It’s October: a time of days growing shorter, leaves changing color, and phone calls in the wee hours that rouse scientists from slumber notifying them they’ve won the highest honor in their fields. This week, the 2020 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to Harvey Alter, Michael Alton, and Charles Rice, whose research … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Kudos, Bristol Myers’s Buy, RNAi Alliance & More”
Category: Texas
BIO Launches ‘Biotech Votes’ Campaign to Encourage Registration and Informed Voting
Science is the way out of this pandemic—and scientific breakthroughs are on the ballot on November 3. To help you get ready for Election Day, BIO’s initiative Biotech Votes has resources to help you get registered and get informed. First, make sure you’re registered to vote. Check out this handy form to verify your voter … Continue reading “BIO Launches ‘Biotech Votes’ Campaign to Encourage Registration and Informed Voting”
Bio Roundup: MESO’s Miss, Pfizer’s Cancer Bet, Vaccine Promise & More
Amid the bombast of Tuesday’s presidential debate, viewers caught some discussion about the response to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. In the crosstalk, the president made an unsupported claim that we are weeks away from having vaccines. It’s true that some pharmaceutical companies are already manufacturing their COVID-19 vaccine candidates … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: MESO’s Miss, Pfizer’s Cancer Bet, Vaccine Promise & More”
Bio Roundup: Grail Acquisition, Libra’s Launch, Tau Trial Results & More
In biotech, you can go home again. Four years ago, Illumina spun out cancer diagnostics startup Grail. This week, the gene sequencing giant announced it is acquiring Grail in an $8 billion cash and stock deal. Grail set out with the goal of developing a diagnostic test that detects cancer from the genetic snippets tumors … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Grail Acquisition, Libra’s Launch, Tau Trial Results & More”
Xconomy Awards On-Demand ‘Meet the Finalists’ Webcast Series Continues This Week
The 2020 National Xconomy Awards complimentary two-week, 11-part, on-demand Meet the Finalists daily webcast series continues this Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. Registration is complimentary and includes access to a networking app with already more than 600 life science contacts. The daily series leads up to the Thursday, Sept. 24 free online National Xconomy Awards … Continue reading “Xconomy Awards On-Demand ‘Meet the Finalists’ Webcast Series Continues This Week”
Bio Roundup: SeaGen Scores, Dyne’s Debut, Microbiome Moves & More
Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day has spoken openly about acquisitions as a way to build up the company’s drug pipeline. This week, it made its biggest buy yet. The $21 billion Immunomedics acquisition brings to Gilead a cancer drug that many analysts project will become a blockbuster seller. Some of those analysts think Gilead might … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: SeaGen Scores, Dyne’s Debut, Microbiome Moves & More”
Moderna CMO Talks COVID-19 Vaccine at the Xcelerate Keynote Series
The Xcelerate Keynote Series has added Moderna CMO Tal Zaks to the expert lineup of speakers set to present next Monday, Sept. 21. As you likely know, Moderna is one of the front-runners in the COVID-19 vaccine race, and we look forward to adding his insight to a packed agenda focused on innovative solutions during … Continue reading “Moderna CMO Talks COVID-19 Vaccine at the Xcelerate Keynote Series”
Join Xconomy Next Week at the Virtual Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston
Presented by Xconomy, the online Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston on Monday, Sept. 21 places a spotlight on life science leaders who are breaking new ground with methods and solutions in R&D, planning, and production that are improving patient outcomes. As the industry navigates uncertainty, the keynote speakers will help drive your business … Continue reading “Join Xconomy Next Week at the Virtual Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston”
Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Pact, Gavreto Approval, Generative Biology & More
COVID-19 research efforts are often characterized as a race between companies, a description that reflects the urgency to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. The description is not quite right. A race has one winner and public health officials have said we’ll need multiple vaccines to address the global need. Vaccine developers have progressed … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Pact, Gavreto Approval, Generative Biology & More”
Bio Roundup: Pharma M&A, AbbVie’s Cancer Bet, Biofourmis Bucks & More
