Today's Pharma Pulse
Neolaia unveils novel CD38 inhibitors
Neolaia announced the synthesis of new CD38 inhibitors, expanding its pipeline in immuno‑oncology. The same feed highlighted Biohaven's preclinical data on BHV‑2100, a TRPM3 calcium‑channel modulator targeting neuropathic pain. These developments were reported across multiple BioWorld feeds.
Also developing:
WCG to Acquire The Contract Network, Extending ClinSphere’s AI-Driven Site Enablement Capabilities Across Study Start-Up
WCG announced the acquisition of The Contract Network, adding AI‑driven contract and study start‑up intelligence to its ClinSphere platform. The integration expands ClinSphere’s capabilities beyond predictive trial design, site feasibility and enrollment to include contract and budget analysis. By embedding this technology, WCG aims to spot document misalignments at creation, preventing timeline risks without requiring new tools for sites. The move reinforces WCG’s strategy to build a unified, AI‑powered site enablement ecosystem for faster, more confident trial initiation.
Lupin Launches Generic Diabetes Drug in US After USFDA Approval
Indian pharma Lupin Ltd received FDA approval for its generic dapagliflozin‑metformin extended‑release tablets and launched them in the United States. The product matches the brand Xigduo XR in bioequivalence and is offered in four strength combinations. The launch adds a lower‑cost...
FDA Expands Tzield to Toddlers, Boosting Sanofi's Valuation
FDA expands Sanofi’s Tzield💉 to age 1 — expands TAM, re-rates Sanofi; catalyst vs limited pediatric data and commercialization risk; watch earnings for uptake. Insight: accumulate on pullbacks. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Goodwin Guides Obsidian‑Galera Merger Backed by $350 Million Private Placement
Goodwin Procter LLP advised Obsidian Therapeutics on its all‑stock merger with Galera Therapeutics, a deal underpinned by an oversubscribed $350 million private placement. The financing is slated to close just before the merger, extending the combined company's runway into late 2028...
SynbioTech's L. Plantarum FS4722 Emerges as a Potential Preventive Approach for Hyperuricemia
SynbioTech announced that its probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FS4722 markedly lowers serum uric acid in mouse models, matching the efficacy of conventional uric‑lowering drugs while showing no kidney toxicity. The strain works through a multi‑mechanism gut‑liver‑kidney axis: it reduces intestinal purine...
Kelun-Biotech Announces Three Clinical Study Results Selected for Oral Presentations at 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting
Kelun‑Biotech will present oral abstracts at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting on three oncology studies: a Phase III trial of sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac‑TMT) plus pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in PD‑L1‑positive advanced NSCLC, a pivotal Phase II evaluation of the next‑generation selective RET...
Anti-Amyloid Drugs May Not Work Against Alzheimer's but if so, What Will?
A Cochrane systematic review of 17 clinical trials involving over 20,000 patients with early Alzheimer’s found that anti‑amyloid drugs produce little to no clinically meaningful improvement in cognition or daily function. The analysis also highlighted an increased risk of brain...
Natural GLP-1 Discovery Hidden in Joints Could Revolutionize Arthritis Treatment
A study published in The Lancet Rheumatology found trace amounts of the body’s natural GLP‑1 hormone in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. Researchers compared joint‑fluid and blood samples from the INART biobank and observed a...
Noxopharm SOF-SKN Data Shows Prolonged Skin Retention with Minimal Systemic Absorption
Australian biotech Noxopharm announced preclinical pharmacokinetic results for its SOF‑SKN candidate, showing a skin half‑life of roughly 3.5 days with negligible systemic exposure. The active moiety, SOF‑16, demonstrated consistent dermal concentrations across normal and disease‑like skin and remained confined to...
FDA Clears Merck's First Once‑Daily Oral HIV Pill
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Merck's once‑daily oral HIV pill, the first daily regimen from a major pharmaceutical firm in recent years. The decision positions Merck to compete more directly in the HIV market and could reshape treatment...
Durvalumab Plus FLOT Improves Resectable Gastric Cancer Outcomes
EFS in MATTERHORN: A Ph3 RCT of durvalumab plus 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin & docetaxel chemotherapy (FLOT) in resectable gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC) - @YJanjigianMD et al. #ASCO25 LBA5 https://t.co/lW8KUtXdB3 #NCT04592913 #stcsm #esocsm
CtDNA‑guided Cam
Camizestrant + CDK4/6i for the Tx of emergent ESR1 mutations during 1L endocrine-based therapy & ahead of disease progression in Pts w/ HR+/HER2– advanced breast cancer (ABC): ...ctDNA-guided SERENA-6 trial - Turner et al. #ASCO25 LBA4 https://t.co/9jFfuGd1IS #NCT04964934 #bcsm
Asahi Kasei Completes $920.7M Acquisition of German Biotech Aicuris
Japanese conglomerate Asahi Kasei has completed its acquisition of German biopharma Aicuris Anti‑infective Cures for approximately €780 million ($920.7 million). The deal adds three antiviral assets and royalties from Prevymis, and will be integrated via Asahi Kasei’s US subsidiary Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, boosting...
Rusfertide Shows Efficacy in Phase 3 PV Trial
Results from VERIFY, a phase 3, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled study of rusfertide for treatment of polycythemia vera (PV) - @KuykendallMd et al. #ASCO25 LBA3 https://t.co/XID3tkj6Sk #NCT05210790 #mpnsm
Adjuvant Nivolumab Boosts Outcomes in High‑Risk HNSCC
NIVOPOSTOP (GORTEC 2018-01): Ph3 RCT of adjuvant nivolumab added to radio-chemotherapy in Pts w/ resected head & neck squamous cell carcinoma at high risk of relapse - Bourhis et al. #ASCO25 LBA2 https://t.co/Uxh4JhZyDE #NCT03576417 #hncsm #ImmunoOnc
Atezolizumab Boosts Adjuvant Therapy for dMMR Colon
RCT of standard chemotherapy +/- atezolizumab as adjuvant therapy for Pts w/ stage III deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) colon cancer (@ALLIANCE_org A021502; ATOMIC) - @FASinicropeMD et al. #ASCO25 LBA1 https://t.co/cGalNPlxMe #NCT02912559 #crcsm