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Dan Samorodnitsky

Dan Samorodnitsky

News Editor

Dan Samorodnitsky is the news editor at BioSpace. He has a decade of experience covering biotech, genetics and medicine. Before coming to BioSpace he was an editor at Drug Discovery News and Massive Science, and his writing has appeared in outlets such as Quanta, STAT, GROW and many others. He is based in Minneapolis. You can reach him at dan.samorodnitsky@biospace.com.

Biotechnology and molecular genetic engineering. 3D illustration of science and molecular technology.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
UPDATE: Second Patient Dies After Receiving Sarepta’s DMD Gene Therapy Elevidys
Sarepta’s shares crashed 41% in premarket trading Monday morning to $21.01 after the biotech reported a second death from acute liver failure, a known side effect of adeno-associated virus-based gene therapies.
June 16, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes remarks at an event announcing the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Commission, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
Vaccines
RFK Jr. Names New CDC Vaccine Advisors Days After ‘Clean Sweep’
The eight new committee members replace the 17 Kennedy removed earlier this week. In “repopulating” the committee, the HHS Secretary fulfilled the fears of some analysts, naming scientists who appear to reflect his anti-vaccine views.
June 11, 2025
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3 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Pictured: Genentech Headquarters/iStock, Sundry Ph
Layoffs
Genentech Lays Off 143 Employees in South San Francisco Reshuffle
The downsizing comes after a year of workforce cuts and reorganization for Roche’s subsidiary.
June 11, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Fund raising Capital Donation. Funds Support Concept. Fundraising. Collecting donations in jar.
Funding
SpliceBio Nabs $135 Million Series B To Advance Protein Splicing Medicines
The company’s intein-based technology is initially aimed at Stargardt disease, a type of macular degeneration.
June 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Podcast
RFK Axes CDC Vaccine Advisors; Metsera’s Weight Loss Win; FDA Supports CGT
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made waves this week, firing the remaining members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; Metsera’s amylin drug produced weight loss of 8.4% at 36 days; and FDA leaders gathered last week to discuss the future of cell and gene therapy, a sector that has been in turmoil since the ousting of CBER Chief Peter Marks.
June 11, 2025
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Substitution of DNA with bare hands and an ordinary screwdriver.
Business
As Gene Therapy Endures ‘Cold Winter,’ FDA Leaders Promise Support
Gene therapies have ridden investor mania to huge valuations but commercialization challenges have pushed market caps to the floor. At a roundtable last week, FDA leaders promised faster approvals and broad support to the industry.
June 11, 2025
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6 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Contemporary art collage. Conceptual design with young woman, motivated employee running forward to reach goal, professional success. Concept of business, career development, achievement
Neurodegenerative disease
Avidity’s siRNA Muscular Dystrophy Drug Improves Mobility, Boosts Muscle Strength
Avidity has been given the go-ahead by the FDA to request accelerated approval of delpacibart braxlosiran—potentially the first disease-modifying treatment for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy—with an application in the second half of 2026.
June 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Abstract futuristic glowing with yellow light round sphere space star. Big data visualization. Abstract motion background shining particles, stars, magic dust flow in space. 3D rendering
Radiopharmaceuticals
Perspective Therapeutics Brings Energy to the Radiopharma World
The Seattle-based company came to ASCO25 with new data on its neuroendocrine tumor–treating lead therapy, with big vibes and speedy speech.
June 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
A stack of wooden blocks with arrows pointing upwards and target board. Mission, focus, ladder of success concept.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Regenxbio Fails To Best Sarepta’s Elevidys With New Data for DMD Gene Therapy
Interim results from a small group of children in a Phase I/II trial are essentially in line with that of Elevidys, according to BMO Capital Markets analysts.
June 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Conceptual business illustration of upcoming business problem metaphor with falling domino and businessman silhouette. Minimalistic vector eps 10 illustration
Neurodegenerative disease
Vigil’s TREM2 Antibody for Rare Brain Disease Flunks Phase II Trial
Disappointing results for iluzanebart come shortly after Vigil Neuroscience struck a buy-out deal with Sanofi, but analysts say the outcome is unsurprising and shouldn’t affect the deal.
June 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Composite photo collage of business people hands hold checkered flags success finish vote competition isolated on painted background.
Cancer
Kura Posts New Data, Secures NDA Acceptance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Race With Syndax
Kura Oncology won FDA priority review for its drug the day before announcing new data at ASCO 2025 showing remission in about one-quarter of patients.
June 3, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
People walking around a convention center
Editorial
The Decadent Show of Data at ASCO25
The cancer conference overwhelms the senses and shows off the might of the pharmaceutical industry.
June 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Fantasy background for poster for tourism company. Illustration of stormy sea waves with ancient sailboat Spanish galleon and lighthouse at night. Modern print. Vector cartoon image.
Obesity
Amid Rough Waters, Regeneron Puts Nearly $2B on the Line For Chinese Obesity Drug
Regeneron’s shares have declined nearly 17% following the failure of the company’s Dupixent follow-up itepekimab.
June 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
A human hand and a robot hand shake hands over a white circle on a green background
Artificial intelligence
AstraZeneca Racks Up AI Partners, Seeking To Stop Cancer at All Stages
AstraZeneca has put hundreds of millions of dollars into AI deals, with an eye toward not just accelerating the development of drugs that treat cancer after it appears but also in creating diagnostics that can catch cancer earlier than current methods allow.
June 2, 2025
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4 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Brain tumor medical poster. Cancer, metastasis or benign in the human head or in the nerves, pituitary gland, pineal gland, and membranes that cover the surface of the brain 3D vector illustration
Cancer
Jazz Is in the “Goldilocks Zone” With New Cancer Data at ASCO25
The medium-sized biopharma is showing off new results from dordaviprone and Zepzelca, both of which were acquired through Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ dealmaking over the last five years.
May 31, 2025
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3 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
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