89bio nails mid-stage NASH trial

Today's Big News

Mar 22, 2023

Biohaven tacks on brain disorder med to its pipeline, lining up $970M for ex-China rights to Highlightll drug


Novo Nordisk pens $745M biobucks pact with Dewpoint to tackle insulin resistance, diabetes complications


Chasing Akero, 89bio reduces scarring in midphase NASH trial to hit primary goals, tee up phase 3


Astellas enjoys warm glow of success as antibody against hot cancer target hits again in phase 3


Analyst still sees potential in Altimmune obesity drug after shares plunged on dropout data


Flare fires up with $123M series B to target transcription factors with 3 Big Pharmas in tow

 

Featured

Biohaven tacks on brain disorder med to its pipeline, lining up $970M for ex-China rights to Highlightll drug

Biohaven is using business development to once again bolster its pipeline, this time tacking on a brain-penetrating treatment for neuroinflammatory diseases slated to hit the clinic within a year. Biohaven has signed a $970 million agreement with Highlightll Pharma for ex-China rights to the drug.
 

Top Stories

Novo Nordisk pens $745M biobucks pact with Dewpoint to tackle insulin resistance, diabetes complications

Novo Nordisk and Dewpoint Therapeutics are partnering up in efforts to treat insulin resistance and diabetic complications, with the Danish pharma offering up the possibility of $745 million in biobucks.

Chasing Akero, 89bio reduces scarring in midphase NASH trial to hit primary goals, tee up phase 3

89bio is turning up the heat on Akero Therapeutics. In a phase 2b clinical trial, 89bio linked its FGF21 analog to reduced liver scarring in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to stay hot on the heels of Akero’s rival drug candidate.

Data-Centric AI is Making Waves

Data rich but quality poor. Massive amounts of disorganized data might be the final roadblock to unlocking the potential of data-centric AI.

Astellas enjoys warm glow of success as antibody against hot cancer target hits again in phase 3

Astellas Pharma’s zolbetuximab has gone two for two, chalking up a second phase 3 win to cement its status as the front-runner in the race to deliver a drug against one of the hottest targets in cancer today.

Analyst still sees potential in Altimmune obesity drug after shares plunged on dropout data

Altimmune’s share price took a battering yesterday as investors reacted to interim data from its obesity drug that revealed a high level of discontinuations. But one analyst group says the drug could still compete with Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster-to-be Wegovy.

Flare fires up with $123M series B to target transcription factors with 3 Big Pharmas in tow

Things are heating up at Flare Therapeutics, with big names like Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novartis adding fuel to the biotech’s fire in a new $123 million financing round.

#FierceMadness 2023: After AbbVie, Pfizer lose in the opening round, your Sweet 16 bracket awaits

If it’s March, it must be #FierceMadness, Fierce Pharma Marketing’s annual take on the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament and bracket mania—with a pharma twist.

Cognito beams up $73M for study of light-and-sound neuromod therapy to treat Alzheimer's

Riding high on early clinical trial results showing that its neuromodulation headset can improve memory and cognition and slow the deterioration of white matter in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, Cognito Therapeutics has now secured a flurry of funding to delve even deeper into the technology.

US again spurns march-in campaign to slash cost of Pfizer, Astellas' Xtandi

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) rejected a petition to exercise so-called march-in authority around Pfizer and Astellas' Xtandi. The same fate befell a similar petition back in 2016 and comes after a trio of U.S. Senators last year pressed Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to move forward with the campaign.

'Podnosis': The importance of nuanced care for neurodivergent adults, and a lawyer's fight in the opioid crisis

This week on "Podnosis," we discuss the importance of nuanced care for neurodivergent adults, given that 20% of the world's population is neurodivergent. We also discuss the landmark $10 billion agreement to settle with CVS and Walgreens and how cases like this can force change in the healthcare industry.

FDA expands use of Regeneron's HoFH drug Evkeeza to kids 5 and up

Regeneron has earned an FDA nod for the use of Evkeeza in children ages 5 through 11 with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The ultra-rare genetic condition is characterized by dangerously high levels of bad cholesterol, with treatment options limited for younger children.
 
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'The Top Line': The SVB failure, plus this week's headlines

This week on "The Top Line," we discuss the SVB failure, what to expect next and what it all meant for the biotech industry. We also cover Pfizer's big acquisition, insulin prices and more of this week's top headlines.

 

Resources

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Roles and Responsibilities of Specialized Clinical Supply Experts

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A Strategy to Standardize Process Characterization & Late Phase Development

Learn more on an approach for process characterization for the production of a monoclonal antibody, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process by targeting the right design and number of experiments.

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Supply Services to Support Clinical Trials in Japan & Beyond

Explore Catalent’s newest clinical supply facility in Japan, including the comprehensive services & solutions it offers to help support trials both in-country & around the world.
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Questions You Need to Ask Your CRO About Clinical Supply

Planning on using a CRO to support your next clinical study? This infographic outlines critical areas to address at the start of the relationship in order to ensure that budget and timelines keep on track for the duration of the trial.
Case Study

A Strategy to Standardize Process Characterization & Late Phase Development

Learn more on an approach for process characterization for the production of a monoclonal antibody, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process by targeting the right design and number of experiments.

 

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