Drug Discovery

Pfizer and Astellas secure FDA priority review for Padcev MIBC combo therapy

Pfizer and Astellas have received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acceptance for priority review of their supplemental biologics licence application (sBLA) for perioperative Padcev (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) combined with the PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Asahi Kasei acquires German company Aicuris

Asahi Kasei has completed its acquisition of Aicuris Anti-infective Cures, a German biopharmaceutical company.

UCB to purchase Neurona and NRTX-1001 for $1.15bn

UCB has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Neurona Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $1.15bn, adding the latter’s lead asset NRTX-1001 to its epilepsy portfolio.

MSD secures EC approval for Enflonsia to prevent infant RSV infection

Merck & Co (MSD) has received the European Commission (EC) approval for Enflonsia (clesrovimab), indicated to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease in newborns and infants during their initial RSV season.

Aligos and Xiamen Amoytop sign deal for HBV therapy

Aligos Therapeutics has signed an exclusive licence agreement with Xiamen Amoytop Biotech for the development and commercialisation of pevifoscorvir sodium in Greater China for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Daiichi Sankyo and Interna partner for MNM-targeted delivery solutions

Daiichi Sankyo has signed a research partnership with Interna Therapeutics to develop targeted delivery solutions based on molecular nano motor (MNM) technology.

Nucleai and Sirona Dx to provide new proteomics solution for pharma companies

Nucleai has partnered with Sirona Dx to provide an integrated spatial proteomics solution for pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses for drug development.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Zai Lab team up for dual DLL3 therapy study

Boehringer Ingelheim and Zai Lab have entered a clinical collaboration to investigate a dual delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-targeting approach for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) and other neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs).

Adcendo secures $75m in Series C funding for ADC development

Adcendo, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer treatment, has raised $75m in a Series C funding round.