Cell therapies have helped treat some blood cancers, but toxic side effects are one limitation preventing their use in solid tumors. Amunix has, since its 2006 launch, licensed to biopharmas technology developed by company co-founder Volker Schellenberger to extend the half-life of some drugs while avoiding triggering an unwanted immune response. Now that technology has … Continue reading “Amunix Raises $73M to Bring Safer T Cell Engagers to Solid Tumors”
Category: San Francisco
Novartis Leads $100M Round for Fibrosis-Focused Pliant Therapeutics
When Novartis signed on as a partner to Pliant Therapeutics last fall, it also agreed to eventually take an equity stake in the smaller biotech. The Swiss pharmaceutical giant made good on that commitment Tuesday, leading a $100 million investment. Besides Novartis, the Series C round of funding adds so-called crossover investors, firms that invest … Continue reading “Novartis Leads $100M Round for Fibrosis-Focused Pliant Therapeutics”
Biogen’s Anirvan Ghosh to Succeed Keith Leonard as Unity Bio CEO
Unity Biotechnology (NASDAQ: [[ticker:UBX]]), a company developing drugs to treat diseases of aging, has appointed Anirvan Ghosh to serve as its CEO. He will succeed Keith Leonard, who the company says is leaving his executive position due to personal circumstances but will remain chairman of the board of directors. Ghosh is coming to San Francisco-based Unity … Continue reading “Biogen’s Anirvan Ghosh to Succeed Keith Leonard as Unity Bio CEO”
Gilead Boosts Cancer Drug Pipeline With $4.9B Deal for Forty Seven
Gilead Sciences, which finished 2019 with nearly $26 billion at its disposal, is putting some of that money to work with a $4.9 billion deal to acquire cancer immunotherapy developer Forty Seven. Under deal terms announced Monday, Foster City, CA-based Gilead (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]) will pay $95.50 for each share of Forty Seven (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FTSV]]). That’s … Continue reading “Gilead Boosts Cancer Drug Pipeline With $4.9B Deal for Forty Seven”
ORIC Pharma Plans IPO to Test Therapies for Drug-Resistant Cancers
With one investigational cancer drug in Phase 1 testing and a second one approaching the clinic, ORIC Pharmaceuticals is looking to tap the public markets for funds to finance that research. The company, which has set a preliminary target of about $86 million for its initial public offering, is looking to list on the Nasdaq … Continue reading “ORIC Pharma Plans IPO to Test Therapies for Drug-Resistant Cancers”
Xilio Unveils New Name, $100M to Bring Targeted Cancer Drugs to Clinic
Cancer immunotherapy’s use can be limited by its side effects throughout the body. Xilio Therapeutics is developing technology that selectively activates a therapy’s potent cancer-killing activity specifically at the tumor and it has raised $100.5 million to advance two programs to clinical testing. The financing was led by Takeda Ventures. Along with the new cash, … Continue reading “Xilio Unveils New Name, $100M to Bring Targeted Cancer Drugs to Clinic”
Biogen, Sangamo Ink Neuro Deal for New “Gene Regulation” Therapies
Biogen is opening up its checkbook again to get its hands on innovative approaches to some brain disorders that have proven especially recalcitrant to new types of treatment. The Cambridge, MA-based neuroscience drug developer is paying gene editing company Sangamo Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGMO]]) $350 million up front in a collaboration on potential one-time treatments for … Continue reading “Biogen, Sangamo Ink Neuro Deal for New “Gene Regulation” Therapies”
Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Trials, Esperion’s Approvals, NASH News & More
Clinical trials have historically hewn to a rigid format. A trial is designed, conducted according to that design, and then results are analyzed. Making changes in the midst of the study was a no-no. In recent years, regulators have showed openness to clinical trial designs intended to make drug testing more efficient. We’ll get to … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Trials, Esperion’s Approvals, NASH News & More”
Biohaven’s Migraine Pill Is the Latest CGRP Drug to Win the FDA’s OK
[Updated 2/28/2020, 2:45 p.m. See below.] A Biohaven Pharmaceutical migraine drug has won FDA approval, clearing the way to the market for a new treatment option for the millions of people who suffer from the debilitating condition. The Biohaven (NYSE: [[ticker:BHVN]]) drug rimegepant (Nurtec) was developed for acute migraine in adults, treating a migraine attack … Continue reading “Biohaven’s Migraine Pill Is the Latest CGRP Drug to Win the FDA’s OK”
