Italian drugmaker Alfasigma has struck a licensing deal to take over global rights to linerixibat, GSK’s late-stage candidate for cholestatic pruritus in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), in a transaction that could be worth up to $690 million to the British pharma group. Under the agreement, GSK will receive $300 million upfront, with additional regulatory and commercial milestones plus tiered double-digit royalties on worldwide sales.
Ipsen withdraws cancer drug following safety concerns
Latest NewsIpsen has announced the immediate withdrawal of its cancer drug Tazverik across all indications after serious safety issues emerged in an ongoing Phase III trial.
A new departure: BioNTech’s founders step aside – Sahin and Türeci move to spin-off
Latest NewsThe Mainz-based biotech company BioNTech is facing a historic leadership change as the minds behind the COVID-19 vaccine prepare for a fresh start. Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci plan to focus entirely on mRNA platform technology and will launch a spin-off at the end of the year.
Roche breast cancer drug falls short of expectations (for now)
Latest NewsSetback after earlier optimism: the Roche drug giredestrant has delivered mixed clinical data. Several clinical trials had suggested the drug could play an important role in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast tumours and potentially become a blockbuster for the company. Now, however, a key Phase III study has failed to meet its primary endpoint, even as regulatory submissions are already under way.
Roche and Zealand’s obesity contender clears phase 2, but investors were looking for more
Latest NewsRoche and Zealand Pharma have delivered a clinically positive phase 2 readout for petrelintide, their amylin-based obesity drug, but the market reaction made clear that “positive” is no longer enough in the weight-loss race. After the companies reported that patients achieved up to 10.7% mean weight loss at 42 weeks, shares in both partners fell sharply as investors questioned whether the candidate can stand out in an increasingly crowded field.
Alfasigma bets up to $690M on GSK’s late-stage PBC itch drug ahead of FDA decision
Latest NewsItalian drugmaker Alfasigma has struck a licensing deal to take over global rights to linerixibat, GSK’s late-stage candidate for cholestatic pruritus in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), in a transaction that could be worth up to $690 million to the British pharma group. Under the agreement, GSK will receive $300 million upfront, with additional regulatory and commercial milestones plus tiered double-digit royalties on worldwide sales.
Servier buys Day One for $2.5bn to bolster its rare cancer pipeline
Latest NewsFrench pharma giant Servier is spending US$2.5bn to snap up Day One Biopharmaceuticals, gaining a key approved drug for difficult childhood brain tumours along with several promising pipeline candidates.
kyron.bio teams up with Servier to test “precision glycosylation” as a new lever for antibody performance
Latest NewsParis-based kyron.bio has signed a strategic partnership with French pharma group Servier to glycoengineer an antibody selected by Servier. This agreement marks an early proof-of-concept deal designed to show the company can reliably “dial in” a specific, pre-defined N-glycoform on a therapeutic antibody.
New CCO strengthens global business strategy
AppointmentsBristol-based cell and gene therapy CDMO eXmoor Pharma appointed Manuel Balbuena as Chief Commercial Officer at the beginning of March.
Radioligands give Molecular Partners new momentum in a market already at full speed
Latest NewsThe Zurich-based developer is increasingly focusing its pipeline on radiopharmaceutical cancer therapies. A recent development agreement with isotope specialist Eckert & Ziegler marks another step in that direction. The collaboration aims to develop and manufacture so-called Radio-DARPin therapeutics, in which targeted protein molecules deliver radioactive isotopes directly to tumours. Early clinical data on the DARPin molecules in combination with radioisotopes suggest targeted tumour localisation. Proof of efficacy, however, is still pending.
UCB licenses Antengene’s ATG-201 in $1.1B autoimmune masked T-cell engager deal
Latest NewsUCB is adding a new kind of immune-cell weapon to its immunology arsenal. The Belgian biopharma said it has struck a global licensing deal with Hong Kong–based Antengene for ATG-201, a CD19/CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) designed to deplete B cells; an approach that has long been validated in autoimmune disease, but is now being re-engineered with next-generation biologics that promise deeper, more durable effects.