Layoff wave hits 4 biotechs

Today’s Big News

Jul 26, 2024

BMS axes multiple myeloma bispecific months after filing to run phase 3 trial


Calliditas' liver disease trial hits primary endpoint after sweeping changes to design


Acticor halts phase 2/3 stroke trial for blood thinner over futility


Cue lays off 25%, prioritizing preclinical autoimmune assets over clinical-stage cancer drugs


Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker 2024: GlycoMimetics cuts 80% of company; Anokion undergoes cuts


Chutes & Ladders—Moderna co-founder Robert Langer leaves board as David Rubenstein joins


Fierce Biotech Fundraising Tracker '24: Confo cashes in $65M series B; Autobahn adds $100M series C


Fierce 15: Where are they now? 

The Top Line Podcast: Don’t miss out on the newest episode. Listen now.

 

Featured

BMS axes multiple myeloma bispecific months after filing to run phase 3 trial

Bristol Myers Squibb had had a whiplash change of heart on its BCMA bispecific T-cell engager, halting further development months after filing to run a phase 3 trial. The Big Pharma disclosed the change of plan alongside a phase 3 win for a potential challenger to Regeneron, Sanofi and Takeda.
 

Top Stories

Calliditas' liver disease trial hits primary endpoint after sweeping changes to design

Calliditas Therapeutics’ slimmed-down, truncated and rethought primary biliary cholangitis drug has hit its primary endpoint. But the biotech, which changed the midphase trial to cut costs, only saw a positive trend on liver stiffness and reported a higher rate of treatment-related dropouts on the study drug.

Acticor halts phase 2/3 stroke trial for blood thinner over futility

Acticor Biotech is discontinuing a phase 2/3 study of a blood thinner given alongside heart surgery based on the results of a futility analysis.

Cell and gene therapies: Navigating the cold chain revolution

How is the cold chain adapting to the cell and gene therapy boom? Emilio Frattaruolo, Vice President of Cell and Gene Therapies at CSafe, discusses the logistical challenges and innovations shaping the future of these revolutionary treatments.

Cue lays off 25%, prioritizing preclinical autoimmune assets over clinical-stage cancer drugs

Prioritizing the preclinical autoimmune programs means the company’s two IL-2-based cancer drugs—both of which have already made it into human trials—are being placed on the back burner.

InMed’s INM-901 Demonstrates Potential as a Multi-factorial Approach to Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

InMed’s INM-901 Demonstrates Potential as a Multi-factorial Approach to Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker 2024: GlycoMimetics cuts 80% of company; Anokion undergoes cuts

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. 

Chutes & Ladders—Moderna co-founder Robert Langer leaves board as David Rubenstein joins

Moderna’s board is undergoing major movement, including the departure of co-founder Robert Langer. 

Fierce Biotech Fundraising Tracker '24: Confo cashes in $65M series B; Autobahn adds $100M series C

Welcome to Fierce Biotech's Fundraising Tracker, 2024's version.

Fierce 15: Where are they now?

In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech’s Annalee Armstrong highlights some of the most promising companies that made our prestigious Fierce 15 list back in 2014. 

Eisai and Biogen's Alzheimer's med Leqembi turned down in Europe

Despite winning approvals in a range of countries like the U.S., China and Japan, Eisai and Biogen’s anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s disease med Leqembi has come up short in the eyes of European regulators.

In Eisai, Medidata finds its first big buyer for new clinical trial management platform

Just over a month after announcing its new Clinical Data Studio, Medidata has its first big customer. Eisai announced July 25 it's incorporating Medidata’s data studio into its clinical trial management platform.

AbbVie ADC tops oncologist ranking of most exciting cancer candidates

AbbVie could have the hottest cancer drug launch of 2025 on its hands. That is one takeaway from a recent ZoomRx survey, which found oncologists are more aware of and excited about AbbVie’s telisotuzumab-vedotin (Teliso-V) than any other investigational cancer candidate.

Fierce Pharma Asia—Big Pharma's search for China deals; Enhertu's slowdown; Samsung Bio's record quarter

Large pharma companies are still looking for deals in China. AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's ADC star Enhertu slowed down. Samsung Biologics' quarterly revenue crossed the 1 trillion South Korean won mark for the first time. And more.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

Fierce 15: Where are they now?

In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech’s Annalee Armstrong highlights some of the most promising companies that made our prestigious Fierce 15 list back in 2014. 
 

Resources

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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.
Whitepaper

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.
 

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On Helix

Date: ‌4 ‌July ‌2024 ‌- ‌Location: ‌Babraham ‌Research ‌Campus, ‌Cambridge ‌UK

 

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