Adicet Bio, a privately held preclinical biotech looking to move ahead its “off-the-shelf” CAR-T cell therapies, has struck a deal with struggling resTORbio to use its Nasdaq listing as a backdoor to the public markets. The companies on Wednesday announced an agreement to combine in a type of transaction sometimes referred to as a “reverse … Continue reading “Adicet Aims to Advance CAR-T Therapies in Reverse Merger with resTORbio”
Category: San Francisco
Mirum Appoints Global Blood’s Radovich as Its Chief Operating Officer
Mirum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MIRM]]) has added Peter Radovich to its C-suite as its chief operating officer. Radovich was most recently executive vice president, operations for South San Francisco-based Global Blood Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GBT]]). Foster City, CA-based Mirum, which launched in 2018 after licensing its lead compound from Shire, is developing liver disease drugs. The biotech … Continue reading “Mirum Appoints Global Blood’s Radovich as Its Chief Operating Officer”
ADC Therapeutics Resubmits IPO to Fuel Cancer Drug Filing, Launch Plans
Last fall, ADC Therapeutics (ADCT) concluded the time just wasn’t right for an IPO. Six months later, with its lead drug in a pivotal test and plans being drawn up for a regulatory submission and potential commercialization, the cancer drug developer has determined it needs cash now. ADCT refiled its IPO plans late Friday. The … Continue reading “ADC Therapeutics Resubmits IPO to Fuel Cancer Drug Filing, Launch Plans”
Bio Roundup: Fast FDA Approvals, Biogen Delays, ORIC’s IPO & More
COVID-19’s spread has clamped down on a lot of economic activity, including the work of developing and testing new medicines. But the FDA isn’t showing signs of slowing down, at least when it comes to drugs filed for accelerated approval. The regulator signed off on three such drugs in the past week. These approvals are … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Fast FDA Approvals, Biogen Delays, ORIC’s IPO & More”
ORIC Pharma Gets $120M in IPO to Advance Drug-Resistant Cancer Therapies
ORIC Pharmaceuticals followed in the footsteps of the other biotechs that have managed to go public this month, selling more shares than it expected for a haul of $120 million. The South San Francisco, CA-based company—whose name is an acronym for “overcoming resistance in cancer”—priced its IPO late Thursday, offering 7.5 million shares at $16 … Continue reading “ORIC Pharma Gets $120M in IPO to Advance Drug-Resistant Cancer Therapies”
Nitrome Bio Bags $38M to Prep Parkinson’s Program for the Clinic
Nitrome Biosciences is looking to leverage its research into a class of enzymes involved in the aggregation of a protein characteristic of Parkinson’s disease into a treatment for that and other age-related diseases. This week the San Francisco-based startup raised $38 million, a Series A financing that it anticipates will allow it to ready its … Continue reading “Nitrome Bio Bags $38M to Prep Parkinson’s Program for the Clinic”
American Diabetes Association’s Ratner Joins Virta as Chief Medical Officer
Virta Health has appointed Robert Ratner to serve as its chief medical officer. He was most recently the chief scientific & medical officer for the American Diabetes Association. Ratner is also a professor of medicine at Georgetown University Medical School. San Francisco-based Virta has developed software for diabetes patients that provides nutrition information, counseling, and … Continue reading “American Diabetes Association’s Ratner Joins Virta as Chief Medical Officer”
Ex-Bristol Myers Exec Guyer to Join BioMarin, Succeeding Baffi
BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BMRN]]) has appointed C. Greg Guyer to serve as its chief technical officer and executive vice president of global manufacturing and technical operations. He is scheduled to start on May 4. Guyer was most recently senior vice president of operations at Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]). At San Rafael, CA-based BioMarin, he will … Continue reading “Ex-Bristol Myers Exec Guyer to Join BioMarin, Succeeding Baffi”
