Deals:
Roivant Sciences acquired an experimental drug called mosliciguat from Bayer.
Sanofi paid $110 million to RadioMedix and Orano Med for a next-generation radioligand medicine for rare cancers.
Gilead Sciences entered into a strategic collaboration with Genesis Therapeutics to discover and develop novel, small molecule therapies across multiple targets.
Citrus Health Group acquired Mirador Global.
UpScriptHealth expanded its partnership with Dexcom.
DeepIntent announced a strategic partnership to provide pharma marketers access to premium inventory across Everyday Health Group’s digital properties.
Scantox Group acquired Gentronix.
Eir Partners recapitalized medical marketing firm PharmaForceIQ.
Danforth Advisors acquired Advyzom.
Freshpaint partnered with Invoca.
FDA:
The agency issued a letter to AbbVie for making false and misleading claims in a TV ad featuring Serena Williams.
The FDA announced that it has commissioned an independent literature review to evaluate the existing data on chemicals in tampons and any associated health effects.
The agency approved Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya to treat ulcerative colitis.
An FDA advisory committee raised concerns about whether Iterum’s application for a new oral antibacterial to treat urinary tract infections is restrictive enough.
An analysis by the Associated Press found that nearly 2,000 drug manufacturing plants are overdue for FDA inspections after delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FDA is shutting a pain management program that helped supply fentanyl medication to patients suffering from severe cancer pain.
Arizona-based Eagle Produce LLC recalled 224 cases of whole cantaloupes sold under a brand called Kandy, according to an FDA press release.
Rezolute said the agency removed the partial clinical hold on its late-stage study testing its treatment for low blood sugar.
DeepWell Digital Therapeutics received 510(k) clearance from the FDA on its biofeedback software development kit for use in over-the-counter treatments for the reduction of stress and as an adjunctive treatment for high blood pressure, together with other pharmacological and/or nonpharmacological interventions.
Layoffs:
Charles River Laboratories is set to lay off 3% of its staffers.
Vesigen Therapeutics is laying off staff.
Connect Biopharma said it is “significantly reducing” its presence in China.
Funding rounds:
Bain Capital Life Sciences brought in approximately $3 billion for its fourth fund.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced the pricing of $500.3 million public offering
MBX Biosciences said it was seeking a valuation of up to $482.5 million in its initial public offering in the U.S.
Candid Therapeutics emerged from stealth with $370 million in funding.
Xencor announced the pricing of $175 million in a public offering of common stock.
U.K.-based F2G inked a $100 million Series H funding round.
California biotech startup OrsoBio raised $67 million.
CorFlow Therapeutics raised $48.5 million in a Series B financing round
Radiant Bio closed a $35 million Series A financing effort.
Vironexis Biotherapeutics secured a $26 million seed round.
Cellino Biotech won a federal grant worth up to $25 million.
Personalized health company Viome announced a $25 million internal Series D funding round.
Solasta Bio completed a $14 million Series A funding round.
Following the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Lilly will be donating a total of $2.6 million through its Milestones into Meaning initiative to be shared across 24 organizations for programs working to improve health equity in the U.S.
Industry news:
Moderna said it will slash its annual spending on research and development by $1.1 billion by 2027.
Summit Therapeutics released late-stage trial data showing that its experimental lung cancer treatment topped Merck’s Keytruda.
GSK announced positive results from its late-stage trial of asthma drug Nucala in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The British pharma giant also moved its mRNA flu vaccine into late-stage trials
However, the drugmaker said its experimental herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine candidate failed to meet the main goal of a trial.
The House of Representatives passed the BIOSECURE Act.
Apple added new hearing health features to the AirPods Pro.
Kenvue launched a global influencer agency review.
Terns Pharmaceuticals said an early-stage trial of its obesity treatment in pill form achieved statistically significant weight loss.
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo said a Phase 3 study of their antibody drug conjugate datopotamab deruxtecan did not show it was able to significantly extend lives versus the chemotherapy drug docetaxel.
The city of Baltimore won another $80 million in opioid restitution funds through a settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals.
Vor Biopharma revealed promising Phase 1/2 study results for its AML treatment.
Centessa Pharmaceuticals planned to take its orexin receptor 2 agonist into mid-stage testing for narcolepsy.
WhiteGlove, a full-service healthcare concierge for international care coordination, was unveiled under the leadership of Dropbox and LinkedIn alum Anand Prakash.
Merck started a global Phase 3 trial for MK-7240, an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) being evaluated to treat active, moderate-to-severe UC.
Ixlayer launched ixEngage, a direct-to-patient platform for biopharma.
The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) released its second-ever book, You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health―With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real Families.
Doceree launched Doceree Marketplace.
Healthcare analytics platform PurpleLab introduced Audience Builder.
Viridian Therapeutics said an experimental treatment improved the signs and symptoms of thyroid eye disease.
Pure Global launched the Pure Global Resource Center.
Novo Nordisk’s Amycretin delivered significant weight loss in a Phase 1 study.
Envision Pharma Group launched EnvisionOne Insights.
Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent successfully treated patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria, according to a late-stage trial.
BridgeBio announced it won’t move forward with a gene therapy for a group of genetic disorders that impair adrenal glands.
Roche’s once-daily oral weight loss pill helped Phase 1 subjects lose up to 7.3% of their body weight within one month.
See last week’s edition of Rx Rundown.
