BioSpace News Archive

Drug Development

Clinical Catch-Up: March 1-5

It was another busy week for clinical trial announcements. Here’s a look.

March 5, 2021
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8 min read
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Mark Terry
Business

Former Portola CEO Takes the Helm at T-Cell Cancer Therapy Company

Scott Garland, the former chief executive officer of Portola Pharmaceuticals, will become the next CEO of South San Francisco-based PACT Pharma.

March 5, 2021
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3 min read
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Alex Keown
Deals

ABclonal Uses Fresh Funds to Buy Antibody CRO

Boston-based ABclonal Biotechnology acquired contract research organization (CRO) Yurogen Biosystems.

March 5, 2021
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3 min read
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Mark Terry
Researchers Make Headway on Universal Flu Vaccine Candidate

A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine shows that a new flu vaccine appears to protect monkeys against influenza strains that are likely to cause a global pandemic.

March 5, 2021
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3 min read
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Brandon May
Drug Development

Failed Studies Shut Down COVID-19 Programs

Apellis Pharmaceuticals terminated its investigational COVID-19 asset after study data showed the therapeutic failed to reduce mortality rate in patients compared to standard of care.

March 5, 2021
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3 min read
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Alex Keown
Drug Development

Bharat’s Next-Gen COVID-19 Nasal Vaccine Moving Toward Human Testing

Days after vaccine-maker Bharat Biotech released interim Phase III efficacy data for a COVID-19 vaccine already in use in India, a pulmonary expert is expressing enthusiasm for the company’s next-generation intranasal vaccine on track to enter clinical testing this quarter.

March 5, 2021
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2 min read
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Mark Zipkin
FDA

Actemra: FDA Approves First Biologic for Rare, Debilitating Lung Disease

The U.S. FDA approved Genentech’s Actemra (tocilizumab) for slowing the rate of decline in pulmonary function in adults with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).

March 5, 2021
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2 min read
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Mark Terry
Lone Star Bio

Proteomics Approach Finds Aggressive Cancer Drivers and Identifies Treatments

Baylor College of Medicine researchers suggest that the analysis of all protein data from aggressive human cancers could help identify novel treatment targets.

March 5, 2021
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3 min read
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Brandon May
Genetown

Moderna Announces New Drug Application Submitted to Import and Distribute Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate in Japan

50 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate expected to be distributed beginning in the first half of 2021, pending licensure in Japan

March 5, 2021
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6 min read
Business

Polyphor Announces Financial Results for the Full-Year 2020

Phase III trial patient enrollment for balixafortide completed in Q4 2020 despite COVID-19. Results expected for ORR and PFS in Q2 and Q4 2021 respectively

March 5, 2021
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11 min read