Affinivax Lands $120M to Take MAPS Tech Into New Vaccine Territory
Affinivax has a lead program with early clinical data showing the potential to best a pharmaceutical giant’s blockbuster vaccine. The startup now has $120 million in financing to see just how much further its technology can go. The Series B round of funding announced Thursday was led by Viking Global Investors. Cambridge, MA-based Affinivax develops … Continue reading “Affinivax Lands $120M to Take MAPS Tech Into New Vaccine Territory”
Why 2020 Is Pivotal for Microbiome Drug R&D (Or Maybe 2021, Given COVID-19)
The start of a potentially big biomedical breakthrough is blooming within all of us. Drug research aiming to turn bacteria into microbiome therapies now spans programs aiming to address gut disorders, autism, cancer, and more. Given the number of late-stage and mid-stage studies expected to report data in 2020—assuming they stay on track amid the … Continue reading “Why 2020 Is Pivotal for Microbiome Drug R&D (Or Maybe 2021, Given COVID-19)”
New COVID-19 Special Reports Explore Clinical Research During the Pandemic
Two new special reports on Xconomy Insight provide an expert view on how companies can sustain clinical trials during the COVID-19 crisis. “Decentralized Clinical Trials: The Call for a New Paradigm” and “Sustaining Clinical Research During the Crisis” offer the latest trends and technologies companies can use to keep business running as smooth as possible. … Continue reading “New COVID-19 Special Reports Explore Clinical Research During the Pandemic”
Sangamo Names Amgen’s D. Mark McClung as Chief Business Officer
Sangamo Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGMO]]) has appointed D. Mark McClung as executive vice president and chief business officer. Previously McClung was general manager of global oncology commercial at Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]), which he joined from Onyx Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Amgen for about $10 billion in 2013). For two decades prior, he held roles at GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: … Continue reading “Sangamo Names Amgen’s D. Mark McClung as Chief Business Officer”
Unlearn Adds $12M for “Digital Twins” That Accelerate Clinical Trials
Speeding up and bringing down the cost of clinical trials would be a huge boon to pharma companies and patients alike. San Francisco-based startup Unlearn.AI says it has developed proprietary technology that may help accomplish just that. On Monday the company announced it raised $12 million from investors who believe it stands out among the … Continue reading “Unlearn Adds $12M for “Digital Twins” That Accelerate Clinical Trials”
Bio Roundup: Alnylam’s Billions, COVID-19 Vaccines, Moma Debuts & More
The public markets are moving erratically, but Alnylam Pharmaceuticals showed this week that selling equity isn’t the only way for biotech companies to raise cash. Late last year Alnylam (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]) began exploring potential royalty deals for inclisiran, a drug that uses RNA interference to lower cholesterol. Alnylam had sold the drug’s development and commercialization … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Alnylam’s Billions, COVID-19 Vaccines, Moma Debuts & More”
Imago BioSciences Adds Edgardo Baracchini as Chief Business Officer
Edgardo Baracchini has been appointed chief business officer of Imago Biosciences. His business development experience includes positions at Xencor (NASDAQ: [[ticker:XNCR]]), Metabasis Therapeutics, Elitra Pharmaceuticals, and Agouron Pharmaceuticals. San Francisco-based Imago develops treatments for bone marrow diseases. The company’s lead program, bomedemstat, is in mid-stage testing in myelofibrosis.
