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Heather McKenzie

Heather McKenzie

Senior Editor

Heather McKenzie is a professional journalist with more than 8 years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Since joining BioSpace, she has written more than 300 features and breaking news articles, including multiple award-winning stories. Her particular focuses are neuroscience, rare disease and regulatory science. She has also traveled internationally to cover global biotech hubs, including Israel. In previous roles, she has covered current affairs, sports, education and politics. She previously spent eight years as a senior content producer for executive-level business conferences in the pharma/biotech, legal, energy and business strategy sectors. In her free time, Heather enjoys creative writing, watching her American League champion Toronto Blue Jays, spending time with family and playing with her energetic Russian Blue cat Roofus. She hails from Toronto and has also lived in Chicago and Chesapeake, Virginia. You can reach her at heather.mckenzie@biospace.com.

Roche's signage at its office in France
Immunology & inflammation
Roche Partners With COUR in Autoimmune Deal Potentially Worth More Than $900M
The collaboration will see COUR and Roche’s Genentech leverage the biotech’s antigen-specific immune tolerance platform to develop and commercialize therapies for an undisclosed autoimmune disease.
December 3, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
A magical door in the forest with bright glowing lights.
Editorial
FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway Drives Momentum for Intractable, Fatal Diseases
Despite hotly debated biomarkers and failed or delayed confirmatory trials, the accelerated approval program has a track record of propelling R&D for some of medicine’s most challenging illnesses.
December 2, 2024
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6 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
BridgeBio’s ATTR-CM Approval, Cassava’s Alzheimer’s Failure, Trump’s Cabinet Picks, More
BridgeBio’s Attruby wins approval for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy while the FDA accepts Alnylam’s application for Amvuttra in the indication; Cassava’s controversial Alzheimer’s drug flunks Phase III; Amgen’s MariTide fails to impress investors, Donald Trump’s controversial nominations continue.
November 27, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Pictured: Alnylam's headquarters building in Massachusetts
Regulatory
Days After BridgeBio Approval, FDA Agrees to Review Alnylam’s Amvuttra in ATTR-CM
The FDA has accepted Alnylam’s supplemental New Drug Application for Amvuttra on the heels of BridgeBio’s Attruby nod, potentially giving Pfizer’s tafamidis franchise another competitor.
November 25, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Business investment or risk, high-risk investment, risk-taking, businessmen walking a tightrope across a crocodile area
Editorial
Embattled Sage Dealt Deeper Blow With Huntington’s Failure
Sage Therapeutics discontinued development of its lead candidate dalzanemdor after a third clinical failure, leading analysts to question the biotech’s future profitability.
November 25, 2024
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4 min read
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Heather McKenzie
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Drug Development
BridgeBio Wins FDA Approval for ATTR-CM Drug, Launching Competition With Pfizer
BridgeBio secured approval for Attruby Friday, along with the all-important mortality benefit that could give the drug a significant boost in the market against Pfizer’s tafamidis and potentially Alnylam’s Amvuttra.
November 23, 2024
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8 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
RFK Jr.’s HHS Nomination, Biogen’s Lupus Win and Leqembi Struggles, Neurogene’s Rough Month, More
Trump fingers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the HHS, lupus and ATTR-CM dominate headlines this week, bluebird bio has a cash gap to leap and RegenxBio eyes Sarepta in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
November 20, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Illustration of man changing direction, surreal abstract choice concept
Rare diseases
Facing a Dearth of Big Pharma Interest, Rare Disease Players Get Creative to Fund R&D
A handful of billion-dollar deals in the rare disease space highlights the uptick in Big Pharma’s investment, but it’s still extremely low compared to the money flowing to more common indications.
November 20, 2024
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7 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Regulatory
Deep Dive: FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway Under Fire
In this deep dive BioSpace explores the opportunities and challenges presented by the FDA’s accelerated approval program.
November 18, 2024
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Editable vector illustration of a man winning a race. Hi-res jpeg file included.
Editorial
AbbVie’s Setback Gives BMS Commanding Lead in Schizophrenia Space
With the failure of AbbVie’s emraclidine in two mid-stage trials, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Cobenfy is ‘sole muscarinic winner.’
November 18, 2024
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5 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Recession arrow, Graph showing business decline on led screen
Drug Development
Eyenovia Shares Plummet 70% After It Drops Lead Program
Eyenovia’s stock craters to its lowest point in its six-year lifespan as a public company following the biotech’s termination of its lead program in pediatric progressive myopia due to lack of efficacy.
November 15, 2024
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Row of Falling Domino Stones Stopped by Red Domino Stone Over Black Background, Risk Management, Intervene or Prevention Concept, 3d Rendering
FDA
Kezar’s Autoimmune Drug Hit With Second FDA Clinical Hold in as Many Months
Following patient deaths in a lupus trial that led to the termination of that program, Kezar’s autoimmune candidate zetomipzomib faces a partial clinical hold barring four trial participants from continuing treatment in the open-label portion of the trial, though the trial itself will continue as planned.
November 13, 2024
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
AbbVie’s Surprise Schizophrenia Flop, AstraZeneca’s China Drama, Hope in Huntington’s, More
A tale of two multi-billion schizophrenia deals, AstraZeneca touts strong sales while deflecting questions about an investigation into China exec, the Huntington’s pipeline builds momentum and layoffs continue with Sana Biotechnology and 23andMe.
November 13, 2024
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
vector 3d lungs made of triangular polygons on a blue background
Clinical research
Insilico Aces Second Mid-Stage IPF Trial in a Row
In a small Phase IIa trial, Insilico’s generative AI-designed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drug improved lung function and was well-tolerated across all dosing groups.
November 12, 2024
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Abstract glowing brain connections. Scientific medical developments of mental health. Graphic concept for your design
Huntington’s
After Decades of Failure, First Disease-Modifying Huntington’s Treatment on the Horizon
The past four years have brought disappointment for the Huntington’s community, but optimism is growing as companies including Prilenia and Wave Life Sciences eye paths to approval of therapies that could address the underlying cause of the disease.
November 11, 2024
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7 min read
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Heather McKenzie
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