Gilead, Moderna Candidates Ramp Up Coronavirus Drug, Vaccine Testing
An investigational antiviral drug Gilead Sciences has been developing to treat infections caused by the Ebola virus will be tested in about 1,000 adults diagnosed with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has infected tens of thousands of people and killed more than 2,500. On Wednesday, Foster City, CA-based Gilead (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]) announced the start of … Continue reading “Gilead, Moderna Candidates Ramp Up Coronavirus Drug, Vaccine Testing”
Adverum Promotes Angela Thedinga to Chief Technology Officer
Angela Thedinga has been appointed chief technology officer of Adverum Biotechnologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADVM]]). She had joined the Redwood City, CA-based gene therapy developer last August as vice president of program management and strategy. Before Adverum, Thedinga was vice president of program management and chief of staff at AveXis, which is now a subsidiary of Novartis (NYSE: … Continue reading “Adverum Promotes Angela Thedinga to Chief Technology Officer”
With Foamix Merger Weeks Away, Menlo Itching Drug Fails a Phase 2 Test
A Menlo Therapeutics drug in testing for various itching conditions has failed a Phase 2 study, but executives say the results won’t translate to its lead itching target nor will they affect its pending merger with Foamix Pharmaceuticals. The Menlo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MNLO]]) drug, serlopitant, is an experimental treatment for pruritus, itching that’s associated with a … Continue reading “With Foamix Merger Weeks Away, Menlo Itching Drug Fails a Phase 2 Test”
NGM Bio’s NASH Drug Shows Promise, Shares Rise on Early Phase 2 Data
In what looks to be a transformative year for potential treatments of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the liver disease better known as NASH, another biotech has revealed that its experimental drug appears to improve the condition compared to a placebo. NGM Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NGM]]) revealed preliminary data on Monday showing that 22 percent of patients who received … Continue reading “NGM Bio’s NASH Drug Shows Promise, Shares Rise on Early Phase 2 Data”
Lundbeck’s Alder Bio Bet Pays Off With FDA Approval of Migraine Drug
A migraine drug that Lundbeck added to its pipeline via its nearly $2 billion acquisition of Alder BioPharmaceuticals won FDA approval on Friday. The drug, eptinezumab (Vyepti), is part of a new class of antibody therapies developed to prevent migraine attacks before they start. These drugs block calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a protein associated with … Continue reading “Lundbeck’s Alder Bio Bet Pays Off With FDA Approval of Migraine Drug”
Bio Roundup: Agile Approval, Coronavirus Collabs, Spruce’s $88M & More
The price of insulin, a life-saving treatment discovered a century ago, has been a flashpoint amid the broader drug pricing debate. The FDA is trying to tame high insulin prices by encouraging price competition. The FDA has historically regarded insulin as a drug. But insulin isn’t a chemical drug, it’s made from biological material. Under … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Agile Approval, Coronavirus Collabs, Spruce’s $88M & More”
SeaGen Adds Five Prime Therapeutics Antibodies in Licensing Deal
Since a major restructuring at Five Prime Therapeutics in October that kicked off a wind-down of most of its research and preclinical efforts, the company has been looking to add to its partnerships portfolio. On Wednesday, South San Francisco-based Five Prime (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FPRX]]) said it inked one such new deal. The agreement, a license deal … Continue reading “SeaGen Adds Five Prime Therapeutics Antibodies in Licensing Deal”
Spruce Bio Raises $88M for Clinical Tests of Rare Endocrine Disease Drug
Spruce Biosciences has raised $88 million to advance clinical testing of a drug for a rare inherited endocrine disorder that can lead to a potentially life-threatening hormonal imbalance. San Francisco-based Spruce aims to treat a form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an inherited condition that leads to a deficiency in enzymes needed to produce certain … Continue reading “Spruce Bio Raises $88M for Clinical Tests of Rare Endocrine Disease Drug”
