Frank Vinluan
Frank Vinluan is senior biopharma reporter for MedCity News. He previously held business reporting positions at Xconomy, The Seattle Times, The Des Moines Register, and the Triangle Business Journal.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankvinluan/
Twitter: @frankvinluan
-
Apellis Lays Off 25% of Staff and Turns Focus to Commercializing New Eye Drug
The Apellis Pharmaceuticals restructuring will save up to $300 million. It comes as the biotech continues its inquiry into the cause of a rare inflammatory complication reported in a small number of patients who received its geographic atrophy drug, Syfovre.
-
BMS Cancer Drug’s New FDA Nod Puts It on Path to Reach Blockbuster Status
Bristol Myers Squibb drug Reblozyl is now approved as a first-line therapy for anemia caused by myelodysplastic syndromes, a group of blood cancers. It’s the third indication for the drug, which analysts project could top $4 billion in peak sales.
-
Payer’s Place: Dawn Maroney
Dawn Maroney, President, Markets of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, to discuss how they are using technology to provide better service and care to consumers.
-
Bayer Pushes Ahead With Parkinson’s Cell Therapy on Heels of Positive Phase 1 Data
A Bayer cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease has met primary and secondary goals of its first test in humans, and the pharmaceutical giant is now planning for a larger Phase 2 clinical trial expected to begin enrollment in the first half of next year.
-
Danaher Continues M&A Streak, Buying Life Sciences Firm Abcam for $5.7B
Abcam’s acquisition comes two months after its board announced the exploration of strategic alternatives that could include the sale of the company. Danaher beat out at least 20 companies that were potential buyers of the life sciences tools and antibody development firm.
-
Precision Bio Offloads Lead Cell Therapy Program in Pivot to In Vivo Gene Editing
Imugene gains global rights to Precision BioSciences’ most advanced program, an allogeneic cell therapy for advanced cases of blood cancer. Precision will now focus on in vivo gene editing therapies, some of which is partnered with Novartis and Eli Lilly.
-
Gilead Partners With Startup Getting Its Tentacles Into New Biologic Drug Territory
Gilead Sciences is partnering with Tentarix Biotherapeutics, a startup developing multifunctional antibody drugs that it calls “Tentacles.” Tentarix’s technology offers the potential to selectively address targets in cancer and inflammation.
-
Pfizer Expands to Multiple Myeloma With FDA Approval for New Antibody Drug
Oncology is already a big piece of Pfizer’s drug lineup. The portfolio is expanding to multiple myeloma with FDA approval of Elrexfio, a bispecific antibody that targets the cancer protein BCMA.
-
Harmony Bio’s Zynerba Buyout Brings Cannabinoid That Doesn’t Spark Euphoria
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals’ lead drug candidate is designed to bring the therapeutic effect of cannabinoids without also causing euphoric effects. The synthetic cannabinoid in a topical gel formulation includes none of the psychoactive compounds from the cannabis plant.
-
FDA Approves J&J Combo Drug for Prostate Cancers With Certain Genetic Signature
Johnson & Johnson’s Akeega is approved for treating advanced prostate cancer with a BRCA mutation. The drug, which interferes with a way cancer cells repair themselves, will compete against recently approved drugs from Pfizer and partners AstraZeneca and Merck.
-
Applying Remote Patient Monitoring to Surgery Prep and Recovery, Oncology and Women’s Health
Join us to learn about the latest trends in remote monitoring and how to extend its benefits beyond chronic conditions to more patients – all while using fewer staff resources.
-
VC Report: Biotech Financings Fall, M&A Activity Expected to Pick Up
Biotech startups raised $2.6 billion globally in the second quarter of this year, but that’s down nearly 46% compared to the same period last year, according to a report from Pitchbook. Capital is harder to find, and the report projects an uptick in M&A activity as companies run out of cash.
-
Novo Nordisk Aims to Succeed Where Sanofi Faltered Drugging a Weight-Loss Target
Novo Nordisk isn’t putting all of its weight loss drug hopes in the same basket. Its acquisition of Inversago Pharma for up to $1 billion will bring a biotech whose lead drug candidate has early clinical trial data showing significant weight loss.
-
J&J Broadens Scope in Multiple Myeloma, Winning FDA Approval for New Drug
Johnson & Johnson’s stable of multiple myeloma drugs has grown to five products with the FDA approval of Talvey. The bispecific antibody is the first in a new class of new drugs designed to go after the novel multiple myeloma target GPRC5D.
-
Alltrna Unveils $109M to Make tRNA a Universal Therapy for Genetic Diseases
Flagship Pioneering-founded Alltrna is developing tRNA therapies to address genetic diseases driven by truncated versions of proteins. By addressing an aberrant genetic instruction underpinning many diseases, the startup is developing what it describes as a potential “universal solution.”
-
Nektar Sues Eli Lilly, Claiming the Big Pharma Breached Contract to Favor Another Drug
“Botched math” in calculating clinical data for an autoimmune disease drug is one of the allegations Nektar Therapeutics makes in a legal complaint against Eli Lilly. The biotech claims its former partner tried to disadvantage the asset in order to advance development of another drug it acquired in a billion dollar deal.
-
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Posts Trial Data Supporting the Drug as Way to Lower Heart Risks
Novo Nordisk weight-loss drug Wegovy reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 20% in a large clinical trial. The company said the results support expanding the drug’s label, but the looming question is whether the data will persuade payers to cover the pricey chronic therapy.
Promoted
Payer’s Place: Dr. Anil Singh
Dr. Anil Singh shares his insights into the strategies employed by the organization to identify the most effective digital solutions for their members.
Promoted
Discover the Next-Gen Platform for Integrated Collaborative Care
Beyond EHRs and digital front doors, reducing the gaps in patient care journeys.
