GLP-1 maker Carmot plans IPO

Today’s Big News

Nov 20, 2023

Bayer's blood thinner fails Eliquis test, sinking phase 3 trial and denting $5B sales forecast


UPDATE: FDA AdComm shoots down Merck's chronic cough med in 12-1 vote


Obesity and diabetes-focused Carmot plans IPO to push GLP-1 drugs through clinic 


Agios' next-up PK activator quelled transfusion need in select patients, teeing up placebo test


Fosun, Treehill launch joint investment business to fund drugs angling for US market


Oxurion plans bankruptcy filing as phase 2 eye disease failure evaporates remaining optimism


Sickle cell gene therapy process may cause cancer-linked mutations in blood stem cells


AstraZeneca launches new company to share digital clinical trial expertise with CROs, pharmas

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

 

Featured

Bayer's blood thinner fails Eliquis test, sinking phase 3 trial and denting $5B sales forecast

Bayer’s plans to turn asundexian into a $5.5 billion a year medicine have taken a hit. The factor XIa inhibitor had “inferior efficacy” to Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer’s Eliquis in a phase 3 trial, prompting Bayer to stop the study early while continuing to advance the asset in another indication.
 

Top Stories

UPDATE: FDA AdComm shoots down Merck's chronic cough med in 12-1 vote

An FDA advisory committee has voted against approving Merck & Co.’s gefapixant, a P2X3 receptor antagonist medicine designed to treat adults with chronic cough.

Obesity and diabetes-focused Carmot plans IPO to push GLP-1 drugs through clinic

Obesity and diabetes-focused Carmot Therapeutics has unveiled plans to go public, braving icy IPO waters that have remained largely frozen over for biotech for more than a year. 

Drug discovery 2.0 fuels the next-generation of life-saving medicines

Dr. Sharon Benzeno, Chief Commercial Officer of Immune Medicine at Adaptive Biotechnologies, shines a spotlight on the key immune-driven medicine advancements that show immense promise in transforming diagnoses, treatments, and patient outcomes.

Agios' next-up PK activator quelled transfusion need in select patients, teeing up placebo test

Agios' second-in-command PK activator has passed a mid-stage checkpoint, lessening the need for transfusions in select anemia patients and teeing up the second part of a phase 2 study for the middle of next year.

The next phase of decentralization in clinical trials

There were 250 decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) worldwide in 2012. By 2021, there were 1,291. Dan Tanner, chief commercial officer at Cerba Research, explains how the firm is helping to create a new paradigm in clinical trials.

Fosun, Treehill launch joint investment business to fund drugs angling for US market

A new collaboration between Fosun Pharma’s U.S. branch and consulting firm Treehill Partners will provide additional resources to help companies survive the biotech winter.

Oxurion plans bankruptcy filing as phase 2 eye disease failure evaporates remaining optimism

Oxurion’s vision was just a mirage. The last program standing in what was once a three-front attack on eye diseases failed Monday, prompting the Belgian biotech to start preparing to file for bankruptcy.

Sickle cell gene therapy process may cause cancer-linked mutations in blood stem cells

Gene therapy has the potential to dramatically benefit patients with genetic blood disorders but a small study on participants in a clinical trial for sickle cell disease suggests that a key process carried out prior to giving the treatment might cause mutations that make blood stem cells more likely to turn cancerous.

AstraZeneca launches new company to share digital clinical trial expertise with CROs, pharmas

AstraZeneca has launched a new company to allow CROs and fellow Big Pharmas to pay to access its tried-and-tested digital solutions for running clinical trials.

After protests, pharma industry reaches 'landmark' drug spending deal with UK government

After blasting the U.K.’s drug pricing policy, the pharma industry has secured an improved government spending deal. The agreement will double the annual growth rate for prescription meds over the coming years.

FDA's drug delivery device recall spree continues with Class I tag for B. Braun infusion pump

For the fourth time already this month, the FDA has issued a notice formally bestowing a Class I label—denoting a heightened risk of serious injury or death—upon a recall of yet another drug delivery device.

Bayer pulls batch of cancer med Vitrakvi over bacterial contamination concerns

Bayer is recalling one lot of Vitrakvi oral solution in the U.S. after routine stability testing discovered the presence of microbial contamination identified as Penicillium brevicompactum.

Sanofi's Icy Hot franchise takes to the court again with Shaquille O'Neal Foundation for new Los Angeles facility

Sanofi's Icy Hot pain patch and the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation have shared a 20-year history of collaboration. During this time, the duo has worked together to refurbish courts in Las Vegas, Miami and Newark, New Jersey.

Digital staffing company Aya Healthcare picks up Winnow AI to bolster its physician recruitment tech

It marks Aya Healthcare's third M&A deal in five months as the company works to build up its artificial intelligence capabilities for staffing, hiring and retention.
 
Fierce podcasts

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'The Top Line': Exploring Alzheimer’s breakthroughs, Leqembi's potential and what comes next

This episode of "The Top Line" is dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease, spotlighting the latest treatments and what lies ahead. Fierce Pharma's Fraiser Kansteiner discusses Leqembi's full approval with Eisai's Alexander Scott. Annalee Armstrong from Fierce Biotech interviews Alzheimer's expert Howard Fillit, M.D., exploring groundbreaking research. Fierce Pharma’s Eric Sagonowsky speaks with Reisa Sperling, M.D., about Leqembi's potential in preventing Alzheimer’s progression before symptoms emerge.
 

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