Labor Day is just around the corner and many people are looking forward to a last chance to celebrate the waning days of summer. But ahead of the holiday weekend, biopharmaceutical companies were hard at work closing deals. Food conglomerate Nestlé is delving deeper into pharmaceuticals with its $2.6 billion deal to acquire Aimmune Therapeutics, … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Pharma M&A, AbbVie’s Cancer Bet, Biofourmis Bucks & More”
Early Bird Sale for Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston Ends This Friday
Don’t miss out on savings for this year’s online Xcelerate Keynote Series at Biotech Week Boston – our early bird sale ends this Friday! Speakers include: Jeff Baker – Deputy Director, Office of Biotechnology Products, FDA Michelle McMurry-Heath – President & CEO, BIO John Maraganore – CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Yvonne Greenstreet – Chief Operating Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Andrew Plump … Continue reading “Early Bird Sale for Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston Ends This Friday”
Biotech Roundup: FDA Culpa, Tricida Trips, Freenome’s Funding & More
Among the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic: the credibility of government agencies entrusted with protecting public health. The FDA this week granted emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma as a treatment for infection by the novel coronavirus. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alez Azar both misrepresented the magnitude … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: FDA Culpa, Tricida Trips, Freenome’s Funding & More”
FDA Adds Plasma as 2nd COVID-19 Treatment Under Emergency Guidelines
The FDA has authorized the use of plasma from people who have recovered from infection by the novel coronavirus as a treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a move widely perceived as influenced by political pressure given the lack of clear evidence of clinical benefit. Treating patients with plasma—the water, salts, and proteins that make up … Continue reading “FDA Adds Plasma as 2nd COVID-19 Treatment Under Emergency Guidelines”
Bio Roundup: J&J Buyout, BioMarin Rebuffed, Poseida on Hold & More
While business is historically slow in August, this month seems to be bucking the trend, just like so many other unexpected developments in 2020. Perhaps life sciences executives have been less distracted by summer excursions this year in a world in which the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly curtailed travel. This week two pharmaceutical companies announced … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: J&J Buyout, BioMarin Rebuffed, Poseida on Hold & More”
Bio Roundup: Seres Soars, MesoBlast Vote, Duchenne Decision & More
The road of drug development is rife with detours and disappointments but Seres Therapeutics showed this week that course corrections can work. Four years after its microbiome therapy failed in a mid-stage study, the company reported early positive data from a pivotal test of its treatment for a type of gut infection. The results are … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Seres Soars, MesoBlast Vote, Duchenne Decision & More”
Bio Roundup: A Telehealth Combo, FDA’s BCMA OK, Biogen’s Bet & More
The novel coronavirus has driven the pharmaceutical industry to upend its research priorities. Big Pharma companies are focusing on vaccine development and a slew of biotechs are testing compounds, previously intended for a wide range of indications, as potential COVID-19 treatments. This week saw another major development brought on by industry efforts to adjust to … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: A Telehealth Combo, FDA’s BCMA OK, Biogen’s Bet & More”
As Patients Pivot to Telehealth, Teladoc & Livongo Plan $18.5B Tie-Up
Telemedicine giant Teladoc Health is buying health technology company Livongo Health in an $18.5 billion cash and stock deal that comes as the COVID-19 pandemic drives patients to seek ways to manage their health from home. Teladoc (NYSE: [[ticker:TDOC]]) provides “virtual healthcare services” that give patients the ability to visit with a doctor remotely. Most … Continue reading “As Patients Pivot to Telehealth, Teladoc & Livongo Plan $18.5B Tie-Up”
Bio Roundup: Cerevel’s Shell, Thrive’s Rise, Drug Price Drama & More
The biotech IPO market is buzzing but Cerevel Therapeutics is showing that there’s more than one path to the public markets. This week the neuroscience drug developer reached a deal to merge with publicly traded Arya Sciences Acquisition Corp II. If you’ve never heard of Arya (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARYBU]]), it’s a shell company that Perceptive Advisors … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Cerevel’s Shell, Thrive’s Rise, Drug Price Drama & More”