Teva Drug Fails to Beat Placebo in Pediatric Tourette Patient Trials
A Teva Pharmaceutical drug in testing as a treatment for tics in pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe Tourette syndrome has failed two late-stage trials. Israel-based Teva (NYSE: [[ticker:TEVA]]) said Wednesday that the drug, deutetrabenazine, didn’t beat a placebo in reducing motor and phonic tics—the main goals of the Phase 2/3 and Phase 3 trials. Those signs … Continue reading “Teva Drug Fails to Beat Placebo in Pediatric Tourette Patient Trials”
Five Prime, Bristol Pancreatic Cancer Drug Combo Fails Phase 2 Test
A year ago Five Prime Therapeutics cut a fifth of its workforce to save money as its worked to advance its clinical-stage drugs for solid tumor cancers. On Tuesday the company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FPRX]]) said one of those drugs, cabiralizumab, a Five Prime antibody that Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) was testing in combination with its cancer immunotherapy … Continue reading “Five Prime, Bristol Pancreatic Cancer Drug Combo Fails Phase 2 Test”
Imara Reveals IPO Plan as Sickle Cell Drug Advances in the Clinic
Sickle cell disease research is seeing a flurry of activity with several companies currently testing therapies for the genetic blood disorder and one company recently receiving FDA approval. Imara aims to set itself apart from the pack and it is preparing to go public to support continued clinical development of its own sickle cell drug. … Continue reading “Imara Reveals IPO Plan as Sickle Cell Drug Advances in the Clinic”
Bio Roundup: Goodbye Belviq, LogicBio on Hold, Revolution’s IPO & More
Drugs typically go through three phases of clinical testing to support an application for FDA approval. It’s easy to overlook Phase 4, which takes place after a drug reaches the market. Post-marketing studies aim to identify side effects not observed in the first three phases of testing. They also evaluate how a therapy works over … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Goodbye Belviq, LogicBio on Hold, Revolution’s IPO & More”
Eisai Pulls Weight Loss Drug From Market After FDA Flags Cancer Risks
Eisai is withdrawing weight-loss drug lorcaserin after a post-marketing study found a higher incidence of cancer in patients who took the medicine. The FDA said Thursday that its request for removal of the product from the market is voluntary, but Eisai has already started the process for doing so. The withdrawal follows an FDA alert … Continue reading “Eisai Pulls Weight Loss Drug From Market After FDA Flags Cancer Risks”
Xcelerating Life Sciences San Francisco (interactive online event)
Stay at the forefront of San Francisco’s AI, data, and R&D boom that is fueling today’s biotech investment and partnership opportunities It’s no surprise that San Francisco has ties with the digital community – but how does the health and life science field benefit? There are also challenges that come with the boom in the … Continue reading “Xcelerating Life Sciences San Francisco (interactive online event)”
Pioneering Women in Personalized Medicine
Join the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Women In Bio on March 24, 2020 for a special evening event at Magnolia Brewing in the Dogpatch in San Francisco to celebrate Women’s History Month! This event will highlight pioneering women that are leading the way in the advancement of precision medicine. We will kick off … Continue reading “Pioneering Women in Personalized Medicine”
Revolution Medicines IPO Reels In $238M to Take On RAS in Cancer
The RAS family of proteins is one of the hottest targets in cancer research despite being one of the hardest for drug hunters to hit. Revolution Medicines has raised $238 million in an IPO to finance development of therapies that it says can drug these molecules in a novel way. On Wednesday evening, Revolution priced … Continue reading “Revolution Medicines IPO Reels In $238M to Take On RAS in Cancer”
Encoded Therapeutics Adds Rico, Moorhead to C-Suite
Gene therapy developed Encoded Therapeutics has appointed Salvador Rico to serve as its chief medical officer. Rico joins South San Francisco-based Encoded from Audentes Therapeutics, where he was senior vice president of clinical development. Audentes was recently acquired by Astellas in a $3 billion deal. In other moves, Encoded promoted Martin Moorhead from head of … Continue reading “Encoded Therapeutics Adds Rico, Moorhead to C-Suite”
Two Big Pharma Alliances End in Nixed Deals. Here’s What Happened.
