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Today's Rundown

Alpha challenger: Novartis pays UCB $150M to join Roche, AstraZeneca in Parkinson's race
GlaxoSmithKline, University of Oxford join forces in $40M digital deep dive into neuro
Astellas becomes latest Dyno gene therapy partner with $1.6B biobucks pact to join Roche, Novartis, Sarepta
Sponsored: Optimize Scale-Up for Vaccine and Therapeutic Manufacturing
Tune Therapeutics' epigenetic platform resonates with investors as it snags $40M in financing
Acepodia snags $109M—and an early Zoom backer—to bankroll cell therapy for HER2-positive cancers
Aclaris' experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug bolsters chemo in pancreatic cancer models
Hyperfine's portable MRI nets FDA clearance for deep-learning-powered imaging
Sanofi aims to double vaccine sales by 2030, citing RSV and flu market expansion as key drivers
HHS wants feedback on improving equity in dialysis care, organ transplantation

Featured Story

Alpha challenger: Novartis pays UCB $150M to join Roche, AstraZeneca in Parkinson's race

By Nick Paul Taylor

Novartis is betting $150 million on a rival to Parkinson’s disease drugs in development at companies including Roche and AstraZeneca. The deal sees Novartis commit to pay UCB up to around $1.5 billion in milestones for the chance to co-develop a midphase Parkinson’s prospect.

GlaxoSmithKline, University of Oxford join forces in $40M digital deep dive into neuro

By Ben Adams

Major U.K. Big Pharma GlaxoSmithKline and leading academic center the University of Oxford have penned a five-year research deal focused on making smarter bets on so-called “digital biology.”

Astellas becomes latest Dyno gene therapy partner with $1.6B biobucks pact to join Roche, Novartis, Sarepta

By Kyle LaHucik

Astellas Pharma is barreling forward on its gene therapy development following the $3 billion buyout of Audentes Therapeutics. The Japanese Pharma agreed to dole out up to $1.6 billion in biobucks for Dyno Therapeutics' adeno-associated virus vector capsids, which it hopes can tamp down on existing limitations to the gene therapy delivery vehicle.

Tune Therapeutics' epigenetic platform resonates with investors as it snags $40M in financing

By Kyle LaHucik

More dollars are flowing into the epigenome, with multiple VC shops backing new biotech Tune Therapeutics with $40 million to dial up or turn down gene expression. The North Carolina and Seattle-based biotech was co-founded by Duke professor Charlie Gersbach, Ph.D., who launched UCB's Element Genomics and Johnson & Johnson-partnered Locus Biosciences.

Acepodia snags $109M—and an early Zoom backer—to bankroll cell therapy for HER2-positive cancers

By Kyle LaHucik

Acepodia is doubling down on its cancer cell therapy development with a $109 million series C round. The funding comes after a $47 million B round in March and multiple C-suite hires since then. Acepodia's lead asset is in a phase 1 trial in HER2-positive tumors.

Aclaris' experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug bolsters chemo in pancreatic cancer models

By Arlene Weintraub

Scientists at Washington University discovered that by inhibiting a molecule called MK2, Aclaris Therapeutics’ experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug boosted the ability of chemo to kill pancreatic cancer cells. In mouse models of the disease, the combo shrank tumors and improved survival, they reported.

Hyperfine's portable MRI nets FDA clearance for deep-learning-powered imaging

By Conor Hale

The portable MRI machine maker Hyperfine obtained a new clearance from the FDA, adding deep-learning algorithms that can boost the quality of images taken by its scanner-on-wheels.

Sanofi aims to double vaccine sales by 2030, citing RSV and flu market expansion as key drivers

By Eric Sagonowsky

While Sanofi hasn’t been at the forefront of global COVID-19 vaccination efforts, the company still has big growth expectations in the vaccines field. Already the world’s top flu shot player, Sanofi sees mRNA, pneumococcal vaccines and respiratory syncytial virus as three areas of opportunity going forward.