AlloVir’s IPO Raises $276M to Test Cell Therapies in Transplant Patients
AlloVir is the latest biotech company to go public, raising about $276.3 million to pull its cell therapies off the shelf and run multiple clinical trials testing them in stem cell and organ transplant patients. On Thursday, Cambridge, MA-based AlloVir (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALVR]]) priced its offering of 16.25 million shares at $17 apiece, the midpoint of its … Continue reading “AlloVir’s IPO Raises $276M to Test Cell Therapies in Transplant Patients”
Bio Roundup: Jazz Drug OK’d, Gilead’s Bet, Moderna Patent Decision & More
EQRx launched in January during the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference with an audacious pledge to create 10 new drugs in as many years and then sell them at “dramatically” lower prices than existing medicines. But it offered few specifics about how it would achieve those goals. This week, drug licensing deals it made with two … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Jazz Drug OK’d, Gilead’s Bet, Moderna Patent Decision & More”
Bio Roundup: Moderna Publishes, Life Science Cash, AdComm Votes & More
If it seems like biotech investments have defied the financial headwinds of the pandemic, maybe it’s because they have. In the second quarter, 16 of the top 25 largest early-stage venture capital deals were investments in life science companies. The figures come from the National Venture Capital Association and financial research firm Pitchbook. This week … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Moderna Publishes, Life Science Cash, AdComm Votes & More”
Last Chance for Xconomy Awards Nominations – Deadline is Friday, July 17
Have you had your say yet? The 2020 National Xconomy Awards represent the very best our life science industry has to offer. It is our privilege to recognize emerging companies and technologies, highlight groundbreaking business collaborations and strategies, celebrate corporate responsibility and diversity, and promote the innovation that delivers new therapeutics and better health to all. Finalists … Continue reading “Last Chance for Xconomy Awards Nominations – Deadline is Friday, July 17”
Bio Roundup: Blackstone’s Billions, Biogen Finishes Filing, Novavax at “Warp Speed” & More
Cash flowed throughout the life sciences ecosystem this week as Blackstone (NYSE: [[ticker:BX]]) raised a record-setting life sciences fund, companies of all stages announced new financings, and money continued to find its way to those working on efforts to treat or prevent COVID-19. Financiers poured $100 million or more into at least three biotechs, a … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Blackstone’s Billions, Biogen Finishes Filing, Novavax at “Warp Speed” & More”
Novavax Gets $1.6B in Operation Warp Speed Funding for COVID-19 Vaccine
The federal government’s Operation Warp Speed has made its biggest financing award yet, promising $1.6 billion to a Maryland biotech to help advance its investigational COVID-19 vaccine and ready millions of doses in preparation for its possible success. Gaithersburg, MD-based Novavax, which has never before brought a product to market, announced the federal award Tuesday. … Continue reading “Novavax Gets $1.6B in Operation Warp Speed Funding for COVID-19 Vaccine”
PacBio CEO, CFO Plan Retirements and More People on the Move
Here’s a look back at some of the life science industry’s executive appointments, departures, and retirements from recent weeks: —Pacific Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PACB]]) CEO Michael Hunkapiller and Chief Financial Officer Susan Barnes are retiring. —Moderna (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MRNA]]) appointed Ray Jordan as chief corporate affairs officer. —Aridis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARDS]]) appointed Hasan Jafri its chief medical officer. … Continue reading “PacBio CEO, CFO Plan Retirements and More People on the Move”
Ultragenyx Pharma Wins FDA’s First Drug Nod for Rare Metabolic Disorder
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical won FDA approval Tuesday for a therapy that treats a group of rare metabolic disorders that render the body unable to convert certain fats—such as those found in olive oil, fish, and nuts—into energy. People who have long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAOD) typically manage the condition with dietary changes or by taking … Continue reading “Ultragenyx Pharma Wins FDA’s First Drug Nod for Rare Metabolic Disorder”
Bio Roundup: Gilead’s Pionyr Grab, Relay to IPO, Unicorn Sana & More
