Summit shares data from ph. 3 fail

Today's Big News

Oct 21, 2022

Dreaded 'high placebo rate' hits Immunic's psoriasis trial, causing investors to flee

SPAC in fashion: Cancer-focused Aum is latest biotech to use blank check route

Summit makes case for changes to antibiotic R&D after sharing data from failed phase 3 trial

Altamira finds buyer for Zilentin inner ear unit so Swiss biotech can go all-in on RNA

Gilead's Kite ties itself to Refuge's gene expression platform in blood cancer CAR-T deal

Chutes & LaddersAyala sheds execs amid Advaxis merger

 

Featured

Dreaded 'high placebo rate' hits Immunic's psoriasis trial, causing investors to flee

With Halloween around the corner, the bogeyman of biotech—high placebo rate—has spooked investors in Immunic, sending its stock down 71% to $2.60 in premarket trading. The company blamed the response rate in the placebo arm for a disappointing look at interim, blinded data from its phase 1b psoriasis trial.
 

Top Stories

SPAC in fashion: Cancer-focused Aum is latest biotech to use blank check route

Whisper it, but biotech SPACs appear to be back in fashion. The latest is cancer-focused Aum Biosciences, which is merging with blank check company Mountain Crest Acquisition to put its MNK and TRK inhibitors into phase 2 testing.

Taking Bold, Growth-Focused Actions During a Time of Economic Volatility in the Biotech Market

Cullinan Oncology’s strategic approach to research and development, focusing on modality-agnostic target oncology, positions the company to thrive.

Revealing new insights from the Tumor Microenvironment with AI-powered digital pathology

TME research is recognized as one of the most promising areas in oncology drug development. AI-powered digital pathology reveals new insights previously hidden by laborious manual pathology methods.

Summit makes case for changes to antibiotic R&D after sharing data from failed phase 3 trial

Ten months after revealing a phase 3 flop, Summit Therapeutics has shared data from the antibiotic trial and framed it as evidence of a potential need to change how anti-infectives are developed and assessed.

Altamira finds buyer for Zilentin inner ear unit so Swiss biotech can go all-in on RNA

In a move to become a “pure play” RNA company, Altamira Therapeutics is selling off 90% of its Zilentin subsidiary and its inner ear R&D work for the chance to make up to $55 million in biobucks.

Gilead's Kite ties itself to Refuge's gene expression platform in blood cancer CAR-T deal

Gilead’s Kite Pharma has tied down a licensing deal for Refuge Biotechnologies’ gene expression platform in hopes of developing new blood cancer treatments, potentially setting flight to a new generation of CAR-Ts.

Scynexis plans to cut 40% of staff and license its approved antifungal in pivot to R&D

Scynexis has laid out a strategy to “refocus its resources” on the clinical development of its antifungal ibrexafungerp in “hospital-based indications in which higher long-term returns are expected.” In turn, the company will license out the drug in its approved indication and terminate its entire commercial team.

Medtronic scores FDA approval for pacemaker hardware that taps into heart's natural electrical signals

Known as conduction system pacing, the approach involves connecting the implant’s leads directly to the bundles of intertwined cells that help govern the repeated contractions of the cardiac muscle.

Industry Voices—Why now is the time for inclusive health investment

As partners in a venture capital firm dedicated to accelerating inclusive innovation, we believe now is the time to double down on supporting health startups led by diverse founders who have innovative ideas to close gaps in care.  

'The Top Line': Pfizer takes kickback lawsuit to the Supreme Court, plus a special report on the top 10 vaccine companies

This week on "The Top Line," we talk about our special report on the top 10 vaccine company rankings. We also report the news on Pfizer's kickback lawsuit, OTC hearing aids and more.

Chutes & Ladders—Ayala sheds execs amid Advaxis merger

A new merger deal has Advaxis and Ayala joining forces, though not everyone from Ayala’s team will be coming with.

Fierce Pharma Asia—Carvykti's growth; Sanofi, J&J sell plants; LG Chem's Aveo buy

J&J and Legend Biotech's multiple myeloma CAR-T has ramped up sales early in its launch. Sanofi is selling a plant responsible for delivering all the company's products in Japan. J&J has offloaded a plant in India that it never opened. South Korea’s LG Chem reached a $566 million deal to acquire Aveo Oncology. And more.
 
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'The Top Line': Pfizer takes kickback lawsuit to the Supreme Court, plus a special report on the top 10 vaccine companies

This week on "The Top Line," we talk about our special report on the top 10 vaccine company rankings. We also report the news on Pfizer's kickback lawsuit, OTC hearing aids and more.
 

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