Pfizer and Merck are each cutting ties with a smaller clinical-stage biotech after experimental drugs being developed under separate alliances fell short in human testing. Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) is walking away from a partnership with GlycoMimetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GLYC]]) a Rockville, MD-based company developing drugs for diseases where carbohydrates play a role. In 2011, Pfizer paid … Continue reading “Two Big Pharma Alliances End in Nixed Deals. Here’s What Happened.”
Eli Lilly, Roche Drugs Fail to Move Needle in Genetically Driven Alzheimer’s
Two experimental drugs from Eli Lilly and Roche have failed a clinical trial testing them as treatments for a form of Alzheimer’s disease caused by certain genetic mutations, the companies reported Monday. The study, sponsored by Washington University, tested the drugs in patients who have an early onset, inherited form of Alzheimer’s called autosomal dominant. … Continue reading “Eli Lilly, Roche Drugs Fail to Move Needle in Genetically Driven Alzheimer’s”
Bio Roundup: POTUS on Prices, a16z’s Fund, Aimmune’s Approval & More
The president’s State of the Union address was wide-ranging, as they tend to be, but those who tuned in heard mention of two hot health policy topics: price transparency and drug pricing reform. President Trump asserted that an executive order he signed last year directing various federal agencies to come up with new rules requiring … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: POTUS on Prices, a16z’s Fund, Aimmune’s Approval & More”
Sonoma Bio Launches With $40M to Take Cell Therapy Beyond Cancer
Cell therapies have reached the market as a new treatment option for some cancers. But the scientists of Sonoma Biotherapeutics say this approach also holds promise for autoimmune disorders, and the biotech startup has unveiled $40 million in financing to develop its technology. The investors in Sonoma’s Series A round of funding include Lyell Immunopharma, … Continue reading “Sonoma Bio Launches With $40M to Take Cell Therapy Beyond Cancer”
Coda Bio Acquires Drug Candidates to Pair With Engineered Receptors
To have a therapeutic effect, drugs need to bind to proteins. But since it isn’t always possible to find an appropriate receptor, Coda Biotherapeutics is designing receptors, which it plans to deliver via engineered viruses, that respond only to a specific drug. On Wednesday the South San Francisco-based biotech announced it acquired a company called … Continue reading “Coda Bio Acquires Drug Candidates to Pair With Engineered Receptors”
Aimmune Gets $200M From Nestlé; Licenses Food Allergy Drug Candidate
Last week the FDA approved an Aimmune Therapeutics drug for children with peanut allergies, the first oral immunotherapy for a food allergy to get the agency’s nod. On Wednesday the Brisbane, CA-based biotech announced that one of its backers, Nestlé Health Science, had made a new $200 million equity investment that it will use to … Continue reading “Aimmune Gets $200M From Nestlé; Licenses Food Allergy Drug Candidate”
Merck Charts an R&D-Focused Course Starting With a $6.5B Spinoff
Merck is corralling products representing $6.5 billion in sales and spinning them off into a separate company, a strategic bet that focusing the remaining business on developing innovative new medicines will drive future growth. The new company will take Merck’s women’s health business, older medicines that have lost patent protection, and biosimilars—drugs that are close … Continue reading “Merck Charts an R&D-Focused Course Starting With a $6.5B Spinoff”
Titan Medical’s Cash Crunch Stalls Plans to Get Surgical Robot to FDA
Titan Medical didn’t meet its goal of submitting its robotic surgical system for FDA clearance by the end of 2019. Now the company says it needs another $85 million to get its medical device to the finish line or it might have to put itself up for sale. The robotic systems developer spelled out the … Continue reading “Titan Medical’s Cash Crunch Stalls Plans to Get Surgical Robot to FDA”
Verily, Santen See Ophthalmology Opportunity Via New Joint Venture