Uncertainty related to the continued spread of the pandemic continued to consume most of the oxygen in the room this week, but life sciences news outside of that arena continued apace. Once considered all but shuttered, the IPO market again saw an active week between new public debuts and more companies joining the queue. Indeed, … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Gilead’s Pionyr Grab, Relay to IPO, Unicorn Sana & More”
Bio Roundup: A Royal IPO, Akili Arrives, Orca Bio Surfaces & More
The biggest life sciences deal this week involves a company that doesn’t discover or develop drugs, or even sell them. Yet its mark is found on pharmaceutical products spanning the entire sector. Royalty Pharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RPRX]]) acquires the royalty rights for drugs. Most of those royalties are for products that are already approved, but the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: A Royal IPO, Akili Arrives, Orca Bio Surfaces & More”
FDA Reverses Authorization for Use of Antimalarials to Treat COVID-19
The FDA on Monday revoked its emergency authorization permitting use of the antimalarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat the novel coronavirus, citing a lack of evidence of their efficacy. In late March the agency authorized the drugs, which President Donald Trump touts often as a potential treatment, for patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 … Continue reading “FDA Reverses Authorization for Use of Antimalarials to Treat COVID-19”
Biotech Roundup: BIO on Racism, AbbVie Antibodies, IPO Surge & More
At the start of 2020 thousands of biotechies anticipated spending the second week of June in San Diego, hobnobbing at the annual conference hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Instead, attendees from 64 countries spanning 28 times zones convened online this week for the first-ever virtual BIO International Convention. There, topics once as unanticipated as the … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: BIO on Racism, AbbVie Antibodies, IPO Surge & More”
Reata Bags $350M as It Preps Rare Chronic Kidney Disease Drug for FDA
Reata Pharmaceuticals is readying its lead drug, a potential treatment for a rare, genetic form of chronic kidney disease called Alport syndrome, for an FDA filing this year. New York private equity giant Blackstone Group, via its newly flush life sciences investment arm, is betting $350 million that the treatment will be a big seller … Continue reading “Reata Bags $350M as It Preps Rare Chronic Kidney Disease Drug for FDA”
Moderna Finalizes Plan, Dose for Phase 3 Test of mRNA COVID Vaccine
Less than a month after reporting preliminary early-stage data for its experimental vaccine for the novel coronavirus, Moderna has finalized the plan for a Phase 3 test. The study, set to begin next month, is targeting enrollment of about 30,000 volunteers, Moderna (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MRNA]]) announced Thursday. Those patients will be randomly assigned to receive either … Continue reading “Moderna Finalizes Plan, Dose for Phase 3 Test of mRNA COVID Vaccine”
Bio Roundup: Race and Pharma, ASCO Recap, Warp Speed Ahead & More
Race is not a topic that often comes up in pharmaceutical discussions but perhaps it should. Disease doesn’t discriminate by race, but health and economic disparities put some groups at higher risk than others. And yet clinical trials fail to reflect the broad spectrum of patients that drug makers aim to treat. Racial disparities are … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Race and Pharma, ASCO Recap, Warp Speed Ahead & More”
Bio Roundup: ASCO Opens, Merck Takes On COVID, Evofem’s Approval & More
A year ago about 40,000 people gathered in Chicago for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Today a virtual version of the ASCO conference, the cancer field’s largest, kicks off, with oncologists and others tuning in from throughout the country and around the world to check out the latest in cancer … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: ASCO Opens, Merck Takes On COVID, Evofem’s Approval & More”
New Webinars: In Vitro Hepatotoxicity Assessment Solutions & Enzyme Fragment Complementation Tech
Xconomy Insight is excited to offer two special webinars to our community this June. Sponsored by Eurofins, registration is free to all. Applying Cell-based In Vitro Assays to Improve In Vitro Hepatotoxicity Assessment Challenges Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Time: 9:00am PDT / 12:00pm EDT Duration: 1 hour Register today In this webinar, we will … Continue reading “New Webinars: In Vitro Hepatotoxicity Assessment Solutions & Enzyme Fragment Complementation Tech”
Generation Bio Leads a Trio of Biotech Companies Aiming for the Nasdaq
COVID-19 has ravaged the economy, and it was expected to quash the IPO market, too. But the biotech sector is defying the pandemic with crossover financings and freshly minted public companies. On Friday, three firms added their names to the list of life science companies preparing to join the public markets. Gene therapy company Generation … Continue reading “Generation Bio Leads a Trio of Biotech Companies Aiming for the Nasdaq”
