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Otsuka Commits $800M in M&A Deal Bringing a Phase 3-Ready Metabolic Disorder Drug

Otsuka Pharmaceutical is acquiring Jnana Therapeutics, whose lead drug is a potential treatment for the rare metabolic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU). Jnana’s drug could provide an alternative to two FDA-approved PKU medicines from BioMarin Pharmaceutical. By Frank VinluanOtsuka Pharmaceutical is broadening its scope in rare disease, striking a deal to acquire Jnana Therapeutics and its lead drug candidate, a small molecule on track for pivotal testing in a metabolic disorder with few treatments. Per deal terms announced Thursday, Otsuka is paying $800 million up front to buy Boston-based Jnana. The Japanese pharma company could shell out up to $325 million more if the lead drug candidate of privately held Jnana achieves development and regulatory milestones. Jnana’s lead program, JNT-517, is in development for phenylketonuria (PKU), an inherited disorder that leads to deficiency of an enzyme needed to break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in certain foods. Buildup of phenylalanine in ...
- Source: drugdu
- 93
- August 5, 2024
Tirzepatide Shows Statistically Significant Improvements in Reducing Heart Failure Risk, Enhanced Symptoms

By Don Tracy, Associate Editor Data from the SUMMIT clinical trial demonstrated that tirzepatide lowered the risk of negative heart failure outcomes and enhanced symptoms and physical limitations when tested with three different doses. Results from the SUMMIT Phase III clinical trial found that Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, tested at doses of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg, showed statistically significant improvements in reducing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity, as measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ CSS), compared to placebo. According to the company, tirzepatide also demonstrated improved exercise capacity as measured by the 6-Minute Walk-Test Distance (6MWD), reduction in the inflammation marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and a noteworthy mean body weight reduction at 52 weeks.1 “HFpEF accounts for nearly half of all heart failure cases, and in the U.S. almost 60% of those impacted also live with obesity.1,2 Despite ...
- Source: drugdu
- 74
- August 5, 2024
Innovative Imaging Method to Revolutionize Microscopy

Currently, scanning transmission electron microscopes (STEMs) employ a highly focused electron beam that traverses a sample, creating images point by point. Traditionally, at each point, the beam pauses for a constant, predetermined duration to gather signals, akin to how cameras with photographic film function, resulting in uniformly exposed images across all areas. This method continuously exposes the sample to electrons until the set “dwell-time” for each pixel elapses. Although simple to implement, this technique can subject the sample to excessive radiation, potentially altering or destroying it. Now, a pioneering imaging technique utilizing advanced microscopes has significantly reduced the time and radiation needed for imaging. This advancement is particularly beneficial for fields like medicine, where it promises enhanced imaging of sensitive materials, such as biological tissues, which are highly susceptible to damage. The new method, devised by an international research group led by Trinity College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland), fundamentally rethinks the ...
- Source: drugdu
- 70
- August 5, 2024
Artificial Intelligence Test Determines Risk of Bowel Cancer Recurrence After Surgery

Bowel cancer, commonly referred to as colorectal cancer, can develop anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. It ranks among the most prevalent cancers globally, with 1.9 million new cases recorded in 2020. The current protocols for determining the need for chemotherapy for patients with early-stage bowel cancer are not consistently reliable. As a result, some patients receive chemotherapy unnecessarily, while others who might benefit from it do not receive it and may face cancer recurrence. This decision is particularly challenging for stage II colon cancer, where the risk of recurrence post-surgery is generally lower. Now, a new artificial intelligence (AI) test can predict the risk of recurrence in bowel cancers, potentially helping patients avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. This test employs an AI algorithm to measure the concentration of immune cells known as CD3 in tumors at the early stages of bowel cancer. Previous studies have indicated that ...
- Source: drugdu
- 67
- August 5, 2024
Sanofi invests $1.4bn in insulin production in Germany

Sanofi has announced a significant investment of €1.3bn ($1.4bn) to increase its insulin production capabilities with an expanded facility in Frankfurt, Germany. The facility will cover 36,000m² at Sanofi’s existing BioCampus site and become operational in 2029. Sanofi will execute the project with support from the German national government and the Hesse state government, subject to European Union approval. Sanofi manufacturing and supply global head Brendan O’Callaghan stated: “With this project, we reaffirm our commitment to help diabetes sufferers around the world. “We’re using the long-time expertise of our Frankfurt BioCampus and its highly qualified personnel.” The investment comes in the wake of the German government’s adoption of an official pharma strategy in 2023 to bolster support for pharmaceutical companies. The approach also aids in streamlining approval processes and enhances conditions for research and development within the country. Sanofi Germany chairman Heidrun Irschik-Hadjieff said: “Our planned investment underscores the central ...
- Source: drugdu
- 72
- August 5, 2024
Rejuvenate and SAS partner to harness AI for age-related diseases

