BioSpace News Archive

Business

GSK and Sanofi Strike $2.1 Billion Deal with U.S. Government for 100 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi struck a $2.1 billion deal with the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed program to supply an initial 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate under development by the two companies.

July 31, 2020
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2 min read
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Alex Keown
Business

In Abundance of Caution, Brigham & Women’s President Resigns from Moderna’s Board

As Moderna launched its Phase III clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine this week, a member of the company’s board of directors, Elizabeth “Betsy” Nabel, resigned to avoid any conflict of interest.

July 31, 2020
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3 min read
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Mark Terry
Business

Pfizer Spinoff Cerevel Merges with Arya Sciences and Goes Public

Cerevel Therapeutics, which spun out of Pfizer two years ago, entered into a business combination deal with Arya Sciences Acquisition Corp II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Perceptive Advisors.

July 31, 2020
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3 min read
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Mark Terry
Drug Development

Merck to Move COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate into Phase I in Q3

Merck is joining the ranks of pharmaceutical companies that have a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in clinical development. Merck will move its candidate into clinical trials in the third quarter of this year, the company announced this morning.

July 31, 2020
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2 min read
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Alex Keown
Drug Development

DoD Awards $4.4 Million Grant to CytoSorbents for Universal Plasma Product

The U.S. Department of Defense granted Monmouth Junction, New Jersey-based CytoSorbents Corporation a $4,421,487 three-year contract to complete preclinical development of its HemoDefend-BGA plasma and whole blood adsorber.

July 31, 2020
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2 min read
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Mark Terry
Policy

FDA Action Alert: Bristol Myers Squibb and Trevena

August is a busy month on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s calendar. Here’s a look at this week’s schedule.

July 31, 2020
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3 min read
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Mark Terry
Drug Development

Alexion Ends Rare Kidney Disease Program Following Poor Data

In October 2019, Alexion Pharmaceuticals snapped up Achillon Pharmaceuticals and its oral small molecule Factor D inhibitor program for a rare kidney disease for $930 million in cash. This week, the company shuttered the program following disappointing clinical data.

July 31, 2020
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2 min read
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Alex Keown
Drug Development

Clinical Catch-Up: July 27-31

As usual, there was plenty of clinical trial news last week. Here’s a look.

July 31, 2020
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6 min read
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Mark Terry
Deals

AlloVir Raises $276 Million in IPO to Advance Cell Therapy Programs

AlloVir raised $276 million in an upsized initial public offering. The funds will be used to advance the company’s efforts to develop an allogeneic cell therapy to control infections in immunocompromised patients.

July 31, 2020
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2 min read
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Alex Keown
Artificial Tears Market: Primary driver of the market is the growing number of cases of dry eye syndrome (DES)

Artificial tears are referred to as lubricants eye drops that are used for treating the irritation and dryness associated with the deficiency in tear production in dry eyes or keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

July 31, 2020
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5 min read