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Editor's note: Fierce Biotech will not publish on Monday, May 31, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. We'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday, June 1.

Today's Rundown

Featured Story

How a protein 'Polaroid' led Amgen to finally crack the 'Achilles heel tumor' with Lumakras in 8 years

Two of Amgen’s R&D and clinical development experts gave Fierce Biotech a snapshot into the light-speed development process that brought Lumakras, formerly known as sotorasib, to the cusp of an FDA approval in just over eight years. The agency is considering an application for Lumakras under a breakthrough designation to treat non-small cell lung cancer in patients with a KRAS G12C mutation who have failed on several prior treatments.

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Top Stories

Phase 3 data boost EQRx's plan to undercut checkpoint inhibitors

A phase 3 clinical trial of sugemalimab has met its primary endpoint. CStone Pharmaceuticals, which offloaded rights to the anti-PD-L1 antibody to EQRx and Pfizer last year, enrolled patients with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer patients in the study.

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Provention Bio brought back down to earth as FDA panel narrowly backs diabetes prevention drug

Provention was flying high on Tuesday when an FDA advisory panel seemed to back the efficacy of its diabetes prevention drug, even after the agency flagged some issues with the data package supporting the therapy's application a month earlier. But the company is not out of the woods yet, with the final vote only narrowly supporting the drug’s approval Thursday afternoon. 

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Karuna investor settles charge of insider trading that netted $120k on nonpublic clinical trial information

The SEC settled insider trading charges against one of Karuna Therapeutics’ investors, a doctor and medical investigator who bought more than 1,600 shares after hearing secret details from a positive clinical trial readout.

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HCW files for $50M IPO to trial fusion protein in solid tumors

HCW Biologics has filed to raise up to $50 million in an IPO. The money will set HCW up to take two immunotherapy treatments into the clinic in solid tumors and an autoimmune disorder.

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Fierce Pharma Asia—Moderna-Samsung COVID vaccine pact; Astellas' 5-year plan; more Novo investment

Moderna enlisted Samsung Biologics to help with fill-finish of its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Astellas targeted $17 billion in fiscal 2025 sales in a new five-year plan. Novo Holdings co-led a $200 million financing round in a Singapore cell and gene therapy tech company. And more

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Chutes & Ladders—Fledgling T-cell player Neogene adds Bristol Myers vet to U.S. roster

Neogene snared a longtime BMS leader, courtesy of its quick entry into the next-gen cell therapy space. Tectonic is building out its C-suite roster with a 16-year veteran of the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation. And Guardant Health has added oncology drug development bigwig Craig Eagle to its ranks.

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Resources

eBook: Improving Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials

Create a more diverse and inclusive clinical trial enrollment and engagement environment by learning the barriers to participation and the strategies to overcome them.

Whitepaper: Closed Cell Processing System Benefits for Cell & Gene Therapy

Autologous cell and gene therapy workflows involve isolating cells from an individual, engineering the cells, expanding and concentrating them, and infusing them back into the patient. Optimized automation of certain steps of the workflow may decrease hands-on time and the cost of the cell manufacturing process.

Guide: Your Guide to Overcome Inconsistent Clinical Data Standards

Learn how to develop a standards program that has your full team’s buy-in and improves the efficiency and quality of your clinical trials.

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. 

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