Verily, the life sciences spinout of Google parent Alphabet, has inked a deal with a Japanese ophthalmology company to develop digital tools and technologies to improve eye health. Santen Pharmaceutical, which is based in Osaka, has a global industrial and commercial ophthalmology business. Teaming up with Verily will enable it to apply the South San … Continue reading “Verily, Santen See Ophthalmology Opportunity Via New Joint Venture”
$750M Fund Looks to Software Sector to Drive Future of Biotech
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a Silicon Valley venture capital firm best known for backing high-flying software startups such as Facebook, Lyft, and Skype, is doubling down on its foray into biotech-related bets. A16z on Tuesday revealed it has raised $750 million for its third Bio Fund. The fund is bigger than its first two combined and … Continue reading “$750M Fund Looks to Software Sector to Drive Future of Biotech”
Portola Picks Adamas Pharma’s Patni for Chief Medical Officer Role
Rajiv Patni has joined Portola Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTLA]]) as executive vice president and chief medical officer. He comes to South San Francisco-based Portola from Adamas Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADMS]]), where he was chief medical officer. Patni’s experience also includes positions at Ocera Therapeutics, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Roche, and Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]). Portola has commercialized two FDA-approved therapies: … Continue reading “Portola Picks Adamas Pharma’s Patni for Chief Medical Officer Role”
BioMarin’s Spiegelman Steps Down, Mueller Steps Up as Acting CFO
Dan Spiegelman, chief financial officer of BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BMRN]]) for the past eight years, has stepped down from his executive role. According to a securities filing, the job change took effect on Jan. 29. The San Rafael, CA-based rare disease drug developer says Spiegelman will continue as an employee and senior advisor until Sept. … Continue reading “BioMarin’s Spiegelman Steps Down, Mueller Steps Up as Acting CFO”
Passage Bio Plans IPO as Three Gene Therapies Approach the Clinic
A year ago Passage Bio launched with $115.5 million and plans to advance a handful of gene therapies discovered at the University of Pennsylvania. Now the Philadelphia-based biotech is preparing to join the public markets and raise millions more to move its three lead programs into the clinic. Want more cell and gene therapy content? … Continue reading “Passage Bio Plans IPO as Three Gene Therapies Approach the Clinic”
CytomX Appoints Alison Hannah Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer
Alison Hannah has joined CytomX (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTMX]]) as senior vice president and chief medical officer. Hannah was most recently a consultant to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Her experience also includes positions at Sugen and Quintiles. South San Francisco-based CytomX is developing a type of cancer treatment it calls a “Probody drug.” The company’s pipeline includes … Continue reading “CytomX Appoints Alison Hannah Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer”
Aimmune Awarded First FDA Approval for a Peanut Allergy Therapy
An Aimmune Therapeutics drug developed to treat peanut allergy won FDA approval late Friday—the first time the agency has approved an oral immunotherapy for a food allergy. The Aimmune (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AIMT]]) drug, Palforzia, was developed to desensitize patients to peanuts. The FDA decision covers patients between the ages of 4 and 17 who have a … Continue reading “Aimmune Awarded First FDA Approval for a Peanut Allergy Therapy”
Arcutis Bio Raises $159M in Upsized IPO to Test Skin Disease Drugs
Arcutis Biotherapeutics raised about $159 million from its IPO, offering 1.6 million more shares than anticipated and pricing at the high end of its planned range. The Westlake Village, CA-based biotech sold about 9.4 million of its shares at $17 apiece. Arcutis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARQT]]) shares began trading Friday. The stock price closed at $21.80, up … Continue reading “Arcutis Bio Raises $159M in Upsized IPO to Test Skin Disease Drugs”