Belgian biotech Rejuvenate Biomed has teamed up with data and AI solutions company SAS to create a tool for researchers to repurpose existing drugs to tackle age-related diseases at their core. The low-code tool aims to simplify the process of analysing biomedical data. It will use SAS’s analytics to reveal hidden biological patterns and interactions, allowing researchers to create detailed reports with SAS visual analytics. The tool will be built on SAS Viya, a cloud-based AI and data platform. According to the companies, the tool is designed to be user-friendly for researchers who don’t have a wealth of coding experience but will also be powerful enough for advanced teams working on complex biological problems. Founded in 2017, Rejuvenate raised €15.7m ($16.9m) in a Series B round led by Zürich-based biotech Rejuveron Life Sciences in 2021. The funds built on a €3.2m ($3.46m) Series A in the same year. The start-up ...
- Source: drugdu
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- August 5, 2024
【EXPERT Q&A】Why should the medical device industry strengthen compliance management under the normalization of collection?

Drugdu.com expert’s response: The main reasons for medical device industry to strengthen compliance management under the normalization of centralized procurement can be summarized as follows: I. Policy Drives and Strengthened Regulation 1.Normalization of Centralized Procurement Policy: The normalization of centralized procurement in the pharmaceutical industry refers to the long-term, stable, and institutionalized practice of governments or relevant agencies to conduct bulk procurement of medical products and services such as drugs and medical devices. This model aims to reduce procurement costs, improve procurement efficiency, ensure the quality and supply of drugs and medical devices, thereby meeting the basic medical needs of the people. Under the centralized procurement policy, medical device companies need to pay more attention to compliance management. 2.Strengthened Regulatory Efforts: With the promotion of numerous national policies such as medical anti-corruption, centralized procurement, and joint procurement, medical reform has been fully integrated into the overall process of deepening reforms, and regulatory ...
- Source: drugdu
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- August 5, 2024
Adaptimmune’s Tecelra gains accelerated approval for synovial sarcoma

Oxford-based cell therapy company Adaptimmune Therapeutics has received accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel) for treatment of synovial sarcoma. Tecelra is the first engineered cell therapy for solid tumours approved in the US, and represents the first therapy option against synovial sarcoma in more than a decade. It is indicated to treat adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma who have received prior chemotherapy, and whose tumours express the MAGE-A4 antigen. Additionally, the tumours need to have a certain HLA type— HLA-A*02:01P, -A*02:02P, -A*02:03P, or -A*02:06P positive. The approval was granted based on results from the Phase II SPEARHEAD-1 trial (NCT04044768). Amongst 44 patients with synovial sarcoma, the overall response rate (ORR) to treatment was 43% with a median duration of response of six months (95% CI: 4.6, not reached). Continued approval remains subject to verification of clinical benefit in further trials. ...
- Source: drugdu
- 67
- August 5, 2024
Vir Bio trims staff and pipeline to focus on Sanofi-licensed programmes

Vir Biotechnology has signed a licensing agreement with Sanofi for three clinical-stage masked T-cell engagers (TCE) for cancer treatment. The US-based company has also started strategic restructuring, which includes a workforce reduction of approximately 25% and the discontinuation of its influenza and Covid-19 programmes. Vir will also phase out its T cell-based viral vector platform. The company expects to save approximately $50m each from staff cuts and pipeline reprioritisation, which will be reinvested into the Sanofi-licensed programmes. Vir reported $1.43bn in cash reserves at the end of Q2. The Sanofi-licensed TCE candidates include SAR446309, a dual inhibitor of HER2 and CD3; SAR446329, a dual-masked PSMA and CD3 TCE; and SAR446368, a dual-masked EGFR and CD3 TCE. The TCE candidates were developed using the protease-cleavable masking platform, which Sanofi acquired from Amunix Pharmaceuticals. Both SAR446309 and SAR446329 are being evaluated in Phase I trials in patients with metastatic treatment-resistant HER2-positive tumours ...
- Source: drugdu
- 71
- August 5, 2024
HDR UK and DPUK granted £2m for new motor neurone disease research initiative

The rapidly progressive neurological condition affects around 5,000 people in the UK Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and Dementias Platforms UK (DPUK) have received £2m in funding to launch a new initiative to accelerate motor neurone disease research. Supported by the UK Dementia Research Institute, the MND Research Data Catalyst is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and delivered through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). Currently affecting around 5,000 people in the UK, MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurological condition caused by the accumulation of proteins in the brain that clump together to gradually stop cells from working. Supported by the UK government in partnership with charities and organisations including the NIHR, UK Research and Innovation, MND Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, MND Scotland and LifeArc, along with the MND research community, the new initiative aims to accelerate the discovery of ...
- Source: drugdu
- 94
- August 3, 2024

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