March 17th, 2020 Xconomy National — Vancouver-based biotech AbCellera Biologics has identified more than 500 antibodies that could potentially be turned into medicines to treat the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. Now scientists at the National Institutes of Health, with which the company has been working to prepare medical countermeasures for pandemic outbreaks, are testing the candidates… Continue reading AbCellera’s Coronavirus “Neutralizing” Antibody Leads Enter Screening
Author: Xconomy Online News
UC San Diego Health Develops COVID-19 Test, Begins Testing Patients
March 14th, 2020 Xconomy San Diego — The UC San Diego Health System has developed a diagnostic test that can determine whether a patient has contracted the novel coronavirus in about eight hours. Developed under guidance that the FDA published roughly two weeks ago amid the severe shortage of tests for the viral illness, COVID-19,… Continue reading UC San Diego Health Develops COVID-19 Test, Begins Testing Patients
Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Trials, Esperion’s Approvals, NASH News & More
February 28th, 2020 Xconomy National — Clinical trials have historically hewn to a rigid format. A trial is designed, conducted according to that design, and then results are analyzed. Making changes in the midst of the study was a no-no. In recent years, regulators have showed openness to clinical trial designs intended to make drug… Continue reading Bio Roundup: COVID-19 Trials, Esperion’s Approvals, NASH News & More
Gilead, Moderna Candidates Ramp Up Coronavirus Drug, Vaccine Testing
February 27th, 2020 Xconomy National — An investigational antiviral drug Gilead Sciences has been developing to treat infections caused by the Ebola virus will be tested in about 1,000 adults diagnosed with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has infected tens of thousands of people and killed more than 2,500. On Wednesday, Foster City, CA-based Gilead… Continue reading Gilead, Moderna Candidates Ramp Up Coronavirus Drug, Vaccine Testing
Takeda Bases PvP Biologics Buyout on Promising Early Celiac Drug Data
February 26th, 2020 Xconomy San Diego — About three years ago fledgling San Diego-based startup PvP Biologics announced a $35 million deal with Takeda Pharmaceutical that gave the Japan pharma giant rights to acquire the company down the line. That day is here. Takeda (NYSE: TAK) acquired the company for an undisclosed amount up front,… Continue reading Takeda Bases PvP Biologics Buyout on Promising Early Celiac Drug Data
Bicycle Therapeutics Lands $30M From Genentech in New Cancer R&D Pact
February 25th, 2020 Xconomy Boston — Genentech is the latest company to enter a drug discovery partnership with Bicycle Therapeutics, adding a new alliance in cancer research for the clinical-stage biotech. Under an agreement announced Tuesday, Roche subsidiary Genentech is paying Bicycle (NASDAQ: BCYC) $30 million up front. As programs progress, Bicycle could earn up… Continue reading Bicycle Therapeutics Lands $30M From Genentech in New Cancer R&D Pact
Invetx Fetches $15M to Develop Biologic Drugs for Man’s Best Friend
February 24th, 2020 Xconomy Boston — Veterinarians have a saying that a cat is not a small dog, says Invetx CEO Juergen Horn. Obviously, a dog of any size isn’t the same as a human. But Horn, a veterinarian, says there are enough similarities between the species to take the science behind biological drugs for… Continue reading Invetx Fetches $15M to Develop Biologic Drugs for Man’s Best Friend
Aimmune Awarded First FDA Approval for a Peanut Allergy Therapy
January 31st, 2020 Xconomy San Francisco — An Aimmune Therapeutics drug developed to treat peanut allergy won FDA approval late Friday—the first time the agency has approved an oral immunotherapy for a food allergy. The Aimmune (NASDAQ: AIMT) drug, Palforzia, was developed to desensitize patients to peanuts. The FDA decision covers patients between the ages… Continue reading Aimmune Awarded First FDA Approval for a Peanut Allergy Therapy
Annovis Bio Gets $12M in IPO to Target Trio of Neurotoxic Proteins
January 29th, 2020 Xconomy New York — A Philadelphia-area biotech is developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases it says have the potential to perform better than others by targeting multiple proteins involved in the brain’s breakdown. Now the company, Berwyn, PA-based Annovis Bio, has raised $12 million in an initial public offering to advance clinical development… Continue reading Annovis Bio Gets $12M in IPO to Target Trio of Neurotoxic Proteins
Decibel Therapeutics Exec Holtzman Retires, Reid Named Acting CEO
January 29th, 2020 @frankvinluan @xconomy Like Us Xconomy Boston — Decibel Therapeutics CEO Steven Holtzman is retiring, the Boston-based drug developer announced Wednesday. He will continue as a business advisor to the company. Decibel appointed Laurence Reid to serve as acting CEO. Reid is an entrepreneur-in-residence at Third Rock Ventures, one of Decibel’s investors. He… Continue reading Decibel Therapeutics Exec Holtzman Retires, Reid Named Acting CEO