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Today’s Big News

May 22, 2024

Biogen says hello to HI-Bio, inking $1.15B buyout to expand in immunology

Evotec makes 'strategic exit' from gene therapy as part of wider shake-up

AstraZeneca joins obesity biotech SixPeaks at basecamp with $80M for buyout option

Boehringer pays OSE $42M to expand collab into cardio disease, grab new asset

Rezolute’s oral Eylea rival hits phase 2 goal, sending stock up and sparking partnership talk

Parallel Bio serves up ‘clinical trial in a dish’ as animal model alternative

Featured

Biogen says hello to HI-Bio, inking $1.15B buyout to expand in immunology

By Nick Paul Taylor

Biogen is placing a $1.15 billion bet on Chris Viehbacher’s diversification vision. The upfront payment has secured Biogen a deal to buy Human Immunology Biosciences (HI-Bio), a biotech that is preparing to advance an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody into phase 3 in multiple rare immune-mediated indications.

Evotec makes 'strategic exit' from gene therapy as part of wider shake-up

By James Waldron

A month after Evotec first alluded to a “strategic reset” to rebalance the company, the German biotech has revealed the end of its gene therapy aspirations.

AstraZeneca joins obesity biotech SixPeaks at basecamp with $80M for buyout option

By Annalee Armstrong

The obesity business is cutthroat these days. AstraZeneca is taking no chances on missing out on the next big thing. The U.K. pharma is one of the first investors in a new biotech emerging today with $110 million to develop new therapies for healthy weight loss.

Boehringer pays OSE $42M to expand collab into cardio disease, grab new asset

By James Waldron

Boehringer Ingelheim is handing over a total of 38.8 million euros ($42 million) to longtime partner OSE Immunotherapeutics for a preclinical anti-PD1/cytokine drug as well as to expand their existing solid tumor work into cardio-renal-metabolic diseases.

Rezolute’s oral Eylea rival hits phase 2 goal, sending stock up and sparking partnership talk

By Nick Paul Taylor

Rezolute has posted midphase data on its oral eye disease drug candidate, sparking a share price jump as investors assessed its chances of rivaling Bayer and Regeneron’s injectable Eylea for the diabetic macular edema market.

Parallel Bio serves up ‘clinical trial in a dish’ as animal model alternative

By Helen Floersh

Immunology startup Parallel Bio has released a model of the human immune system that is said to capture the way immunotherapies affect the body more accurately than animals. The so-called “Clinical Trial in a Dish” can purportedly save drug companies up to $1 billion and more than six years of development time.

COSMIC announces v100, with more than 300,000 new gene variants

By Helen Floersh

The Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer's 100th version adds more than 307,000 new gene variants, with an emphasis on RAS and BRAF mutations.

Labcorp unveils first-trimester blood test for detecting preeclampsia risks

By Conor Hale

The test is designed to be performed between 11 and 14 weeks into pregnancy and delivers a risk score for developing the condition before 34 weeks.

Bristol Myers lines up Opdivo treatment in Pakistan, Rwanda and beyond as part of 10-year access campaign

By Fraiser Kansteiner

In its quest to reach more than 200,000 patients with its medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by 2033, BMS is embarking on a 10-year access effort.

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.

Hospitals grapple with generic drug supply shortages

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

Resources

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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.

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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.