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Nick Paul Taylor

Nick is a freelance writer who has been reporting on the global life sciences industry since 2008. With a BSc in biology, Nick writes about the science and business of biopharma and medtech for numerous healthcare publications. He can be reached at nick.paul.taylor@gmail.com or on LinkedIn.

Pictured: Handshake in front of raining money / Ta
Deals
Otsuka Pays Up to $1.1B to Buy Jnana, Adds Drug Discovery Capabilities
With an upfront $800 million payment and $325 million in potential milestones, Otsuka Pharmaceutical is acquiring Jnana Therapeutics’ drug discovery platform and rare disease candidate, the companies announced Thursday.
August 1, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Drug Development
Novo’s Older GLP-1 Drug Slows Cognitive Decline in Phase IIb Alzheimer’s Trial
Cognitive function in the liraglutide cohort declined 18% slower than in the placebo arm over one year of treatment, researchers announced Tuesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
July 30, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: GSK's headquarters in London
Business
GSK, Flagship Commit $150M Upfront for Initial Development of Respiratory, Immunology Programs
Flagship Pioneering and its portfolio companies are in line to receive up to $720 million in milestones for each of the 10 programs that GSK could option, according to Monday’s announcement.
July 30, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Drug Development
Moderna’s Next-Gen COVID Vaccine Beats Current Shot in Pivotal Adult Efficacy Trial
Moderna said Thursday it plans to talk to regulators about the next steps after showing its next-generation candidate is more efficacious in adults than the biotech’s existing Spikevax COVID-19 shot.
June 13, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Businessmen shaking hands after closing
Business
Stada Bags European Rights from Alvotech to Biosimilar of Amgen Blockbusters
Stada announced Tuesday it has secured European rights from Alvotech to a clinical-stage biosimilar of Amgen’s blockbuster bone drugs Prolia and Xgeva.
June 11, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Nasdaq signage and building in New York City
Deals
Alumis Files for IPO to Fund Phase III Trials of Potential Rival Drug to BMS’ Sotyktu
In an SEC filing on Friday, Alumis said it aims to start late-stage trials of a TYK2 inhibitor in plaque psoriasis this year and is seeking public funding for the studies.
June 10, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim's office in California
Drug Development
Boehringer, Zealand’s GLP-1 MASH Data ‘Unintentionally’ Published by Medical Congress Website
Zealand Pharma said on Thursday that partner Boehringer Ingelheim will present the results from the study on Friday at the European Association of the Study of Liver Congress.
June 6, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: A volcano erupting of damaged and inflamed nerves
Drug Development
Annexon’s Pivotal Phase III GBS Trial Hits Goal, Tees Up Approval Filing
Annexon’s late-stage Guillain-Barré syndrome trial has hit its primary endpoint and laid the foundation for a filing for approval next year, the company said Tuesday.
June 4, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Illustration of a human body with the liver highlighted
Drug Development
Tango Stops Early Cancer Trial Over Liver Toxicity, Drops Out of Race Against Roche
Tango Therapeutics reported Thursday that solid tumor patients who stayed in the Phase I study for more than eight weeks developed Grade 3 and 4 liver function abnormalities.
May 23, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
AstraZeneca's sign on its office in California
Business
AstraZeneca Snags Option to Buy Versant’s New Obesity Biotech SixPeaks
SixPeaks Bio emerged from stealth Wednesday with up to $110 million, a deal with AstraZeneca and plans to take weight-loss candidates designed to preserve muscle mass toward the clinic.
May 22, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: GSK's headquarters building in West London
Drug Development
GSK’s Long-Acting Asthma Drug Hits Primary Endpoint in Phase III Trials
Participants experienced fewer asthma attacks when receiving the antibody every six months, GSK said Tuesday, positioning the company to file for approval of the potential blockbuster.
May 21, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: U.S. Capitol Building, Washington DC
Policy
Sanders Warns Weight-Loss Drugs Could Bankrupt US Healthcare System
A Senate health committee report published Wednesday forecasts spending on prescription drugs to hit $1 trillion a year in 2031, unless the prices of GLP-1 medicines such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy are cut.
May 16, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Facade of Takeda's office in Massachusetts
Business
Takeda Inks Potential $2.2B Deal for AC Immune’s Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy
Takeda on Monday said it is paying AC Immune $100 million upfront for an option on a Phase Ib/II Alzheimer’s disease candidate that could activate the immune system to clear amyloid beta plaques.
May 13, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
AstraZeneca's sign on its office in California
Drug Development
AstraZeneca Invests $140M in Cellectis, Secures 44% Stake in CAR-T Specialist
Cell and gene therapy company Cellectis announced Monday it has completed a $140 million investment from AstraZeneca that extends the biotech’s cash runway into 2026.
May 6, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Novartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerl
Deals
Novartis Buys Mariana Oncology in $1B Acquisition, Bolsters Radiopharma Assets
The Swiss drugmaker is paying $1 billion and committing up to $750 million in milestones for Mariana Oncology’s preclinical cancer pipeline and clinical supply capabilities, the companies announced Thursday.
May 2, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
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