RDMD Lands $14M to Expand Reach of Rare Disease Research Platform
Thousands of diseases occur so infrequently that few data are readily available about the patients who have them. RDMD, which launched in 2018 to gather such data to spur more drug research for those patients, has raised $14 million to add 20 more diseases to its platform. The San Francisco-based startup operates a two-sided network. … Continue reading “RDMD Lands $14M to Expand Reach of Rare Disease Research Platform”
Five Prime Therapeutics Taps Foundation Med’s Thomas Civik as New CEO
Thomas Civik has been appointed president and CEO of Five Prime Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FPRX]]). He comes to the South San Francisco biotech from Foundation Medicine, where he was chief commercial officer. Civik will also join Five Prime’s board of directors. William Ringo, interim CEO since last September, will step down from the C-suite and continue … Continue reading “Five Prime Therapeutics Taps Foundation Med’s Thomas Civik as New CEO”
GSK and Sanofi Team Up on COVID-19 Vaccine, Aim for Clinic This Year
[Updated, 3:13 p.m. See below.] Pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi are teaming up on COVID-19 research, aiming to combine their respective technologies in a new vaccine that could start clinical trials in coming months. The full details of the agreement, which was announced Tuesday, are still being finalized. But the companies say the vaccine would … Continue reading “GSK and Sanofi Team Up on COVID-19 Vaccine, Aim for Clinic This Year”
Akero Heads to Top of Class in NASH; Genfit Says Pandemic Won’t Delay Data
Akero’s FGF21 analog yields 63 percent to 72 percent relative hepatic fat reduction in Phase 2a study; the company awaits biopsy data hoping to see a fibrotic benefit. Also, Genfit says COVID-19 pandemic should not significantly delay its Phase 3 NASH readout. FGF21 analogs comprise one of the more crowded classes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) … Continue reading “Akero Heads to Top of Class in NASH; Genfit Says Pandemic Won’t Delay Data”
Biotech Roundup: GSK’s Ante, Shakeup at Sage, Telehealth’s Rise & More
The COVID-19 pandemic has stopped enrollment in many clinical trials and postponed the start of others but there is still life in the life sciences sector. The coronavirus research is expected. It’s the other activity that might come as a surprise. Two biotech companies have gone public in the past week; each upsized its offering and … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: GSK’s Ante, Shakeup at Sage, Telehealth’s Rise & More”
Bolt Bio Adds Mayo Clinic’s Edith Perez as Chief Medical Officer
Bolt Biotherapeutics has added longtime Mayo Clinic professor Edith Perez to its C-suite as chief medical officer. Perez, who has taught at Mayo for two decades and heads its Breast Cancer Translational Genomics program, will maintain a clinical affiliation. She previously served another stint in industry, spending three years as head of US medical affairs for Genentech’s … Continue reading “Bolt Bio Adds Mayo Clinic’s Edith Perez as Chief Medical Officer”
Pfizer, BioNTech Say mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Trials May Start This Month
Multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates that use a new technology called messenger RNA are now being readied for clinical trials that Pfizer and BioNTech plan to start in coming weeks. The partnership pairs the mRNA vaccine technology of BioNTech (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BNTX]]) with the vaccine and clinical trial experience of Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]). The companies said Thursday … Continue reading “Pfizer, BioNTech Say mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Trials May Start This Month”
Tango Adds $60M in CRISPR Hunt for Synthetically Lethal Cancer Drugs
CRISPR is key to the cancer drugs that Tango Therapeutics is developing, but the startup isn’t out to edit disease-causing genes. Tango uses the technology as a tool for finding drug targets, in research that has yielded a pipeline of compounds. Now it has $60 million to continue that work. The Series B round of … Continue reading “Tango Adds $60M in CRISPR Hunt for Synthetically Lethal Cancer Drugs”
Gilead Heightens Inflammatory Disease Focus With Second Genome Microbiome Deal
Gilead Sciences has signed an agreement with South San Francisco biotech Second Genome to use its microbiome drug development expertise to advance the compounds it is evaluating in inflammatory disease and to identify new ones. “There is a growing body of evidence that the microbiome plays an important role in disease progression and treatment response … Continue reading “Gilead Heightens Inflammatory Disease Focus With Second Genome Microbiome Deal”
