Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week with Novartis, which posted top-line breast cancer data that dialed up hopes for its BYL719 and the broader PI3K field. Other drug developers were on the hunt for new assets. AbbVie licensed a checkpoint inhibitor from Argenx, and Novo Nordisk bought Ziylo for its glucose-responsive insulin platform. Elsewhere, notable news about European companies slipped out in statements from other businesses. Achillion Pharmaceuticals revealed it had poached uniQure's CMO, Kyowa Hakko Kirin disclosed that Lundbeck dropped its Parkinson's program, and more.
1. Novartis’ PI3K drug hits goal in phase 3 breast cancer trial
Novartis’ PI3K inhibitor BYL719 has met the primary endpoint in a phase 3 breast cancer trial. The hit on the progression-free survival endpoint sets Novartis up to start talking to regulators about getting the drug to market.
2. AbbVie licenses GARP checkpoint inhibitor from Argenx
AbbVie has taken up its option to license an immune checkpoint inhibitor from Argenx. The deal gives AbbVie the global rights to an anti-GARP antibody designed to block the immunosuppressive activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs).
3. Novo buys Ziylo for glucose-responsive insulin platform
Novo Nordisk has bought Ziylo to fuel its work on next-generation insulins. The takeover gives Novo control of a platform that could support development of insulins that respond to glucose.
4. Achillion lures Zelenkofske from uniQure to fill CMO seat
Achillion Pharmaceuticals has named Steven Zelenkofske as executive vice president and chief medical officer. The appointment ends Zelenkofske’s brief time as CMO of uniQure, the company he joined last summer from AstraZeneca.
5. After seeing POC data, Kyowa advances Parkinson’s program despite being dropped by Lundbeck
Kyowa Hakko Kirin has posted a look at proof-of-concept data on adenosine A2A receptor antagonist KW-6356 in early Parkinson’s disease patients. The data emboldened Kyowa to commit to a larger phase 2 trial, despite its one-time partner Lundbeck walking away from the program.