News
        In three draft guidance documents, the FDA has laid out pointers to help companies craft better drug development programs and drug applications.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    FEATURED STORIES
        
        
        
    
        Therapies from industry leaders BioMarin and Ascendis Pharma supply a key hormone that promotes bone growth. In order to move the field forward, challengers are looking to address the underlying cause of the rare, genetic disease.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        New analysis from Jefferies shows that rare disease and cancer drugs granted the status are especially likely to be approved.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Takeda wanted to create something new in the cell therapy world by combining the technology with T cell engagers. A series of acquisitions in 2021 started the process.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    Job Trends
        
        
        
    
        Insitro’s layoffs affect about 65 employees as the AI-focused biotech looks to advance its pipeline in metabolic disease and neuroscience.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    FROM OUR EDITORS
        
        
            Read our takes on the biggest stories happening in the industry.
        
        
    
        As I ran from interview to interview across San Francisco, I was consistently warmed by the stories I was told by biotech and pharma executives—and the general comradery in the air throughout the chaotic event.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    THE LATEST
    
    
        Galapagos at the start of the year had planned to split into two businesses, with one resulting entity focused on cell therapies. The biotech nixed these plans a few months later, instead choosing to put up for sale multiple cell therapy assets.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        With data from the Phase III STELLAR-303 study in the books, Exelixis is plotting a 2025 regulatory application for zanzalintinib.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        In May, Summit released early data from the Phase III HARMONi study showing that while the PD-1/VEGF inhibitor resulted in significant progression-free survival improvements, it fell short of the overall survival bar.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The death occurred in a patient who had a complex medical background and who was being managed with several drugs, according to RBC Capital.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        To tailor cancer therapies to individual patients, Moderna, BioNTech and other companies are rethinking how they optimize manufacturing schedules and resources.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The anti-CD20 antibody, developed by Roche’s Genentech along with Biogen and already approved for multiple oncology indications, is branching into autoimmune disease. Its B cell–targeting mechanism of action gives it activity in improving kidney conditions in patients with lupus nephritis. 
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Last month, investors’ hopes were dashed as Replimune suggested alignment had not yet been reached with the FDA on RP1’s future. Now, the regulator has accepted a refiled application after all.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Ivonescimab’s progression-free survival data in non-small cell lung cancer bode well for an upcoming overall survival readout, according to Truist analysts, who noted that “OS is likely to be statistically significant” in favor of the PD-1/VEGF bispecific.
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Several sources are speculating that the potential buyer could be Eli Lilly, despite the breakdown of the pharma’s partnership with Nektar over atopic dermatitis therapy rezpeg. 
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Rybelsus can now be used as a primary or secondary prevention pill to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in at-risk patients with type 2 diabetes.
    
        
    
        
    
        
     
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
