WELCOME TO FIERCE LIFE SCIENCES WEEKLY DIGEST Moderna began dosing its first patient with its second mRNA-powered shot for HIV, less than six weeks after getting underway with its initial vaccine candidate—a clear start in the race for a new type of breakthrough against AIDS. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca’s anti-inflammatory sinus drug Fasenra is already late to the game when it comes to treating nasal polyps, and it’s now falling further behind after an FDA rejection. And for biopharma’s overall R&D spending, it's been years of strong investments as companies geared up for COVID-19. Fierce Biotech’s list of the largest budgets, plus this week’s top stories, follows below. | |
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Featured Story | By Max Bayer Moderna has started dosing in a phase 1 trial for the second of two HIV vaccines it's developing, showing that it's all gas, no breaks for the mRNA-focused biotech as it races Excision BioTherapeutics for a breakthrough HIV therapy. The start of dosing comes roughly six weeks after it launched human trials for its first vaccine. read more |
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Top Stories Of The Week By Angus Liu AstraZeneca’s Fasenra is already late to the game in nasal polyps. Now, the drug is being pushed back even further—if it can eventually get there. read more By Annalee Armstrong Roche will not be beaten when it comes to pharma R&D. The company lands at No. 1 on our Pharma R&D budget list once again, but who else made it? read more By Ben Adams 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. read more By Kyle LaHucik Bristol Myers Squibb and Nektar Therapeutics said a phase 3 trial of the biotech's bempegaldesleukin combined with the Big Pharma's checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo in patients with untreated unresectable or metastatic melanoma failed. The drug was part of BMS' commitment of up to $3.6 billion to Nektar in 2018, which was the largest licensing deal in biotech history at the time. read more By Fraiser Kansteiner Top executives at pandemic juggernauts Pfizer and Moderna are at odds on the need for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose. One says a second booster is needed “right now,” while the other thinks a fourth mRNA shot may only be essential for older adults and the immunocompromised. read more By Annalee Armstrong For patients, there’s never been a better time for medical innovation. But how many biotechs is too many? read more By Kevin Dunleavy Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel's golden parachute now clocks in at $926 million, the company revealed in its proxy report earlier this week. The news comes after a transformational year for the company as its revenues went from $803 million in 2020 to $18.5 billion last year amid its worldwide COVID-19 vaccine launch. read more By Conor Hale Designed to be 60% smaller than its predecessor, Dexcom’s mainstay G6, the low-profile G7 includes a combined sensor and transmitter that connects it to smartphones and smart watches. The CE mark covers adults, pregnant women and children ages two and up. read more By Angus Liu Even before a highly anticipated coverage decision, Eisai has decided to abandon Aduhelm amid a dismal commercial outlook, bowing out of the marketing of the controversial Alzheimer’s disease drug that it co-developed with Biogen. read more By Kyle LaHucik Researchers found two new small-molecule inhibitors that help fight off acute myeloid leukemia cells by targeting a protein key to the survival of leukemia tumor "seeds." Meanwhile, a different team of researchers found "one of the most essential genes" required for AML cell survival, potentially paving the way for another treatment option. read more By Kevin Dunleavy A week after Italian vials manufacturer Stevanato announced a $95 million deal with the U.S. government to expand operations at its facility under construction in Fishers, Indiana, the company says it has acquired a plant in Zhangjiagang, China, which it will expand to 32,000 square feet. read more Resources Sponsored by: United Cargo The United Cargo team has made a commitment to pharmaceutical and medical partners that we are equipped to support their vaccine transportation needs safely and effectively across our expansive global and domestic network. The safety and security of these commodities is our priority, and we are proud to be a trusted partner in these efforts. Download infographic now. Sponsored by: H1 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. Sponsored by: Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes company 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. Sponsored by: Thermo Fisher Scientific 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. Sponsored by: Oracle Health Sciences Learn about ways to break down regulatory roadblocks and get closer to 100% clarity on regulatory positions to advance decentralized clinical trials in research. Sponsored by: Oracle Health Sciences How to overcome top challenges faced in decentralized trials. Sponsored by: Catalent Learn more about how the versatility of Softgel Technology helped a customer with a volatile compound. Sponsored by: Catalent What is the most suitable dosage form technology for the Oral Delivery of Lipid-Based Formulations? Sponsored by: Catalent How can Lipid-Based Drug Delivery System help bring poorly soluble drugs to market? Sponsored by: Catalent Biologics Ypsomed and Catalent Biologics experts discuss strategies for integrated PFS manufacturing and auto-injector assembly to accelerate timelines and more in this webinar. Sponsored by: Catalent Biologics Learn how formulation development for a PFS affects manufacturing to drive the industry toward optimizing delivery of injectable products and, ultimately, improving patient care. Drug Development Boot Camp® HYBRID and VIRTUAL in real time November 16-17, 2022 Fierce BD&L Summit for Life Sciences March 15-16, 2022 | San Francisco, CA Fierce Promotional Review Committee Compliance and Best Practices Summit April 12-14, 2022 | New Brunswick, NJ Fierce Medical Affairs Strategic Summit (MASS) East April 12-14, 2022 | New Brunswick, NJ Fierce Trial Master File Summit May 2-4, 2022 | New Orleans, LA & Streaming Live Fierce Health Tech Forum May 25, 2022 | Free Virtual Event Fierce Digital Pharma Engage June 14-15, 2022 | Huntington Beach, CA Fierce Digital Pharma Innovation Week June 21-23, 2022 | Virtual Event Fierce Pharma PR & Communications Summit July 19-20, 2022 | Jersey City, NJ Promotional Review Committee Compliance and Best Practices Summit West (PRC West) September 2022 | San Diego, CA Medical Affairs Strategic Summit (MASS West) September 2022 | San Diego, CA Fierce Health Payer Summit October 12, 2022 | Complimentary Virtual Event Fierce Digital Pharma East October 18-20, 2022 | Philadelphia, PA & October 25-28, 2022 | Virtual Event Fierce Pharma Marketing Awards October 19, 2022 | Philadelphia, PA Fierce Biotech Cell & Gene Therapy Forum October 19, 2022 | Virtual Event Drug Development Boot Camp® HYBRID/VIRTUAL November 16-17, 2022 Fierce Launch Readiness for Medical Affairs & Communications Teams Summit November 30-December 1, 2022 | Virtual Event Fierce New Product Planning Summit November 30 - December 1, 2022 | Boston, MA Fierce JPM Week 2023 January 2023 | San Francisco, CA & Virtual | 
