Higher competition for fewer roles remains the status quo for biopharma professionals, based on BioSpace data. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that recent job growth is lower than previously believed.
Strand Therapeutics’ lead asset is STX-001, an intra-tumor self-replicating mRNA therapy that carries a payload expressing the immunomodulatory protein IL-12.
Eli Lilly’s orforglipron cut body weight to a lesser extent than rival Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, falling into analysts’ bear scenario for the oral med. Executives brushed off the concerns and said the drug will still have a wide advantage on the market.
Sarepta did not hold an investor call for its second-quarter earnings report or provide an updated full-year revenue outlook.
In this episode presented by Cresset, BioSpace’s head of insights Lori Ellis discusses the emerging geopolitical battle for AI supremacy and global AI governance with Mutlu Dogruel, VP of AI and Mark Mackey, CSO of Cresset.
The small molecule drug, acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in its $935 million Chimerix pick-up this spring, is intended for relapsed adult and pediatric patients with H3 K27M mutations.
FEATURED STORIES
Last month, Vertex said sickle cell patients had not yet received infusions of its gene therapy Casgevy. That’s now changed, as the company races with bluebird bio’s Lyfgenia.
Launched in 2020 to more quickly bring to market an effective medicine for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the HEALEY Platform Trial has generated disappointing results for many but also continuing programs from Clene and Prilenia.
The FDA has six target action dates ahead to round out September as drugs for gastroparesis, Niemann-Pick disease type C and more await decisions.
The potential of mRNA vaccines was established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a new wave of candidates could soon hit the market for cancer, influenza and more.
It’s time for Congress to step up and fund America’s supply chain independence from Chinese companies by bolstering our domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Analysts expressed skepticism about plans detailed by Moderna’s R&D chief Stephen Hoge to trim research spending in preparation for the launch of up to 10 new products.
LATEST PODCASTS
In this episode presented by PII, BioSpace’s head of insights discusses how to relieve clinical trial patients of technological burden to improve compliance with guests Oliver Eden and Travis Webb.
Pfizer and Novo Nordisk continue to fight for ownership of obesity startup Metsera; CDER Director George Tidmarsh leaves his position amid an ongoing probe into his “personal conduct”; FDA reverses course on approval requirements for uniQure’s Huntington’s gene therapy; Sarepta’s exon-skipping Duchenne muscular dystrophy drugs fail confirmatory study.
In this episode presented by Element Materials Technology, BioSpace’s head of insights discusses how China, historically focused on manufacturing, is increasingly becoming an innovation leader, particularly in pharmaceuticals, with guests Dr. Jihye Jang-Lee and Dr. Khanh Courtney. Ultimately, balanced strategies involve domestic capacity investments coupled with global collaboration.
Job Trends
Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opdivo® (nivolumab), in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine, for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common type of bladder cancer.
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SPECIAL EDITIONS
In this deep dive, BioSpace investigates China’s rise as a biotech powerhouse.
In this deep dive, BioSpace explores the next big thing in obesity.
BioSpace did a deep dive into biopharma female executives who navigated difficult markets to lead their companies to high-value exits.
DEALS
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BioSpace and guests from Halia Therapeutics, Triumvira Immunologics and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation will discuss alternative financing strategies to consider for 2024. Watch now. -
The companies have received all required regulatory approvals to complete the deal, the largest for the sector in the past three years and the biggest for the hot antibody-drug conjugate market. -
With the acquisition, AstraZeneca will gain access to Icosavax’s investigational combination vaccine IVX-A12, which is being developed for respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus in older adults. -
Friday’s FDA approval of Vertex-CRISPR’s Casgevy and bluebird bio’s Lyfgenia has immediately revealed startling differences between these two gene therapies: price and a black-box warning. -
The deal, announced late Wednesday, will provide AbbVie with access to Cerevel Therapeutics’ pipeline of clinical-stage and preclinical candidates for psychiatric and neurological diseases.
WEIGHT LOSS
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While Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk currently dominate the GLP-1 receptor agonist space, there are more than 50 candidates in clinical development for obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to analytics firm GlobalData. -
A Senate health committee report published Wednesday forecasts spending on prescription drugs to hit $1 trillion a year in 2031, unless the prices of GLP-1 medicines such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy are cut. -
Roche’s $2.7 billion acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics in December 2023 appears to be paying off as its investigational GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist induced strong weight loss in a Phase Ib study. -
The weight-loss drug bonanza continued in the first quarter of 2024 for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, as Amgen also posted strong results, while Biogen and BMS struggled early in the financial year. -
While the FTC continues to review its $16.5 billion buy of Catalent, Novo Holdings announced Wednesday it has acquired a majority stake in Single Use Support, an Austrian life sciences tools company.
