Verona preps COPD 'paradigm shift': analysts

Today’s Big News

May 30, 2024

Bristol Myers secures another FDA go-ahead for Breyanzi, this time in mantle cell lymphoma


Cell therapy reckoning: Pivot to autoimmune leaves unmet need in oncology


Cell therapy reckoning: How a 'remarkable resolution of lupus' carried CAR-T from cancer to immunology


Verona's ensifentrine will be a 'paradigm shift in COPD treatment,' GlobalData says


Ultragenyx plans push for first gene therapy in glycogen storage disease after phase 3 success


ADHD game developer Akili Interactive to be taken private, after $34M sale


Novartis brings augmented reality tech to ASCO to simulate leukemia patient experience

 

Featured

Bristol Myers secures another FDA go-ahead for Breyanzi, this time in mantle cell lymphoma

In the years since gaining an initial FDA approval for Breyanzi, Bristol Myers Squibb has worked hard to expand the reach of its cell therapy. For the third time in as many months, those efforts have yielded a label expansion at the FDA. 
 

Top Stories

Cell therapy reckoning: Pivot to autoimmune leaves unmet need in oncology

A Special Report from the Fierce Biotech team on the state of cell therapy.

Cell therapy reckoning: How a 'remarkable resolution of lupus' carried CAR-T from cancer to immunology

Findings from a series of patient studies in Germany have sparked a frenzy of interest in CAR-T therapy for autoimmune disease, with companies like CRISPR Tx, Kyverna, Novartis and others investing in the approach.

Verona's ensifentrine will be a 'paradigm shift in COPD treatment,' GlobalData says

With Verona Pharmaceuticals' COPD candidate ensifentrine approaching its FDA decision date, GlobalData has referred to it as a “paradigm shift in COPD treatment.” Additionally, ICER has estimated that ensifentrine would meet cost-effectiveness thresholds at an annual price between $7,500 and $12,700 per year.

Ultragenyx plans push for first gene therapy in glycogen storage disease after phase 3 success

Ultragenyx is gearing up to take its glycogen storage disease (GSD) treatment to regulators next year after the gene therapy helped patients reduce their intake of cornstarch, which is currently used to treat the disease, in a phase 3 trial.

ADHD game developer Akili Interactive to be taken private, after $34M sale

Virtual Therapeutics, the maker of virtual reality software for mental health and wellness, will pay about 43.4 cents per share.

Novartis brings augmented reality tech to ASCO to simulate leukemia patient experience

Living with chronic myeloid leukemia can feel as if you’re lugging around a massive weight everywhere you go—and Novartis is hoping to give doctors a taste of that experience so they can better understand their patients’ burden.

FDA rolls out platform technology guidance to smooth future regulatory encounters

To speed up drug applications, the FDA has laid out new guidance on how to request a platform designation that can smooth subsequent applications for biotechs working off the same reproducible technology.

Baxter study shows expanded dialysis therapy can lower death rates

Dubbed HDx therapy, the company said its study reported a 25% reduction in all-cause mortality rates over a four-year period, compared to the more commonly used method of high-flux hemodialysis.

BioNTech, flush with $145M from CEPI, looks to expand mRNA vaccine production in Africa

Under an expansion of the partners’ existing deal, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is committing up to $145 million to bolster BioNTech’s efforts to establish vaccine R&D and manufacturing capabilities at the German company’s facility in Kigali, Rwanda.

Almirall urges sun-chasers to ‘Stay Vigilant’ in new actinic keratosis awareness campaign

A year after Almirall shared survey results showing that a vast majority of people are unaware of actinic keratosis, the most common precursor of skin cancer, and bumped up its educational efforts, the Spanish pharma’s work is still far from done.

CSL Seqirus scores 4th award from US government for bird flu pandemic preparedness

The U.S. government has expanded its avian flu pandemic preparedness partnership with CSL Seqirus. It is the fourth award from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to the company and secures the delivery of 4.8 million doses that are matched to the current H5N1 strain of the virus.  

Soterios sees phase 2 win for alopecia cream as offering alternative to JAK domination

Soterios Pharma is eyeing phase 3 after a 1% dose of the company's alopecia areata cream improved severity of the condition, hitting the main goal of a mid-stage trial.

Amid chemo shortages, Sagent recalls 2 lots of docetaxel over particulate concerns

The generic chemo is included in many standard-of-care treatment regimens and is one of many chemotherapies facing supply woes.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

Automation, decentralization and the future of CAR-Ts: Advancements in cell & gene therapy manufacturing (Part III)

This week’s episode of “The Top Line,” is the final part of a three-part series diving into the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. 
 

Resources

Whitepaper

Comprehensive Cell Solutions: Focus on Cellular Therapy Collections

Precision collection of cell therapy source material doesn’t happen by chance. Our new whitepaper illuminates the science and strategies for successful apheresis.
Whitepaper

In Vitro Antibodies – Next-Gen Science Delivers Optimized Candidates

Learn how Specifica’s in vitro antibody discovery platform can deliver better antibodies than traditional immunization approaches.
Whitepaper

Branded Digital Companions in Biopharma

This paper defines “digital companions” in biopharma, explores their value from the patient & company perspectives, & outlines a process for successfully fielding a new digital companion.
eBook

Designing Patient-Centered Endpoint in Rare Disease Trials

To make every rare disease trial count, we design patient-centric, relevant strategies for sponsors and caregivers to produce impactful results every time.
 

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On Helix

Date: ‌4 ‌July ‌2024 ‌- ‌Location: ‌Babraham ‌Research ‌Campus, ‌Cambridge ‌UK