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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.

Two human hands with a gesture of a handshake agreement and dollar banknotes with dollar signs on a colored background. Concept of business contract or agreement. Collage art
Cancer
BeiGene Gets Yet Another Label Expansion for PD-1 Drug Tevimbra
The approval for the first-line treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma comes shortly after a label expansion for the drug in gastric and gastroesophageal cancers as BeiGene also pushes forward a pipeline of novel cancer therapies.
March 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Deviation from the plan, path or norms. Choosing an alternative way, changing the plans and flexibility.
Depression
Neumora Shakes Up Phase III MDD Trials After January Miss
After failing to hit the primary endpoint in a Phase III trial, Neumora is remixing study parameters in two replicate trials, with data expected in the first half of 2026.
March 3, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Pop art Medicine pill or tablet icon isolated on color background. Capsule pill and drug sign. Pharmacy design. Vector Illustration
Pain
Lexicon to Advance Non-Opioid Painkiller Despite Mid-Stage Trial Failure
Despite not differentiating itself from placebo, the Texas-based company said it plans to push pilavapadin into Phase III trials before long.
March 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Contract Cancellation, Agreement Termination Concept. Couple of Tiny Male Characters Tearing Huge Paper Sheet with Terminated Contract. Businessmen at Workspace. Cartoon People Vector Illustration
Gene therapy
Vertex Severs Liver Gene Therapies Partnership With Verve
The companies were two years into a four-year, $400 million agreement aimed at developing and marketing gene therapies together.
February 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Gothenburg, Sweden – April 17, 2020: AstraZeneca in Gothenburg is one of three strategic global R&D centres in medicine. A big sign with the company logotype just outside the entrance.
Cancer
AstraZeneca Posts Positive Phase III Results for Oral Breast Cancer Drug
In the Phase III SERENA-6 trial, camizestrant—in combination with CDK-inhibitors—beat out current standard-of-care treatments in terms of progression-free survival, according to AstraZeneca.
February 26, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
The court's decision cancels all agreements. Agreement between the parties to the dispute. Conflict resolution in court.
COVID-19
FDA Shoots Down Invivyd’s Bid to Expand EUA for COVID-19 Antibody
Pemgarda has a standing emergency use authorization as a prophylaxis for immunocompromised patients, but FDA’s stringent requirements for antibody activity boxed out its potential use as a post-exposure treatment.
February 24, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Anatomical model of human ear with luminous sound wave on blue background. Auditory health.
Gene therapy
Regeneron’s Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Patients with Rare Genetic Condition
The treatment, called DB-OTO, is one of several early-stage gene therapies being developed to treat relatively straight-forward causes of genetic deafness.
February 24, 2025
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4 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Hands reach out to each other. Handshake. Halftone retro hands. Paper cutout elements. Trendy vintage newspaper parts. Hands tied with thread. Shaking hands. Make a deal. Successful agreement
Cancer
Merck and Epitopea Join Forces to Identify Unknown Tumor Antigens
The agreement, in which Merck will pay the biotech an undisclosed initial sum to license drugs targeting a solid tumor, could net Epitopea up to $300 million down the line.
February 19, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Poster. Contemporary art collage. Blue and yellow hands peeking out of black holes in space to make a deal. Abstract vibrant artwork. Concept of pop art, positive emotions. Minimal art design.
Rare diseases
Biogen and Stoke Strike Dravet Syndrome Co-Development Deal
The partnership splits the rights to Stoke’s epilepsy antisense oligonucleotide, with up to $385 million in potential payments due to Stoke.
February 18, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Composite photo collage of massive hairy hands hold wad money count dollars earnings income wealth isolated on painted background.
Immunology and Inflammation
I&I Startup Bambusa Nabs $90M for Bispecific Antibodies
The company, helmed by BioNTech alums, is developing therapies aimed at dermatological, respiratory and gut-related indications.
February 14, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Art collage, hand with coins on blue background. Concept of business and finance.
Obesity
Aardvark Therapeutics Gets $94 Million IPO to Power Obesity Treatments
Obesity drug developers Aardvark, Helicore and Metsera have all netted raises in the past two weeks.
February 13, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
Art collage, hands and falling coins in orange circle. Modern design of finance and business.
Neuropsychiatric disorders
Newleos Raises $93.5M to Advance Neuropsychiatric Cast-Offs from Roche
Helmed by Roche alums, Newleos Therapeutics is taking over four drugs dropped from the Swiss pharma’s pipeline in early 2024.
February 13, 2025
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3 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
A human hand showing dollar golden coins in the jar with a colored background. Collage Art of finance
Funding
Abcuro Secures $200 Million Series C to Push Rare Muscle Disease Treatment
The Boston-area company’s previous raises were also aimed at getting its investigational antibody treatment for inclusion body myositis through clinical trials. Now, Abcuro is eyeing a regulatory submission and potential launch.
February 12, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
New York City, NY, USA - August 22, 2022: Pfizer world headquarters in New York City, USA. Pfizer Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation.
Prostate cancer
Leaked Conference Article Shows Pfizer’s Positive Phase I Prostate Cancer Data
A paper inadvertently published on the website of an ASCO conference revealed good results for mevrometostat in treating castration-resistant prostate cancer.
February 11, 2025
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1 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
scientist in microbiology laboratory working with E coli culture
Infectious disease
AbbVie Gets FDA Approval for New Antibiotic in the Face of Rising Resistance
The intravenous antibiotic Emblaveo, a combination of aztreonam and avibactam approved in Europe last year, was developed in partnership with Pfizer. AbbVie acquired its share of the asset as part of its $63 billion buyout of Allergan.
February 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
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