Basel
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Ironwood Places $1B Bet on Biotech That Could Bring Its Next Blockbuster GI Drug
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is paying $1 billion to acquire VectivBio, a biotech whose lead program could become a blockbuster treatment for a gastrointestinal disorder. Preliminary Phase 3 data are expected by the end of 2023.
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Novartis warns of two patient deaths after dosing with gene therapy Zolgensma
The two deaths reported following treatment with Novartis’s Zolgensma mark the first fatal cases of acute liver failure associated with the gene therapy. Liver complications are a known side effect risk of Zolgensma and other genetic medicines that are delivered by engineered viruses.
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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.
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New Versant Ventures startup goes ‘gutless’ for next-generation gene delivery
Vector BioPharma has launched from the biotech startup incubator of Versant Ventures, which is backing the company with a $30 million Series A financing. Vector is developing virus-like particles with the capability to deliver large payloads of genetic medicines to a wide range of tissues.
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FDA approves Roivant drug, the first novel topical plaque psoriasis med in 25 years
Plaque psoriasis drug Vtama is now approved by the FDA, making it the first novel topical treatment for the chronic autoimmune disorder in a generation. Roivant Sciences subsidiary Dermavant Sciences acquired the drug from GlaxoSmithKline in 2018.
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A biotech’s bold vision to turn stem cell transplants into outpatient procedures
Versant Ventures has launched Cimeio Therapeutics, a biotech startup with technology that can shield transplanted stem cells or cell therapies. Shielding these cells enables them to be dosed alongside an immunotherapy—an approach that is not currently done because the therapies don’t discriminate between diseased cells and transplanted ones.
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Novartis cancer drug is now first approved therapy for group of rare, genetic diseases
A Novartis drug that stops abnormal cell growth in breast cancer now has an additional FDA approval treating a group of rare disorders characterized by overgrowth in various types of tissue. The regulatory decision makes the drug, Vijoice, the first approved therapy for these disorders termed “PROS.”
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Novartis restructures to save $1B; pharma & oncology to merge into single unit
Novartis unveiled a corporate restructuring that is consolidating some operations in cash-saving moves expected to lead to $1 billion in annual savings. The shakeup means the departure of several key executives, including Chief Medical Officer John Tsai, who has held that role since 2018.
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Novartis, BeiGene ink another deal; plan for tests of checkpoint cancer drug combos
Novartis is partnering with BeiGene on the development of a drug that addresses TIGIT, a hot cancer immunotherapy target. The Swiss pharma giant is committing $300 million up front, and up to $700 million more upon exercising its option on BeiGene’s antibody drug.
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Novartis boosts neuro pipeline through alliance on UCB Parkinson’s drugs
Novartis is paying UCB $150 million up front to share in the development of two clinical-stage Parkinson’s disease drugs that offer new approaches to treating the disease. Depending on the progress of those drugs, UCB could earn up to $1.5 billion in milestone payments.
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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.
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Novartis is cashing out of Roche for $21B, 20 years after mega-merger that never happened
Novartis’s equity stake in Roche, shares acquired 20 years ago in a strategy to build up to a potential mega-merger, will be sold back to the company in a $20.7 billion deal. The cash proceeds could fuel Novartis R&D, as well as potential dealmaking.
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Roivant’s move to go public reveals just how much its drug strategy has changed
Founded by former hedge fund manager Vivek Ramawamy, Roivant Sciences set out to redefine drug development by acquiring overlooked drugs and advancing their development. The merger deal that will take it public reveals how much new technology changed the company’s vision and its strategy.
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VectivBio, Reneo Pharma IPOs raise combined $221M for clinical trials
The public markets welcomed VectivBio and Reneo Pharmaceuticals, which priced their IPOs late Thursday. Both clinical-stage companies are developing drugs that address rare diseases.
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BioPharma, Devices & Diagnostics, Diagnostics, SYN
Swiss startup betting on nanotechnology to speed cancer diagnosis
Founded in 2017, Artidis has raised $15.1 million and hopes to enter the U.S. market for cancer diagnosis by 2022. But the startup first has to convince the FDA that its device works.
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Roche drug that previously failed in Covid-19 pneumonia shows efficacy in Phase III study
Actemra reduced the percentage of patients with Covid-19 pneumonia who progressed to requiring mechanical ventilation, but did not show an improvement in mortality, time to discharge or improvement on an ordinal scale of clinical status. Results of the Phase III COVACTA study, announced in July, were negative.
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FDA approves Roche drug for rare autoimmune disorder NMOSD
The agency approved Enspryng for the disease, which is often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis and can cause blindness, muscle weakness and paralysis.
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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.
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Discover the Next-Gen Platform for Integrated Collaborative Care
Beyond EHRs and digital front doors, reducing the gaps in patient care journeys.