Roche Pays $190M to Start RNA Drug Alliance With Arrakis Therapeutics
Some diseases have proven difficult to address using conventional tools of drug discovery that target disease-causing proteins. Roche is placing a $190 million bet on Arrakis Therapeutics, a startup whose technology aims for RNA—carriers of the genetic instructions that make these proteins in the first place. The cash, an upfront payment to Waltham, MA-based Arrakis, … Continue reading “Roche Pays $190M to Start RNA Drug Alliance With Arrakis Therapeutics”
Menlo’s Itching Drug Racks Up Two More Trial Failures, Program Ends
An itching drug that was a key part of the merger of Menlo Therapeutics and Foamix Pharmaceuticals has failed two late-stage studies, leading to a halt on further development of the compound. The Menlo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MNLO]]) drug, serlopitant, was being tested in two Phase 3 clinical trials as a treatment for the itching associated with … Continue reading “Menlo’s Itching Drug Racks Up Two More Trial Failures, Program Ends”
GSK, Vir Team Up in COVID-19 Pact Aiming to Reach the Clinic in Months
GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to invest $250 million in infectious disease specialist Vir Biotechnology to launch a COVID-19 R&D alliance that the companies say could advance two experimental therapies to clinical testing this summer. The partnership will leverage antibody technology from Vir (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VIR]]) and genomics expertise from GSK (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]). The companies will work together … Continue reading “GSK, Vir Team Up in COVID-19 Pact Aiming to Reach the Clinic in Months”
Xconomy Releases Coronavirus Special Report on Containing the Pandemic Through Innovation & Investment
Based on the latest news and analysis, as well as conversations from industry experts during the Combatting Coronavirus live panel at BIO-Europe Spring®, Xconomy’s free special report delivers the latest COVID-19 news from the frontlines as top biotech and investment players offer their best plans and current progress in stemming and ultimately defeating the current … Continue reading “Xconomy Releases Coronavirus Special Report on Containing the Pandemic Through Innovation & Investment”
Bio Roundup: Biotech Billions, COVID-19 R&D, Zolgensma’s Path & More
The coronavirus pandemic has shaken the global economy, but three life sciences venture capital firms this week announced new funds totaling nearly $3 billion. ARCH Venture Partners led the pack, adding two funds totaling $1.46 billion to its war chest. Flagship Pioneering bagged $1.1 billion, and venBio Partners reeled in $394 million. Flagship CEO Noubar … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Biotech Billions, COVID-19 R&D, Zolgensma’s Path & More”
Flagship Adds $1.1B for New Meds, More AI, & “Health Security”
Flagship Pioneering founder and CEO Noubar Afeyan didn’t know a global pandemic was in the cards for 2020 when he and his team laid out three new thematic areas of focus for the company last fall. One proved eerily prescient: The notion of “health security,” or the development of new products and therapies to treat … Continue reading “Flagship Adds $1.1B for New Meds, More AI, & “Health Security””
Aspen Neuro Adds $70M to Test Parkinson’s Cell Therapy in the Clinic
Parkinson’s disease patients experience progressive breakdown of their neurons, cells essential to movement and mental function. Aspen Neuroscience, a biotech working to develop a therapy that would reprogram those patients’ own living cells in ways that would allow the cells to reconstruct their damaged neural networks, has raised $70 million in a Series A financing … Continue reading “Aspen Neuro Adds $70M to Test Parkinson’s Cell Therapy in the Clinic”
Pandion Pulls In $80M as Ulcerative Colitis Drug Advances in Clinic
Pandion Therapeutics emerged in 2018 aiming to reach clinic trials in two years testing its biologic drugs in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The company now has $80 million to support a lead program in early-stage testing and a pipeline of potential treatments. Access Biotechnology and Boxer Capital led the Series B round of funding announced … Continue reading “Pandion Pulls In $80M as Ulcerative Colitis Drug Advances in Clinic”
Gilead’s Okazaki Named Assembly Bio Chief Legal and Business Officer
Assembly Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ASMB]]) is adding another Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]) veteran to its executive team. Jason Okazaki is joining Assembly as its chief legal and business officer. He comes to South San Francisco-based Assembly after 14 years at Gilead, most recently as senior vice president, legal and assistant secretary. Okazaki follows John McHutchinson, the former … Continue reading “Gilead’s Okazaki Named Assembly Bio Chief Legal and Business Officer”
