Drug Discovery

Merck discontinues Covid-19 vaccine candidates on grounds of poor performance

American pharma giant Merck has announced that it has discontinued the development of its SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 vaccine candidates V590 and V591, after they performed poorly in phase 1 clinical trials.

In vitro study finds Pfizer, BioNTech’s vaccine could inhibit Covid-19 caused by UK strain

Pfizer and BioNTech have revealed results of an in vitro study that offers additional data on the capability of sera obtained from people who were immunised with their Covid-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, to neutralise the B.1.1.7 lineage (VOC 202012/01).

Gritstone advancing Covid-19 vaccine, plans to begin trials with NIAID support

Gritstone Oncology, a biotech firm developing vaccines, has announced that it is advancing the development of a second generation vaccine against Covid-19.

KSQ partners with Takeda to develop immuno-oncology therapies

KSQ Therapeutics has joined forces with Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical to research, develop, and commercialise novel immuno-oncology therapies.

Amneal to acquire substantially all of Kashiv Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Kashiv BioSciences announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC (“Amneal”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, will acquire a 98% interest in Kashiv Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Kashiv Specialty”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kashiv focused on the development of complex generics, innovative drug delivery platforms and novel 505(b)(2) drugs.

BeiGene announces collaboration with Novartis to develop and commercialize anti-PD-1 antibody Tislelizumab

BeiGene announced a collaboration and license agreement with Novartis Pharma AG to develop, manufacture and commercialize BeiGene’s anti-PD-1 antibody tislelizumab in the United States, Canada, Mexico, member countries of the European Union, United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Russia, and Japan.

Sanofi to buy biopharmaceutical firm Kymab for up to $1.45bn

French drugmaker Sanofi has agreed to acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Kymab in a deal valued at around $1.45bn.

Pfizer says BNT162b2 vaccine is effective against new Covid strains

Pfizer and BioNTech said that their Covid-19 vaccine BNT162b2 has been found to be effective against a key mutation found in two highly transmissible strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as per the results from an in vitro study.

Celularity and GX Acquisition announce merger agreement to create publicly listed leader in allogeneic cellular therapy

Celularity, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, leading the next evolution in cellular medicine with the development of off-the-shelf allogeneic therapies derived from the postpartum human placenta, and GX Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: GXGX), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which GX Acquisition Corp. will combine with Celularity.