J&J takes stake in Locus’ CRISPR-based ‘Pac-Man’ antimicrobials by Phil Taylor Thursday, January 3, 2019 Just over a year after its first-round financing, Locus Bio has signed up J&J as its first big pharma partner, pocketing a $20 million upfront fee.
Celgene invests in Chinese biotech Antengene again by Phil Taylor Wednesday, January 2, 2019 China’s Antengene has raised another $120 million in a second-round financing, with partner Celgene contributing to the tally.
Apellis says timeline still on track for stalled eye drug by Phil Taylor Thursday, December 20, 2018 After halting phase 3 trials for its APL-2 drug in geographic atrophy on safety concerns, Apellis says it will restart the program next year.
Can China’s R&D sector shake its reputational issues in 2019? by Phil Taylor Thursday, December 20, 2018 While 2018 was a big year for Chinese R&D on the whole, the sector hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Chugai preps filings for Soliris rival in rare disease by Phil Taylor Wednesday, December 19, 2018 Chugai has the phase 3 data it needs to file IL-6-targeting antibody satralizumab for approval in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder next year.
Sophiris slides on prostate cancer data but vows to press on by Phil Taylor Tuesday, December 18, 2018 Sophiris will push its lead drug topsalysin into phase 3 testing, though a second dose showed no additional benefit in its prostate cancer trial.
Imugene ‘encouraged’ by data for HER2 vaccine by Phil Taylor Monday, December 17, 2018 Imugene says its HER2 vaccine hit the mark in a phase 1b trial, setting up a phase 2 study that will start recruiting patients in the new year.
Bellicum reports first data on ‘controllable’ CAR-T by Phil Taylor Friday, December 14, 2018 Bellicum has the first data on BPX-601, a CAR-T with a built-in activation switch to boost its effects, and says it shows signs of biologic activity.
Amag merges with Perosphere, adding NOAC antidote by Phil Taylor Thursday, December 13, 2018 Amag Pharma has struck a merger deal with Perosphere, adding an anticoagulant reversal agent in midstage trials to its emerging hematology business.
Biogen bails on AGTC after ocular gene therapy flunks trial by Phil Taylor Thursday, December 13, 2018 Applied Genetic Technologies’ $1 billion-plus gene therapy pact with Biogen has been torn up after their lead candidate failed a phase 1/2 trial.