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Today’s Big News

May 21, 2024

AstraZeneca to harness China's 'explosion' of innovation to boost cell therapy R&D

AltruBio, after tweaking checkpoint drug, raises $225M for midphase ulcerative colitis program

Eli Lilly pays Aktis $60M upfront to further dial into radiopharma signal

GSK's SWIFT trial anthology shows long-acting treatment reduces asthma attacks

Exscientia cuts a quarter of staff while preserving AI-generated pipeline

Larimar's Friedreich's ataxia program free at last from FDA hold

Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker 2024: BIO cuts 30 jobs; Lyra lays off 87 workers

Featured

AstraZeneca to harness China's 'explosion' of innovation to boost cell therapy R&D

By James Waldron

AstraZeneca’s growing presence in China will play a key role in the Big Pharma’s cell therapy strategy, CEO Pascal Soriot told investors as he set out a bold ambition to almost double global revenues to $80 billion by 2030.

AltruBio, after tweaking checkpoint drug, raises $225M for midphase ulcerative colitis program

By Nick Paul Taylor

AltruBio has roared back after another pivot in its twisty history, securing up to $225 million in series B funding to take an immune checkpoint enhancer through a midphase ulcerative colitis program.

Eli Lilly pays Aktis $60M upfront to further dial into radiopharma signal

By Nick Paul Taylor

Eli Lilly is continuing to ride the radiopharma wave, paying Aktis Oncology $60 million upfront to work on therapeutic and diagnostic products against multiple targets.

GSK's SWIFT trial anthology shows long-acting treatment reduces asthma attacks

By Gabrielle Masson

It’s not a double album release, but a close runner-up: The pivotal SWIFT-1 and SWIFT-2 trials have both shown GSK's long-acting asthma treatment reduces attacks.

Exscientia cuts a quarter of staff while preserving AI-generated pipeline

By Annalee Armstrong

Exscientia is initiating “efficiency measures” to save cash, which will include a workforce reduction of around a quarter of staff while preserving the AI drug hunter’s existing pipeline.

Larimar's Friedreich's ataxia program free at last from FDA hold

By Annalee Armstrong

Larimar Therapeutics’ Friedreich’s ataxia program is free at last, with the FDA fully lifting a clinical hold that had remained in part on the program since 2021.

Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker 2024: Bio cuts 30 jobs; Lyra lays off 87 workers

By Gabrielle Masson,Max Bayer

We really didn't want to have to create another Layoff Tracker this year. But here we are, launching the third annual iteration tracking biopharma layoffs.

Lab at center of Zantac saga claims GSK hid drug’s risks for decades

By Zoey Becker

A newly unsealed complaint from the laboratory that first revealed Zantac's links to a carcinogenic impurity lays out a web of allegations about GSK's efforts to bring the drug to market in the 1980s and its attempts to hide the risks since then.

AstraZeneca, on fast track of growth, sets revenue target at $80B by 2030

By Kevin Dunleavy

After AstraZeneca achieved Pascal Soriot's ambitious $45-billion-by-2023 revenue goal, the CEO is thinking big again. On Tuesday morning, AZ unveiled its new plan to swell its revenue to $80 billion by 2030.

Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

From cell collection to commercial contracting: Advancements in cell & gene therapy manufacturing (Part II)

This week’s episode of “The Top Line” is the second part of a three-part series exploring the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy manufacturing.

A deep dive into health system and health plan Q1 earnings

Fulfilling the promise of cell & gene therapies through manufacturing (Part I)

Resources

Whitepaper

Comprehensive Cell Solutions: Focus on Cellular Therapy Collections

Precision collection of cell therapy source material doesn’t happen by chance. Our new whitepaper illuminates the science and strategies for successful apheresis.

Sponsored by: Comprehensive Cell Solutions

Whitepaper

In Vitro Antibodies – Next-Gen Science Delivers Optimized Candidates

Learn how Specifica’s in vitro antibody discovery platform can deliver better antibodies than traditional immunization approaches.

Sponsored by: Specifica, a Q2 Solutions company

Whitepaper

Branded Digital Companions in Biopharma

This paper defines “digital companions” in biopharma, explores their value from the patient & company perspectives, & outlines a process for successfully fielding a new digital companion.

Presented by: Blue Matter, strategic consultants in the life sciences

eBook

Designing Patient-Centered Endpoint in Rare Disease Trials

To make every rare disease trial count, we design patient-centric, relevant strategies for sponsors and caregivers to produce impactful results every time.