Bio Roundup: Mammoth Moves, Black Diamond’s Pop, Ohana’s Debut & More
If this week is any indication, the steady march of life science companies to Wall Street will continue in 2020. Black Diamond Therapeutics is leading the way, having raised $201 million from its IPO. In its first day of trading, the cancer drug developer watched its shares soar more than 108 percent. Black Diamond’s stock … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Mammoth Moves, Black Diamond’s Pop, Ohana’s Debut & More”
BIO Report: More Work Needed to Improve Diversity at Biotech Firms
Some companies that belong to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), a large industry trade group, convene diverse hiring committees, seek out representation among their suppliers and vendors, and are led by executives that talk regularly about the importance of an inclusive workforce. Others have no women or people of color as employees, gather no data … Continue reading “BIO Report: More Work Needed to Improve Diversity at Biotech Firms”
With $45M, Mammoth Bio Expects Big Things From Tiny CRISPR Cas14
Mammoth Biosciences set out to develop CRISPR-based diagnostics that could be faster and cheaper than what’s available today. Those diagnostics are still on the way, but Mammoth now has a new piece in its toolbox that could broaden the reach of these tests and expand the startup into therapeutic applications. To support development of these … Continue reading “With $45M, Mammoth Bio Expects Big Things From Tiny CRISPR Cas14”
Black Diamond’s Upsized IPO Raises $201M to Advance Its Cancer Drug R&D
A little more than a year ago, Black Diamond Therapeutics unveiled technology that analyzes genetic data to discover new cancer drugs. Today the company has $201 million from an IPO to advance the development of drugs stemming from that technology. Black Diamond priced its IPO late Wednesday, selling 10.5 million shares for $19 apiece. That … Continue reading “Black Diamond’s Upsized IPO Raises $201M to Advance Its Cancer Drug R&D”
Histogen, Timber Pharma Plan Reverse Mergers to Join Public Markets
Two privately held biotechs on Tuesday announced plans for reverse mergers, transactions that provide a faster route to go public than a conventional IPO and also give struggling public companies a chance to recoup some value for their shareholders. San Diego regenerative medicine company Histogen announced an agreement to gain a Nasdaq listing through a … Continue reading “Histogen, Timber Pharma Plan Reverse Mergers to Join Public Markets”
BioIntelliSense Debuts “Sticker” Sensor to Capture Patient Data Remotely
Subtle changes can presage a worsening of a chronic condition, but symptoms may not become apparent to a patient until it’s time to call an ambulance. BioIntelliSense, a Denver-based digital health startup, has developed a wearable sensor meant to monitor patients’ vital signs remotely and provide near real-time data that clinicians can use to identify … Continue reading “BioIntelliSense Debuts “Sticker” Sensor to Capture Patient Data Remotely”
Advanced Therapies Are Reshaping Biopharma R&D: KPMG Report
Biopharmaceutical companies focused on advanced therapies are changing industry R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain models according to KPMG. The audit, tax, and advisory services firm shared details of the trend in its Healthcare & Life Sciences Outlook report, explaining that for companies developing cell, gene, and nucleic acid-based therapies, innovation is a necessity. “As pharmaceutical … Continue reading “Advanced Therapies Are Reshaping Biopharma R&D: KPMG Report”
Life Sciences IPOs Target Collective Raise of More Than $600M This Week
So far this year four privately held companies have made the transition to trading on the public markets. By month’s end, five more are anticipated to join the class of 2020 initial public offerings—and four of those are in life sciences, according to IPO research firm Renaissance Capital. Two are clinical-stage biotechs: Cambridge, MA-based Black … Continue reading “Life Sciences IPOs Target Collective Raise of More Than $600M This Week”