Novo Nordisk pumps $74M into R&D strategy

Today's Big News

Nov 22, 2022

Pfizer's $1B protein degradation bet yields 3% response rate in Arvinas' midphase breast cancer trial

FDA extends deadline to decide on Gamida Cell’s stem cell transplant therapy by three months   

Novo Nordisk invests $74M to boost API manufacturing for clinical trials

In ObSeva's latest attempt to stay afloat, the Swiss biotech offloads one of 2 remaining assets

Clutching post hoc analyses, Khondrion forges on despite phase 2 mitochondrial disease fail

FogPharma hauls in $178M series D, the company's second consecutive 9-digit financing round

Zika antibody prevents infection and suppresses the virus

 

Featured

Pfizer's $1B protein degradation bet yields 3% response rate in Arvinas' midphase breast cancer trial

Pfizer’s $1 billion bet on Arvinas’ protein degradation technology has delivered phase 2 data. After a publication snafu, Arvinas posted the breast cancer results ahead of schedule—and revealed one partial response among 35 patients at its phase 3 dose.
 

Top Stories

FDA extends deadline to decide on Gamida Cell's stem cell transplant therapy by three months

Gamida Cell will need to wait a while longer to know whether regulators greenlight its stem cell transplant therapy, with the FDA extending the review period for the approval application by three months. The company said recent data provided to the FDA was considered a major amendment, prompting the extension.

Novo Nordisk invests $74M to boost API manufacturing for clinical trials

With all the talk of drugmakers cutting pipelines and laying off staff, it’s good to occasionally report on some investment back into the sector. For Novo Nordisk, that means investing 5.4 billion Danish kroner ($74 million) to boost R&D manufacturing needed for its clinical trials.

In ObSeva's latest attempt to stay afloat, the Swiss biotech offloads one of 2 remaining assets

Only two months after a ruthless restructuring saw the company cut staff by 70% and focus much of its remaining resources on the preterm labor treatment ebopiprant, ObsEva is now selling off that potential therapy as well.

Clutching post hoc analyses, Khondrion forges on despite phase 2 mitochondrial disease fail

Khondrion’s mitochondrial disease candidate has missed the mark in a phase 2b clinical trial. But the Dutch biotech, clutching post hoc analyses and long-term follow-up data, plans to advance into the next stage of development anyway in the belief the totality of the evidence supports further work.

FogPharma hauls in $178M series D, the company's second consecutive 9-digit financing round

FogPharma has raised nearly $300 million over its last two fundraising rounds, announcing that it had netted $178 million in a series D. The money will be used to continue advancing the company's pipeline as its lead asset nears the clinic.

Zika antibody prevents infection and suppresses the virus

An antibody found in pregnant women who were infected with Zika but didn’t pass the virus on to their fetuses appears to protect mice from the virus and even suppress it to the point that it’s undetectable in their blood.

As CEO Schultz eyes retirement, Teva taps former Sandoz head Francis as its next leader

On the first day of the new year, former Sandoz chief Richard Francis will take the reins from Teva CEO Kåre Schultz, who is hanging up his CEO hat to retire on Dec. 31. The news comes a little more than two weeks after Teva said it was looking for Schultz’s replacement.

Teleflex plans layoffs amid restructuring plan costing up to $40M

More than half of Teleflex's restructuring costs—between $18 million and $22 million—will come from termination benefits paid out to laid-off employees.

Erytech pivots to extracellular vesicle drug delivery after lead candidate collapses

Erytech is stepping up its focus on the drug delivery applications of its preclinical extracellular vesicles, pivoting toward the platform after halting development of its lead asset in the wake of a phase 3 flop.

House lawmakers press Biden admin to change latest surprise billing rule

Leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee are pressing the Biden administration to change a rule that implements the arbitration process as part of a ban on surprise medical bills.
 
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'The Top Line': Celebrating the 2022 Fiercest Women in Life Sciences honorees

This week on “The Top Line,” we share this week's headlines and discuss the 2022 honorees in our annual Fiercest Women in Life Sciences report.
 

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