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Today’s Big News

Nov 3, 2023

AstraZeneca’s failed cancer drug gets new lease of life thanks to positive kidney disease data

Lexeo drops share price at last minute in attempt to raise $100M IPO

Kronos cuts 19% of staff to make way for phase 1/2 solid tumor drug

With first microbiome drug approved, Seres slims R&D efforts and workforce

Locanabio seeks new homes for genetic medicines as it winds down operations

Chutes & Ladders—Longtime BioMarin CEO hands baton off to Genentech chief

Featured

AstraZeneca's failed cancer drug gets new lease on life thanks to positive kidney disease data

By James Waldron

More than a decade after AstraZeneca appeared to give up hope of using zibotentan to treat prostate cancer, the endothelin receptor antagonist has received a new lease on life as a combo treatment for chronic kidney disease.

Lexeo drops share price at last minute in attempt to raise $100M IPO

By James Waldron

Lexeo Therapeutics has disclosed plans to join the coveted ranks of biotechs raking in nine figures from their Nasdaq offering, despite downsizing its ambitions over the past few days.

Kronos cuts 19% of staff to make way for phase 1/2 solid tumor drug

By Annalee Armstrong

After achieving a positive outcome in a preliminary look at a phase 1/2 trial for a solid tumor candidate, Kronos Bio is restructuring and cutting staff.

Debunking 7 Common Myths About Data Quality in Clinical Trials

With first microbiome drug approved, Seres slims R&D efforts and workforce

By Annalee Armstrong

After securing the first-ever approval for an oral microbiome therapy in April, Seres Therapeutics is facing some tough choices, resulting in a restructuring that will claim 41% of staff.

Locanabio seeks new homes for genetic medicines as it winds down operations

By Annalee Armstrong

Locanabio will close up shop by the end of the year as a tough market for biotechs claims another company that had been working on developing RNA medicines for rare diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Chutes & Ladders—Longtime BioMarin CEO hands baton off to Genentech chief

By Max Bayer,Gabrielle Masson,Annalee Armstrong

In pharma executive leadership terms, 18 years is an eternity. But such was the length of Jean-Jacques Bienaimé’s tenure at the helm of BioMarin.

'The Top Line': Exploring the promise of earlier Alzheimer's treatment

By Ayla Ellison,Eric Sagonowsky

While the new Alzheimer’s disease medicine Leqembi has generated lots of buzz since its debut this year, one research team is investigating whether the medicine holds promise in preventing disease progression before any Alzheimer’s symptoms are evident. In this week's episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma’s Eric Sagonowsky talks with the study lead, Reisa Sperling, M.D., to learn more.

Pfizer cuts 200 jobs at COVID drug, vaccine plant in Michigan amid $3.5B savings campaign

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Pfizer is cutting roughly 200 positions at its Kalamazoo site following a review of demand for its COVID-19 vaccine and antiviral Comirnaty and Paxlovid.

Blood-clot buster Inari snatches up limb-saving implant maker LimFlow for $415M

By Conor Hale

Inari Medical has signed on to a $415 million deal to acquire LimFlow, just weeks after the company received FDA approval for its minimally invasive approach to re-establish oxygenated blood flow in the legs of people potentially facing amputation.

Physician groups decry finalized Medicare payment cuts for 2024 as expenses rise

By Heather Landi

The Biden administration Thursday finalized policy changes for Medicare reimbursements in 2024 that will cut payments to physicians by 1.25% compared to 2023.

Sarepta enjoys early sales ramp for DMD gene therapy, maintains confidence in label expansion

By Zoey Becker

Even before a potential label expansion, the gene therapy Elevidys has raked in around $69 million since its launch. Earlier this week, the company said that a pivotal trial on the medicine failed to reach its primary endpoint. But Sarepta plans to seek a label expansion for the DMD gene therapy anyway.

Fierce Pharma Asia—Merck KGaA and Hengrui's PARP deal; Novartis and Takeda's employee dispute; toripalimab's FDA nod

By Angus Liu

Merck KGaA is in-licensing a PARP1 inhibitor from Hengrui. Novartis said an ex-employee who recently jumped to Takeda took sensitive files. The FDA approved Coherus and Junshi's China-made PD-1 inhibitor toripalimab. And more.

Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

'The Top Line': Exploring the promise of earlier Alzheimer's treatment

‘Podnosis’: Shifting away from the traditional PBM relationship

'The Top Line': A look at the FDA's Aduhelm approval and the potential for regulatory bias

Resources

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