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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.

Pictured: Iris Grossman, Ph.D., chief therapeutics
The Decade of RNA Delivery – Beyond the Liver
The past two decades were all about nucleic acid reading and writing. The next is about delivering DNA and RNA, Yogev Debbi, CEO of Mana.bio, told BioSpace in an interview.
March 7, 2023
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5 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Voyager CEO Al Sandrock/courtesy of Voyager Therap
Business
Voyager Rolls on as Novartis Selects Two of Three CNS Targets
Voyager Therapeutics unlocked a potential $600 million plus $25 million upfront as Novartis exercised its option to leverage the company’s capsids against two undisclosed neurologic disease targets.
March 6, 2023
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images
FDA
FDA Approves First Therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia (Updated)
The FDA greenlit Reata Pharmaceuticals’ omaveloxolone (Skyclarys) as the first and only treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare, life-limiting neuromuscular disorder.
February 28, 2023
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4 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Al Drago/CQ Roll Call
Business
Billy Dunn Steps Down from Post as FDA Neuroscience Head
Billy Dunn, director of the FDA’s Office of Neuroscience, is stepping down from his post to “explore other opportunities,” according to an internal FDA e-mail.
February 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Courtesy of PR Newswire
Drug Development
The ALS Puzzle Gets Two New Pieces: SYF2 and PIKFYVE
ALS is the 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the therapeutic world. As the regulatory edges come together, new research pieces are also connecting.
February 27, 2023
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4 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Drug Development
Reata Stock Reels as Dunn Departs on Eve of Friedreich’s Ataxia Decision
There are currently no disease-modifying treatments for Friedreich’s ataxia. That could change when the FDA makes a decision about Reata Pharmaceuticals’ omaveloxolone on Feb. 28.
February 24, 2023
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5 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Courtesy of Getty Images
Drug Development
Astellas Presents Update on Recently Cleared Pompe Gene Therapy Trial
After overcoming a clinical hold, Astellas presented preliminary safety and efficacy data from the Phase I/II FORTIS trial of AT845 in late-onset Pompe disease at the 19th Annual WORLDSymposium 2023.
February 22, 2023
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Michael Vi/Getty Images, Mark Wildgust_Janssen Bio
Business
Janssen Returns Phase I NASH Candidate to Arrowhead
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals has gained full rights to ARO-PNPLA3, formerly JNJ-75220795, the company announced Wednesday.
February 15, 2023
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
courtesy of Enveda Biosciences
Drug Development
Enveda’s Matured Platform Drives Toward Three INDs in 2023
Enveda’s primary R&D efforts will focus on inflammation, fibrosis and neurosensory biology within the GI, dermatology and pulmonary therapeutic areas.
February 14, 2023
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6 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Courtesy of Getty Images
Biopharma Execs Adopt Creative Mindset at BIO CEO
As biopharma executives sought funding last week at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference, the strategic mindset could be summed up in three words: flexibility, creativity and concession.
February 14, 2023
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3 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Yair Benita, Ph.D., chief technology officer, AION
Novel Alliance Responds to Big Pharma’s Most Pressing AI/ML Needs
AI/ML applications are being deployed at large pharmaceutical companies, but in order to truly maximize their potential, better infrastructure is needed. AION Labs believes it is answering that call.
February 7, 2023
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5 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Advances in Genome Sequencing could Further Precision Cancer Therapies
At the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology general meeting, innovators from industry and academia discuss how recent advances in whole genome sequencing are propelling cancer research.
February 7, 2023
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4 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Michael Vi/Getty Images, Mark Wildgust_Janssen Bio
Drug Development
Janssen Posts Positive HDFN Data Amid Reports of Global Overhaul
Janssen reported positive topline data from a Phase II proof of concept study assessing nipocalimab in severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.
February 6, 2023
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Courtesy of JHVEPhoto/Getty Images
Business
Pfizer’s 2023 Projections Reflect End to Emergency COVID-19 Measures
Pfizer reported full-year 2022 earnings Tuesday and provided 2023 projections far below the previous year’s totals.
January 31, 2023
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Ben Lamm and Beth Shapiro, Ph.D., courtesy Colossa
Colossal Closes $150M Series B with Eye on the Iconic Dodo
Tuesday, de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences closed a mammoth, $150 million Series B financing round and announced plans to resurrect the iconic Dodo – extinct since the 17th century.
January 30, 2023
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3 min read
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Heather McKenzie
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