Newsletter Tool

Today’s Big News

Jul 19, 2024

Morphic kept it simple in M&A maneuvers, staying focused on Lilly to reel in $3.2B buyout

Artiva upsizes IPO to $167 million as NK cell therapy biotech heads to Nasdaq

GRO Bio gathers $60M series B to take gout rival to Krystexxa into clinic

Chutes & Ladders—Gilead bids adieu to CMO Merdad Parsey while Cassava loses CEO

With seventh person seemingly cured of HIV, signs of hope for a broader cure

Viral protein shows early promise for treating graft vs. host disease in stem cell transplant patients

Featured

Morphic kept it simple in M&A maneuvers, staying focused on Lilly to reel in $3.2B buyout

By Nick Paul Taylor

Morphic only had eyes for Eli Lilly. While some takeover tales have casts of Shakespearean breadth, Lilly’s $3.2 billion Morphic buyout is a simpler story of two companies gradually closing the gap between their positions before tying the knot.

Artiva upsizes IPO to $167 million as NK cell therapy biotech heads to Nasdaq

By James Waldron

The biotech has knocked its share price down to $12, but raised the number of shares on offer to 13.9 million.

GRO Bio gathers $60M series B to take gout rival to Krystexxa into clinic

By James Waldron

GRO Biosciences has ended the week with an extra $60.3 million in the bank, which the protein therapeutics-focused biotech will use to push its lead gout treatment into clinical trials.

Chutes & Ladders—Gilead bids adieu to CMO Merdad Parsey while Cassava loses CEO

By Fraiser Kansteiner,Darren Incorvaia

As Gilead hunts for a successor, Parsey will continue to serve as chief medical officer until the first quarter of 2025.

With seventh person seemingly cured of HIV, signs of hope for a broader cure

By Darren Incorvaia

Though his real name isn’t known, there’s no doubt that he’ll go down in history. An adult man dubbed “The Next Berlin Patient” has been declared the seventh person to be cured of HIV, and his case provides valuable information that could lead to a more broadly accessible cure for the 39 million people living with the virus around the globe.

Viral protein shows early promise for treating graft vs. host disease in stem cell transplant patients

By Darren Incorvaia

A paper published in Nature on July 10 shows that an enzyme from a bacteriophage extended the lives of mice afflicted by aGVHD, suggesting that the protein could have potential as a treatment for allo-HCT patients suffering from it as well.

Korea's Daewoong Bio banned from China drug procurement program after turning down inspection

By Fraiser Kansteiner

China is banning Daewoong Bio from participating in the country's drug procurement program after the Korean company declined to participate in an inspection of its production site.

Fierce Pharma Asia—Hengrui's FDA reprimands; Sanofi's India site expansion; Aslan's downfall

By Angus Liu

A 10-observation Form 483 has detailed the shortfalls at Hengrui Pharma's PD-1 plant behind its recent FDA rejection. Sanofi is investing heavily to expand its global capacity center in India. Singapore biotech Aslan Pharma is winding down. And more.

Paratek looks to bolster pneumonia antibiotic Nuzyra with win in post-marketing study

By Zoey Becker

After its buyout last summer by Novo Holdings and Gurnet Point, Paratek Pharmaceuticals reaffirmed the benefits of its BARDA-backed Nuzyra with a positive post-marketing study.

Siga signs $113M US supply contract for mpox antiviral Tpoxx

By Kevin Dunleavy

The U.S. government has exercised a contract option and will pay $113 million for delivery of Siga Technologies’ oral smallpox antiviral Tpoxx.

Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

Former FTC director weighs in on Novo's $16.5B deal with Catalent

In February, Novo Holdings announced a $16.5 billion deal to acquire Catalent, and this week on "The Top Line," we explore the current state and implications of the proposed buyout.

Fighting maternal and infant health inequities

A look at Big Pharma’s top-paid CEOs

Resources

Whitepaper

An Integrated End-to-End Approach to Antibody Drug Conjugate Development and Manufacturing

In this white paper, Lonza experts delve into the common challenges encountered by ADC developers. They explore new drug product capabilities in relation to cytotoxic drug development and manufacturing, therefore fully completing Lonza’s integrated ADC offering. Further, they discuss how this end-to-end approach can significantly accelerate the timeline to investigational new drug filing and beyond. Read this white paper to learn more.

2024 Life Sciences Industry Outlook

The definitive report on the state of our industry. Readers will gain an understanding of key indicators to monitor, future predictions, and guidance for investors and founders navigating the therapeutic enabling tools and services, healthtech and techbio sectors through 2024 and beyond.

The “Best Practice Organization” & Its Importance for Success in Today’s Biopharma Industry

In a complex industry like biopharma, being a “Best Practice Organization” (BPO) is essential to success. But what is a BPO & how do you build one? This eBook provides the answers.

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