Bio Roundup: Clinical Trials Paused, New MS Drug, Kallyope’s Cash & More
Finding and enrolling patients for clinical trials is always challenging. The coronavirus pandemic has made it nearly impossible. Fallout from the spread of COVID-19 infections led several companies to declare this week that they would stop enrolling patients in clinical trials or postpone studies that have not yet started. Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]) said that … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Clinical Trials Paused, New MS Drug, Kallyope’s Cash & More”
With $80M, ReCode Looks to Advance RNA Therapies for Lung Diseases
Two companies working on treatments for rare genetic lung diseases have combined efforts and raised $80 million to bring into human testing next year two investigational treatments that use types of RNA to tweak mutated proteins. Dallas company ReCode Therapeutics and Menlo Park, CA-based TranscripTx have merged under the ReCode name and leadership of CEO … Continue reading “With $80M, ReCode Looks to Advance RNA Therapies for Lung Diseases”
Oncology Needs Combo Therapies & More Data Analysis, Says Bio-Europe Spring Panel
Future improvements in cancer care are most likely to stem from combinations therapies and data-driven prevention efforts, as well as breakthrough drugs. That’s the message life sciences experts shared this week during a webcast on the topic of “oncology’s next decade” recorded for the BIO-Europe Spring partnering conference. The event is produced by EBD Group, … Continue reading “Oncology Needs Combo Therapies & More Data Analysis, Says Bio-Europe Spring Panel”
Chrono Therapeutics Top Executive David Happel Joins Cognoa as CEO
David Happel has been appointed CEO of digital therapeutics developer Cognoa. Brent Vaughan, Cognoa’s co-founder and former CEO, will move into a role at venture capital firm Morningside Group, the Palo Alto, CA-based startup’s largest investor. He will also continue to advise Cognoa. Happel joins the company from Chrono Therapeutics, a digital health startup that … Continue reading “Chrono Therapeutics Top Executive David Happel Joins Cognoa as CEO”
CytomX Taps Ex-Alder Bio Exec Campoy as Chief Financial Officer
CytomX Therapeutics has appointed Carlos Campoy to serve as its chief financial officer, the same position he held most recently at Alder BioPharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Lundbeck last year. Campoy’s experience also includes positions at Allergan (NYSE: [[ticker:AGN]]) and Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]). South San Francisco-based CytomX develops antibody cancer drugs. This week, the … Continue reading “CytomX Taps Ex-Alder Bio Exec Campoy as Chief Financial Officer”
CytomX Lands $80M to Kick Off Cancer Drug R&D Pact With Astellas
CytomX Therapeutics is teaming up with Astellas Pharma in a research and development alliance focused on developing new cancer immunotherapies based on its antibody technology. Under deal terms announced late Monday, Astellas is paying CytomX (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTMX]]) $80 million up front. South San Francisco-based CytomX will conduct and finance the research up to the selection … Continue reading “CytomX Lands $80M to Kick Off Cancer Drug R&D Pact With Astellas”
Palforzia Peanut Allergy Immunotherapy: Aimmune CEO on REMS, Manufacturing
Aimmune Therapeutics Inc. is navigating a host of new challenges as it launches Palforzia, the first peanut allergy immunotherapy to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Most notably, it must get physician practices and individual allergists certified to administer the treatment. Aimmune (NASDAQ: AIMT) president and CEO Jayson Dallas talked to our sister … Continue reading “Palforzia Peanut Allergy Immunotherapy: Aimmune CEO on REMS, Manufacturing”
GSK Veteran Paul Wren Joins Escape Bio as Chief Scientific Officer
Escape Bio, a biotech developing therapies for neurodegenerative disorders, has appointed Paul Wren to serve as its chief scientific officer. Wren was most recently senior director of neuroscience discovery at GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]). His experience also includes positions at Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) and Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]) subsidiary Sandoz. The most advanced program from San Francisco-based … Continue reading “GSK Veteran Paul Wren Joins Escape Bio as Chief Scientific Officer”