POLICY
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Despite the settlement, the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday sued Cassava Sciences in the Western District Court of Texas, claiming that the company misled investors regarding the Phase IIb performance of its Alzheimer’s disease drug candidate. -
In a Tuesday Senate hearing on Novo Nordisk’s drug pricing, CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen said he would be willing to sit down with the three largest pharmacy benefit managers who committed that they would expand coverage of Ozempic and Wegovy if Novo lowers its list prices for the blockbuster drugs. -
Many Big Pharma companies including Pfizer, Merck and BMS make the drugs that some researchers expect to be selected by CMS for next year’s Medicare price negotiations alongside analysts’ top pick, Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic. -
Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster type 2 diabetes medication is a sure bet for the list of the next 15 drugs whose Medicare prices will be negotiated in 2025 and go into effect in 2027, according to analysts and academics. -
A senior senator has asked the CEOs of both companies to provide information about the limits they are putting on 340B drug pricing for hospitals.
Use this thorough interview checklist to guide you through the interview preparation process and move you closer to successfully attaining the job you seek.
Is there any point in reliving a job interview you’ve just gone on? Can any good come from analyzing it and ruminating on it?
If you’re planning a cover letter or have one ready to send, take a stroll through this list to ensure strategic optimization.
In the last article on our series of common biopharma careers, we take a close look at what it takes to become a successful computer and information research scientist.
“Why should we hire you?” is a question frequently asked in job interviews, but what’s really behind the question, and how should you respond to it?
Medical and health service managers work hard to improve the quality and efficiency required to deliver first rate healthcare services.
HOTBEDS
REPORTS
In this Employment Outlook report, BioSpace explores current workforce sentiment, job activity trends and the prospective job and hiring outlook for 2025, particularly as it compares to the previous year.
BioSpace’s third report on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in life sciences examines dramatic shifts in attitude around diversity initiatives.
CANCER
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Gilead Sciences’ liver disease portfolio delivered surprisingly robust performance in the second quarter, jumping 17% as the company awaits next week’s potential FDA approval of seladelpar in primary biliary cholangitis. -
Citius Pharmaceuticals’ Lymphir is a reformulated version of denileukin diftitox—an FDA-approved cancer therapy—and the only treatment for cutaneous T cell lymphoma that targets the IL-2 receptor located on malignant T cells and Tregs. -
The pharma said Thursday it is stopping a late-stage study of its blockbuster Keytruda plus the anti-TIGIT antibody vibostolimab and chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, following a recommendation from an independent data monitoring committee. -
Servier Pharmaceuticals’ vorasidenib on Tuesday secured the FDA’s green light for the treatment of patients with grade 2 gliomas carrying mutations in the IDH gene. -
The specialty pharmaceutical company has twice filed for bankruptcy in recent years, driven by opioid-related litigation. Mallinckrodt’s deal with CVC will allow it to pay off more than half of its net debt.
NEUROSCIENCE
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At this week’s American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Amylyx provided additional data from its Phase III amyotrophic lateral sclerosis study showing the full extent of Relyvrio’s failure. -
Amylyx looks to the future after Relyvrio withdrawal, ADCs continue to attract investment and the drug shortage persists in the U.S. -
Already approved in schizophrenia and bipolar depression, Intra-Cellular Therapies reported strong late-stage data Tuesday for its antipsychotic Caplyta in major depressive disorder. -
Following cases of convulsions in rabbits in a preclinical study, the FDA has placed a clinical hold on Neumora Therapeutics’ Phase I schizophrenia drug candidate NMRA-266. -
Experts are hopeful that objective biomarker measures for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, such as the ones being developed by EverythingALS, will lead to more targeted, effective treatments.
CELL AND GENE THERAPY
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Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech got a positive opinion from a European Medicines Agency panel for earlier lines of treatment, as they ready for a March FDA advisory committee meeting. -
After treatment with a CD19 CAR-T therapy, patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic inflammatory myositis or systemic sclerosis achieved long-lasting remission, according to results published in the NEJM. -
The regulator has granted a priority review of the efficacy supplement for Sarepta Therapeutics’ gene therapy Elevidys with a target decision date of June 21, 2024. -
Kelonia Therapeutics’ in vivo gene placement system is being tapped to help Astellas Pharma expand its portfolio of in vivo CAR-T cell therapies for cancer. -
Citing the need for more time to review additional Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls information, the FDA has extended its target action date for Rocket Pharmaceuticals’ investigational gene therapy by three months.
