To view this email as a web page, click here

Today's Rundown

Featured Story

Biogen buys midphase drug to challenge Roche for stroke market

Biogen is exercising its option to acquire an acute ischemic stroke candidate from TMS after getting a look at phase 2a data. The results persuaded Biogen to pay $18 million for a small molecule that may expand the time window in which thrombolytics can safely be used to clear clots.

read more

Top Stories

As data near, U.K. rethinks AstraZeneca COVID-19 antibody deal

The U.K. government has rethought plans to buy one million doses of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody in development at AstraZeneca, according to anonymous sources quoted by Bloomberg. News of the rethink comes shortly before AstraZeneca is due to deliver late-phase data on the candidate.

read more

Call for your Fierce Biotech Fierce 15 nominations for 2021

Now in our nineteenth year, Fierce Biotech is once again seeking your nominations for the best, most exciting and innovative private biotechs. Last year, we wanted to see more COVID companies on the list, but this year there is a return to normality, and we will be happy to accept nominations from across all target areas.

read more

Perceptive Advisors unveils $515M fund, its 2nd for early-stage biotechs

After 20 years of backing clinical-stage biotechs, Perceptive Advisors took a leap in 2019, teaming up with Chris Garabedian’s Xontogeny to invest in earlier-stage companies. Less than 18 months later, that crew is back for round two, with a new fund totaling $515 million. Dubbed the Perceptive Xontogeny Fund II, the capital will bankroll series A rounds of $20 million to $40 million.

read more

Ex-Gossamer CSO Salter-Cid reunites with Bristol Myers brethren Biondi at Flagship Pioneering

After two years as Gossamer Bio’s chief scientist, Luisa Salter-Cid, Ph.D. has landed at Flagship Pioneering, where she will spearhead the development of new medicines based on technology from the firm’s portfolio companies. She joins fellow Bristol Myers Squibb veteran Paul Biondi, now an executive partner at Flagship and president of its Pioneering Medicines division.

read more

Alexion founder Squinto helms OrbiMed-backed startup with some Yale gene therapy tech

OrbiMed’s executive partner and a founder of rare disease biopharma Alexion (now AstraZeneca), Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., is taking the reins at non-viral gene therapy biotech Gennao Bio.

read more

Trials ramping back up, but slow takeup of places remain a barrier: report

As the pandemic is being beaten back in the U.S. and U.K. (but is still rampant in other areas of the globe), clinical trials are able to get back on track, but slow enrollment is still an issue.

read more

Pfizer, Regeneron CEOs see extended need for COVID-19 vaccines, treatments as pandemic enters next phase

Pharma companies with COVID-19 vaccines and drugs have reeled in big sales in recent months, but even as vaccines promise to eventually tackle the pandemic, eye-popping revenue figures will continue for quite some time, execs project.

read more

Resources

Whitepaper: The Journey to a Global Modular Content Strategy

One top 10 pharma outlines three key steps to launching a modular content strategy to generate localized content faster.

E-Book: 7 Keys to Success in Europe

This 77-page e-book explores 7 keys to success that any biopharma company needs to keep in mind as it enters Europe.

Executive Brief: Seven Secrets to Patient Experience Breakthroughs: Improving the Patient Experience and Study Retention

The average clinical trial spends $40,000 per patient. Yet despite these high costs, most trials struggle to retain patients.

Article: Make the right move at every step of the drug commercialization process

Developing a quality product and getting it approved for distribution is not enough to guarantee commercial success.

eBook: The New Standard: Virtual Study Training in Clinical Trials

The new standards in study training help sponsors and CROs reduce costs by 60%, cut training time by 50%, and start enrollment 55 days faster – learn more today.

Report: New research indicates an accelerated shift to decentralized clinical trials

New research indicates an accelerated adoption of decentralized clinical trials due to COVID-19.

Content Hub: Process Intensification Resource Center

A one-stop hub for Cytiva resources to support process intesification

Whitepaper: COVID-19 Survey report: The Lasting Impact on Outsourcing Decisions

How has COVID-19 impacted CRO/CDMO customer (dis)satisfaction and outsourcing decisions for pharma and biotech companies in 2021 and beyond?

Content Hub: Emerging Biotech Resource Center

A one-stop hub for Cytiva resources to support process development and manufacturing of your novel molecule

Whitepaper: Roche to pick up GenMark Diagnostics in $1.8B infectious disease testing deal

Roche has inked a $1.8 billion, all-cash deal for GenMark Diagnostics, to acquire its molecular tests designed to screen patient samples for multiple infections simultaneously.

Content Hub: Remarque Systems Resource Hub

Remarque Systems consolidates data, then layers on visualization and automated metrics to generate consistent, actionable data insights in real-time. Click here for more info. 

Whitepaper: New Data: A Better Way to Run CHO Cell Culture Experiments

Find out how upstream bioprocess scientists can use Culture Biosciences’ bioreactor system and real-time data visualizations to get faster insights and get their product to market more quickly.

Whitepaper: Overcoming the hurdles of Real-World Data Access through a federated global network

Those wishing to unlock RWD’s true value must have access to a variety of data sources/types and the technological capabilities to use the data to uncover meaningful insights.

Report: New research indicates an accelerated shift to decentralized clinical trials

New research indicates an accelerated adoption of decentralized clinical trials due to COVID-19.

Executive Summary: Manufacturing Strategies to Effectively Industrialize Autologous Cell Therapies

Autologous cell therapies have seen propelled growth since 2017, with the spotlight on the first FDA approval of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy, Kymriah® (tisagenlecleucel), for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

eBrief: Drug Product Process Development: Ensuring a Consistent, High-quality Biologic

Learn about drug product process development challenges and risks, the difference between innovator and biosimilar drug product process development, and more during the drug product process development phase.

Whitepaper: Achieving a Successful Drug Product Technology Transfer

Get insights on key considerations for a successful tech transfer process for manufacturing a biologic drug product, including a case study on overcoming challenges in a process transfer for a sterile diluent.

Whitepaper: The Art of Recognizing Clinical Supply Risk Factors

In a BioPharma Dive industry survey, planning and forecasting were identified as top concerns for trial sponsors. In response to this need, the CSM team at Catalent has developed a methodology for identifying, evaluating, and proactively managing the inherent risks involved in clinical trial supply chain management.

eBook: Expecting the Unexpected: Strategies for Efficient Clinical Supply Management and Forecasting

Learn how to drive excellence within the forecasting process and utilize forecasting throughout the clinical study to better plan clinical supply budgets and project timelines. Explore how to identify potential supply-related issues before they can negatively impact your study.

Events