Bio Roundup: Coronavirus Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Vaccines & More
The past week brought a sea change in many of our daily lives as the impact of the continued spread of the novel coronavirus altered how we work and play as communities around the world attempt to slow its spread. Xconomy, as always, is focused on the stories coming out of the life sciences community. … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Coronavirus Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Vaccines & More”
Eureka Partners With Lyell to Tackle Tricky Solid Tumor Cell Therapies
Eureka Therapeutics, which has been developing methods to facilitate the development of cell therapies that can treat solid cancers, has raised $45 million to prove out its technologies in the clinic. To enhance its chances of success, the Emeryville, CA-based company has struck an agreement to work with Lyell Immunopharma, another San Francisco Bay Area … Continue reading “Eureka Partners With Lyell to Tackle Tricky Solid Tumor Cell Therapies”
As the Commercial Real Estate Market Slumps, Look for a More Tenant-Friendly Future
The following sponsored content was submitted by commercial real estate brokerage firm Hughes Marino: The story of the “canary in the coal mine” is an advanced warning of danger. The metaphor originates from when miners used to carry caged canaries while at work; if the air in the mine became toxic, the canary would die … Continue reading “As the Commercial Real Estate Market Slumps, Look for a More Tenant-Friendly Future”
Bio Roundup: Pandemic Declared, Rubius Restarts, Kymera’s Cash & More
The financial markets are tumbling, event cancellations are mounting, and sports leagues are suspending their seasons. March Madness is in full swing but not in any way that people wanted or expected. The World Health Organization this week declared that the COVID-19 outbreak was serious enough to classify as pandemic. The toll on public health … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Pandemic Declared, Rubius Restarts, Kymera’s Cash & More”
Kymera Closes $102M Round to Bring Protein-Busting Drugs to the Clinic
Reuse and recycle is more than an environmental slogan. It’s also a succinct description of how cells deal with old or damaged proteins. Kymera Therapeutics is developing drugs that use this cyclical cellular process to treat disease, and it has raised $102 million to move into clinical testing next year. The Series C round of … Continue reading “Kymera Closes $102M Round to Bring Protein-Busting Drugs to the Clinic”
NGM Bio’s Trombley to Step Down to Become CEO of Unnamed Company
Aetna Wun Trombley, president and chief operating officer of NGM Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NGM]]), is leaving to become chief executive at a privately held company, the South San Francisco biotech announced Monday. The name of the company Trombley is joining was not disclosed. Her last day at NGM will be Friday. Trombley started at NGM in … Continue reading “NGM Bio’s Trombley to Step Down to Become CEO of Unnamed Company”
Senti Biosciences Appoints Jose Iglesias as Its Chief Medical Officer
Senti Biosciences named Jose Iglesias as its chief medical officer, tasked with overseeing the development of its cell and gene therapy product candidates for the treatment of solid and liquid tumors. Iglesias’s previous experience includes CMO and clinical development leadership roles at companies including Boston Biomedical, Apobiologix, Biothera Pharmaceuticals, Bionomics, Celgene, Abraxis BioScience, and Eli … Continue reading “Senti Biosciences Appoints Jose Iglesias as Its Chief Medical Officer”
Bio Roundup: Gilead’s $4.9B Deal, COVID-19 Collabs, IPO Plans & More
Last month, Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day announced plans to introduce 10 “transformative medicines” over the next 10 years. Acquisitions would help meet that ambitious goal, and this week Gilead announced one of them: a nearly $5 billion deal for cancer immunotherapy developer Forty Seven. Forty Seven’s lead CD47-blocking drug—the company is named after the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Gilead’s $4.9B Deal, COVID-19 Collabs, IPO Plans & More”
Culture Biosciences Adds $15M for New Software, Bioreactor Expansion
Culture Biosciences, a contract development and manufacturing organization, has added new funding to increase bioreactor capacity and create additional monitoring software. The San Francisco startup announced the completion of a $15 million Series A financing round this week, bringing aboard fresh cash from new venture capital backers in addition to earlier investors. Culture Biosciences said … Continue reading “Culture Biosciences Adds $15M for New Software, Bioreactor Expansion”