New hires:
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) selected John Crowley, an alum of Bristol Myers Squibb, Novazyme and Amicus Therapeutics, as its next CEO.
Crosby, a 2023 MM+M Agency 100 honoree, added Alison Hammer as an SVP.
Zenas BioPharma named Jennifer Fox as chief business officer and chief financial officer and Dr. Tanya Fischer as head of research and development and chief medical officer .
SaaS company Constellation hired Bill Perry as general manager of life sciences and healthcare.
Transgene, a France-based biotech, appointed Arnaud Dubarry as CFO, effective January 1, 2024.
On the heels of its recent Series B Funding round, Carta Healthcare named Brent Dover CEO.
Shorla Oncology welcomed aboard Rayna Sethi Herman as chief commercial officer.
Marketing vet Laura Potucek joined MRM for Health, a 2023 MM+M Agency 100 honoree, as chief creative officer.
Smart Immune appointed Dr. Rahim Fandi, MD, PhD as chief medical officer.
Weill Cornell Medicine hired Eileen Sheil as assistant vice provost for communications and public affairs, effective on February 1, 2024.
Drug development company Thermosome appointed Dr. Frank Hermann, MD as chief medical officer.
Matthew J. Dick is leaving WE Communications to join Omnicom Group as manager of health media. He will be part of Porter Novelli’s Washington D.C. office and working across that agency as well as Marina Maher Communications.
Dentsu subsidiary Tag named Dr. Balaji as head of medical content and MLR.
Minneapolis-based digital food marketing agency Ingredient hired James Sullivan as senior director of campaign management and Joel Gulledge as quality assurance manager.
Executive elevations:
LiveWorld, a 2023 MM+M Agency 100 honoree, promoted Dawn Lacallade to chief strategy officer.
Transgene also elevated Lucie Larguier to VP of corporate communications and investor relations.
Switzerland-based Santhera Pharmaceuticals promoted Geert Jan van Daal, MD, PhD to chief commercial officer and Marc Schrader to chief technology officer.
Board appointments:
Clinical-stage biotech Abcuro appointed Mark Pruzanski, MD, as chairman of the board of directors.
In addition to Hermann’s hire, Thermosome also named Professor Alessandro Gronchi, MD, to its clinical advisory board.
Departures:
Pfizer has decided to leave BIO, according to STAT News.
Layoffs:
IGM Biosciences will reduce its workforce by 22% as part of a broader overhaul within the company.
As part of a strategic reorganization, Travere Therapeutics is slashing approximately 20% of its workforce, with the cuts focused on non-field-based employees.
Startup ReNAgade Therapeutics announced it will be laying off 10% of its staff.
Deals:
AbbVie announced it is buying Cerevel, a biotech focused on developing treatments for central nervous system disorders, for $8.7 billion.
Additionally, AbbVie is collaborating with BigHat Biosciences on research that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to discover next-generation therapeutic antibodies.
Roche paid $2.7 billion upfront for Carmot Therapeutics and could spend another $400 million on the deal depending on additional milestones.
Generative AI biologics firm Absci and AstraZeneca inked a collaboration to deliver an AI-designed antibody against an oncology target.
Exelixis and Arcus Biosciences are collaborating on a clinical trial to evaluate zanzalintinib in combination with AB521 in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
IGC Pharma announced an AI collaboration with Los Andes University’s Center for Research and Training in Artificial Intelligence.
Health system marketing services company BPD completed the acquisition of Interpublic Group healthcare agencyRevive, effective December 1.
Thermo Fisher Scientific announced a 15-year virtual power purchasing agreement with international solar developer Ib Vogt.
Funding rounds:
ARCH Venture Partners raised $200 million for its first fund to bolster scientific research out of Japan to create new global biotech startups.
89bio announced an upsized $150 million public offering of its common stock shortly after meeting with the FDA for a Phase III trial of its FGF21 analog in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Seismic Therapeutic raised $121 million in a Series B funding round to support two biologics created using its machine learning tools.
Odyssey Therapeutics raised $101 million in its latest funding round as it prepares for its first drug candidates to soon enter the clinic.
Radiopharma startup Artbio raised $90 million in a Series A financing effort.
Coya Therapeutics announced plans to sell around $26.5 million worth of stock in a private placement. Additionally, former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross is expected to join the biotech company’s board.
Infex Therapeutics is planning to raise $25 million in a Series A funding round to help advance its lead candidate into a Phase IIb trial.
Industry news:
CVS rebranded its growing health services as ‘CVS Healthspire.’
Eli Lilly said the Food and Drug Administration approved Jaypirca to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy.
Valneva SE reported positive antibody persistence data 24 months after vaccination with a single dose of its chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq.
Merck KGaA’s highly anticipated MS drug evobrutinib failed to meet primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial.
Hyloris Pharmaceuticals announced the FDA approval for Podofilox Gel to treat external genital and perianal warts.
Medicare insurance company Clear Spring Health announced it is continuing its partnership with digital transformation agency Vokal with an ad campaign.
Replimune’s skin cancer therapy failed to meet its primary endpoints in a clinical trial.
Johnson & Johnson’s investigational TAR-200 was granted a Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA for treating high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
Seattle Children’s launched BrainChild Bio to accelerate CAR T-cell therapies for children with brain tumors.
Jaguar Health said the FDA approved renewal of its medicine for one of the most common side effects in dogs undergoing cancer treatment: chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.
Merck is scrapping a late-stage study of the combination of Keytruda and Lynparza in certain lung cancer patients due to an expected failure of the trial.
Walmart launched Karün, the company’s first eyewear brand made from traceable recycled materials.
Novartis received FDA approval for Fabhalta, the first oral monotherapy for treating adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.
Healthcare technology and services growth platform Unlock Health announced the commercial availability of Unlock ROI Insights, a full-funnel measurement tool for healthcare marketers.
Insilico Medicine announced the first-in-human study for an oral PHD inhibitor for inflammatory bowel disease.
The FDA granted priority review to a Genfit–Ipsen liver disease drug.
Virtual research organization ObvioHealth launched its eCOA solution to integrate advanced study design technology with scientific and clinical services driven by Obvio’s scientific advisory board.
The FDA accepted for Phathom Pharmaceuticals’ new drug application for Voquezna to treat heartburn associated with Non-Erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults.
See last week’s edition of Rx Rundown.
