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The Future of Cell and Gene Therapy: Navigating Innovation, Regulation, and Manufacturing Challenges
An interview with Philip Vanek, chief commercialization officer of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), reveals both promising developments and significant concerns shaping the advanced therapies sector’s trajectory through 2025 and beyond. This interview was conducted with support from Tozaro.
FEATURED STORIES
As multiple companies vie to expand on Alnylam’s success in commercializing RNAi therapeutics, the pioneering company has set a goal of targeting small interfering RNA to any tissue by 2030.
Vaccine skepticism is at an all-time high in the U.S., and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making some drastic moves in the name of reversing that trend. But misinformation and inconsistencies within the country’s healthcare agencies highlight problems with his approach.
Analysts reacted positively to the news that uniQure is in alignment with the FDA on an accelerated approval pathway and on target for a Q1 2026 submission for its one-time gene therapy for Huntington’s disease—but patients have been here before.
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Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in cellular metabolism and PK activation pioneering therapies for rare diseases, announced that the company has agreed to sell its rights to its 15% royalty on potential U.S. net sales of Servier’s vorasidenib to Royalty Pharma.
FROM OUR EDITORS
Read our takes on the biggest stories happening in the industry.
The FDA has vowed to fix a pharma ad loophole—but they’re targeting the wrong one.
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ADARx Pharmaceuticals CEO Zhen Li found her way to biopharma through Merck, where she was inspired by the application of powerful science to human medicine.
When talking to some of the most impressive women in biopharma, the conversation inevitably turned to what these women wanted other entrepreneurs to know. Here’s the best of the best of that advice.
Sarepta Therapeutics’ stock has dropped precipitously as questions swirl around the safety of its gene therapies. Meanwhile, the Duchenne patient community fears losing access to Elevidys while the regulator considers more drastic action.
BMO Capital Markets pointed to FDA leadership, and CBER Director Vinay Prasad in particular, as potential factors in the agency’s decision to issue a complete response letter for Replimune’s viral treatment RP1 for advanced melanomas. Shares of the company tumbled 75% on Tuesday.
The acquisition, which will give Sanofi a combination vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus, follows the pharma’s potential $1.4 billion COVID vaccine licensing deal with Novavax last year, plus a number of other big-ticket commitments outside of the vaccine space.
The money will focus on a manufacturing plant in Virginia that will make the company’s weight management and metabolic drugs like the hypertension drug baxdrostat and oral GLP-1 therapies.
In May, biotech iTeos Therapeutics decided to close down after being abandoned by GSK over the disappointing mid-stage performance of its anti-TIGIT antibody belrestotug.
In this episode presented by Eclipsebio, BioSpace’s head of insights Lori Ellis continues the discussion on mRNA and srRNA with Andy Geall of Replicate Bioscience and Alliance for mRNA Medicines and Pad Chivukula of Arcturus Therapeutics.
After initially refusing to suspend Elevidys distribution after two deaths, Sarepta has now given in to the FDA’s request, noting the need to maintain a good working relationship with the regulator.
The company is pushing inhaled versions of common oral drugs with the hope of avoiding severe side effects.