Bio Roundup: mRNA Vaccine Data, Rise of Rallybio, Roche’s Protein Play & More
As the nation started to reopen this week following two months of closed businesses and stay-at-home orders, public health officials and economists cautioned that society won’t truly return to anything resembling a pre-pandemic normal without a COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MRNA]]) moved one step closer to filling that need with the release of preliminary Phase … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: mRNA Vaccine Data, Rise of Rallybio, Roche’s Protein Play & More”
Bio Roundup: FDA Dings BMS, Genfit’s Fall, Alexion’s Activist & More
This was a disappointing week for at least two major drug makers. French firm Genfit reported a trial failure in an intensely competitive indication, and New York-based Bristol Myers Squibb encountered a delay when the FDA declined to review its experimental multiple myeloma treatment. Genfit (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GNFT]]) was developing a treatment for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: FDA Dings BMS, Genfit’s Fall, Alexion’s Activist & More”
Pliant Pushes Forward With IPO Plans to Back Fibrosis Drug Studies
Pliant Therapeutics has a pipeline of experimental fibrosis treatments and a research alliance with Novartis. Now the biotech is preparing an IPO to raise cash to advance its clinical-stage programs. In paperwork filed with securities regulators, Pliant set an $86 million IPO target. That amount is a placeholder figure as the South San Francisco-based biotech … Continue reading “Pliant Pushes Forward With IPO Plans to Back Fibrosis Drug Studies”
Bio Roundup: Acquisitive Alexion, CRISPR on COVID, C. diff Success & More
Alexion Pharmaceuticals CEO Ludwig Hantson has made no secret that he wants to diversify his company’s drug portfolio and he has shown willingness to open the corporate checkbook to accomplish that goal. Last October, Alexion (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALXN]]) struck a $930 million deal to acquire Achillion Pharmaceuticals, a biotech whose lead drug complements the Boston company’s … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Acquisitive Alexion, CRISPR on COVID, C. diff Success & More”
Encouraging Signals for New Cancer Cell Therapy Strategies
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies have shown remarkable efficacy in leukemia and lymphoma patients who relapsed or were refractory to several prior treatments, but many challenges remain in the cancer cell therapy field. Strategies that may improve upon first-generation therapies were presented during the American Association for Cancer Research virtual meeting with encouraging early activity, … Continue reading “Encouraging Signals for New Cancer Cell Therapy Strategies”
Bio Roundup: Remdesivir Data, Erasca’s $200M, a New FDA Nod & More
Remdesivir, the investigational Gilead Sciences antiviral drug, looks more likely than ever to become the first treatment authorized by the FDA to treat patients with COVID-19. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) head Anthony Fauci praised the drug after preliminary data released this week from a federally funded trial involving more than 1,000 … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Remdesivir Data, Erasca’s $200M, a New FDA Nod & More”
Taysha Launches With $30M to Bring Gene Therapy to CNS Disorders
Some former executives and investors behind the second gene therapy to win FDA approval are teaming up again. Their new company, Taysha Gene Therapies, is launching with $30 million in the bank and a plan to bring its first central nervous system (CNS) disorder program into human testing later this year. Taysha is focusing on … Continue reading “Taysha Launches With $30M to Bring Gene Therapy to CNS Disorders”
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”
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”
Lantern Pharma IPO File Illuminates Plan to “Rescue” Failed Cancer Drugs
A growing number of drug developers are embracing artificial intelligence as a tool for finding new medicines. Lantern Pharma is betting the technology can also resurrect failed cancer drugs and it is now preparing an initial public stock offering to support their development. Lantern filed its IPO paperwork late Thursday. The Dallas-based company set a … Continue reading “Lantern Pharma IPO File Illuminates Plan to “Rescue” Failed Cancer Drugs”
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”
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”
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”