs come together at retreat
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Today's Rundown

Featured Story

Sanofi steps off the sidelines to ink 3 ADC deal with Seagen, reigniting long-held interest in the modality 

Sanofi is stepping up its long-held interest in antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). Having first teamed up with Immunogen almost 20 years ago, Sanofi has now joined forces with Seagen to jointly fund and develop three anti-cancer ADCs.

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Top Stories

FDA's gene editing guidance is 'par for the course' but still important, analysts say

“Par for the course.” “Benign.” “Not surprising.” These are some of the creative ways analysts described the FDA’s new guidance on gene editing for biotechs, but they are at least happy to see the FDA take some leadership and provide guidance to industry.

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'Biotech sisterhood': 25 female CEOs find new ways to 'sponsor' the next generation at Arizona retreat

Two dozen female CEOs from across the biotech industry came together for a first-of-its-kind retreat this past weekend to network, bounce ideas off one another and form the basis for annual and regional events meant to support women in the C-suite.

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Biogen jettisons AMD drug, providing Catalyst for ex-partner's hunt for strategic alternatives

Biogen has dumped the dry age-related macular degeneration candidate it licensed from Catalyst Biosciences, giving its onetime partner full control of another asset as it weighs up strategic alternatives.

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With clinical holds lifted, Aprea embarks on 'show me' year for key cancer candidate

Aprea Therapeutics will test its once-failed lead drug, eprenetapopt, in new clinical trials across various myeloid and lymphoid malignancies after the FDA lifted clinical holds in the past few months.

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With $987M round, Frazier looks to form several new biotechs this year, bankroll others

Frazier raised its 11th fund at $987 million to form at least four new biotechs in the next 12 months, bankroll other early-stage startups and continue its 30-year streak of investing in the industry. The investment shop wants to continue investing in small molecules, oncology and dig deeper into China.

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Belgian biotech Precirix snags $88M to bankroll radiopharmaceuticals in HER2-positive cancers

Precirix secured nearly $88 million to bankroll an ongoing phase 1/2 study of its lead radiopharmaceutical in patients with certain breast and gastric cancers. The Belgian biotech also plans to enter a second molecule into the clinic next year and another thereafter as it expands its operations into the U.S.

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Ovid finds new focus in epilepsy but trims staff to extend cash runway

Ovid Therapeutics seems to have found its focus after a rough year: epilepsy. But the biotech will move toward this new direction with 20% fewer people at the company. 

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Zai Lab hires ex-Lilly CFO who departed after investigation found 'inappropriate' behavior

Zai Lab has hired ex-Eli Lilly finance chief Josh Smiley, who exited the Big Pharma last year after an external investigation found he had "poor judgment" and exhibited "inappropriate" behavior with multiple coworkers.

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In rare flop, Merck calls it quits on Keytruda-Lynparza combo in prostate cancer

The combination of two powerful drugs with excellent clinical track records isn’t necessarily a guarantee for success. Merck just found out that a pairing of Keytruda and Lynparza didn't work in some prostate cancer patients.

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J&J's DePuy Synthes found guilty of infringing orthopedic device patent in $20M verdict

Gary Lynn Rasmussen, M.D., accused DePuy of having used two of his patented inventions “without his permission or compensation.” His mechanisms were allegedly integrated into DePuy’s Attune system for knee replacement procedures.

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After trial flop, Exelixis drops plan to pair Cabometyx with Roche's Tecentriq in early-stage liver cancer

After last year’s surprise flop in previously untreated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—the most common type of liver cancer—Exelixis’ hopes dimmed around the combination of its tyrosine kinase inhibitor Cabometyx with Roche’s immuno-oncology agent Tecentriq. Now, the other shoe has dropped.

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Doctor groups press lawmakers to ignore MedPAC recommendation to stand pat on pay in 2023

Doctor groups are urging lawmakers to ignore recommendations from MedPAC that they freeze any pay increase to practices for 2023.

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It's #FierceMadness: Zepzelca kicks Lumakras, Enspryng tops Vyvgart—and it's over to you for the big vote

It’s March, so it’s time for some #FierceMadness. We’re looking for the best of the best in drug names—and with Jazz' Zepzelca, Roche's Enspryng, AbbVie's Qulipta and Novartis' Leqvio advancing from the play-in round, we have our full bracket for your voting pleasure.

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Resources

Industry Report: The Top Four Barriers to Successful KOL Engagement

Read why many MSLs are still challenged in developing integrated strategies to increase the volume of meaningful engagements. Download this industry report to find out what the top challenges are and suggestion strategies to solve them. Download now.

eBook: Leveraging Clinical Data for Study Success

The landscape of clinical trials has been permanently changed. Today's trials require sponsors to modernize their use of technology and data to adapt. This eBook provides an overview of how sponsors can empower trials with real-time performance data to improve study integrity, reduce risks, optimize patient safety, and increase trial success rates.

Whitepaper: Autologous CAR T-Cell Manufacturing: Semiautomatic, Closed, Modular Workflow

Learn how to navigate the top manufacturing challenges and achieve a seamless transition from discovery to clinical manufacturing across the CAR T-cell therapy workflow.

eBook: EMEA Regulatory Roadblocks around Decentralized Trials

Learn about ways to break down regulatory roadblocks and get closer to 100% clarity on regulatory positions to advance decentralized clinical trials in research.

Whitepaper: Top 5 Challenges Of Decentralized Clinical Trials And How To Overcome Them

How to overcome top challenges faced in decentralized trials.

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Whitepaper: Lipid-Based Drug Delivery System to Bring Poorly Soluble Drugs to Market

How can Lipid-Based Drug Delivery System help bring poorly soluble drugs to market?

Whitepaper: Versatility of Softgel Technology - Encapsulation of a Volatile Compound

Learn more about how the versatility of Softgel Technology helped a customer with a volatile compound.

Whitepaper: The Most Suitable Dosage Form Technologies for the Oral Delivery of Lipid-Based Formulations

What is the most suitable dosage form technology for the Oral Delivery of Lipid-Based Formulations?

Webinar: The Faster Path From Pre-Filled Syringe to Auto-Injector

Ypsomed and Catalent Biologics experts discuss strategies for integrated PFS manufacturing and auto-injector assembly to accelerate timelines and more in this webinar.

Whitepaper: Formulation Strategies When Transitioning From Vial to PFS

Learn how formulation development for a PFS affects manufacturing to drive the industry toward optimizing delivery of injectable products and, ultimately, improving patient care.

Events