Stipple Launches with $100M for Novel Oncology Targets
Stipple, a new biotech focused on oncology, announced a $100 million Series A financing round to pursue novel, historically undruggable cancer targets. The round was led by top‑tier venture firms and includes strategic commitments from several large pharmaceutical partners. Stipple’s founding team combines deep academic expertise with prior drug‑development successes, positioning the company to accelerate early‑stage discovery. The capital will fund platform technology development, preclinical programs, and collaborative validation studies.
Optimization of Brain-Permeable SGK1 Inhibitors for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Jiangsu and Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceuticals have patented selective Nav1.8 sodium‑channel blockers that alleviate inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rodent studies and are slated for IND‑enabling toxicology this year, aiming for Phase I trials in 2027. Parallel research highlights chronic inflammation’s role...
Dectisomes Show Potent Activity Against High-Priority Fungal Pathogens
Jiangsu and Shanghai Hengrui patented selective Nav1.8 blockers that show potent analgesic effects with minimal off‑target activity. New research links chronic inflammation in the bone‑marrow niche to epigenetic reprogramming of hematopoietic stem cells, suggesting early‑intervention strategies for leukemia prevention. Infinimmune...
Suzhou Spring-Sea Bio-Pharmaceuticals Identifies New GLP-1R Agonists
Suzhou Spring‑Sea Bio‑Pharmaceuticals announced the discovery of a novel series of glucagon‑like peptide‑1 receptor (GLP‑1R) agonists that demonstrate high potency and prolonged half‑life in pre‑clinical models. The compounds show superior glucose‑lowering efficacy compared with existing market leaders and exhibit favorable...
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Presents GPR88 Agonists
Researchers at Jiangsu and Shanghai Hengrui have patented Nav1.8 blockers that deliver strong analgesic effects while sparing off‑target channels, opening a new avenue for chronic pain therapy. Parallel studies reveal that chronic inflammation can reprogram hematopoietic stem cells, driving early...
Holiday Notice
Jiangsu and Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceuticals have patented selective Nav1.8 sodium‑channel blockers that demonstrate potent analgesic effects with minimal off‑target activity, opening a new avenue for chronic pain treatment. Parallel research highlights how chronic inflammation reshapes the bone‑marrow microenvironment, driving hematopoietic...
Chengdu Kanghong Pharmaceutical Patents New Lipoprotein(a)-Lowering Agents
Researchers at Jiangsu and Shanghai Hengrui have patented selective Nav1.8 sodium‑channel blockers that relieve neuropathic and inflammatory pain in rodents without impairing motor function, with filings in China and the United States and IND‑enabling work slated for later this year....
Next-Generation Anti-CD30 ADC Outperforms Brentuximab Vedotin
Biopharma X unveiled a next‑generation anti‑CD30 antibody‑drug conjugate that demonstrated superior efficacy and tolerability compared with the established therapy brentuximab vedotin. In preclinical models, the ADC achieved deeper tumor regressions and a broader therapeutic window, driven by an optimized linker...
Nrf2 Activator Counteracts Atopic Dermatitis Pathology
Researchers have identified a novel Nrf2 activator that mitigates key pathological features of atopic dermatitis in preclinical studies. The compound suppresses oxidative stress and downregulates pro‑inflammatory cytokines, leading to restored skin barrier integrity in murine models. Data presented at the...
New LRH-1 Antagonists Exhibit Antitumor Activity in Prostate Cancer Models
Researchers have identified a new class of liver receptor homolog‑1 (LRH‑1) antagonists that demonstrate potent antitumor activity in preclinical prostate cancer models. In mouse xenografts, oral administration of the compounds reduced tumor volume by up to 65% without notable adverse...
Emory University Synthesizes New Prostaglandin EP2 Receptor Antagonists
Researchers at Jiangsu and Shanghai Hengrui have patented selective Nav1.8 sodium‑channel blockers that deliver potent analgesic effects with minimal off‑target activity, opening a new avenue for chronic pain therapy. Parallel studies highlight how chronic inflammatory signals remodel hematopoietic stem cells,...
Boehringer Ingelheim’s Confident New Leap in the Obesity Market
Boehringer Ingelheim has created a new obesity and liver health unit led by senior vice president Vani Manja, targeting a rapidly expanding GLP‑1 market that could reach 25 million U.S. patients by 2030. The company’s pipeline features the dual glucagon/GLP‑1 agonist...
In the Face of Tariffs, FDA-Approved Drug Manufacturing Deals Are Shifting to Europe
US contract‑manufacturing (CM) deals for FDA‑approved drugs fell sharply last year, marking the biggest decline in five years. Despite a 15% import tariff on European pharmaceuticals, biopharma firms are increasingly outsourcing US‑bound production to European facilities, especially in Germany. By...
Sanofi Immune Drug Hopeful Posts Mixed Results in Mid-Stage Tests
Sanofi reported mixed Phase 2 results for its bispecific antibody lunsekig. The drug achieved its primary and key secondary endpoints in moderate‑to‑severe asthma and chronic rhinitis with nasal polyps, showing reduced exacerbations, improved lung function and smaller polyps. Conversely, lunsekig failed...
Biogen Collaborates with Alloy Therapeutics to Advance Antisense Therapeutics
Biogen has signed a collaboration and license agreement with Alloy Therapeutics to use the company’s AntiClastic antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) platform on multiple undisclosed targets. The deal provides Alloy with an upfront cash payment, additional milestone fees and tiered royalties on...
Gilead to Buy Germany’s Tubulis for up to $5 Billion to Boost Cancer Pipeline
Gilead Sciences announced it will acquire Germany‑based Tubulis GmbH for up to $5 billion, adding the biotech’s antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) platform to its portfolio. The deal follows Gilead’s recent $7.8 billion purchase of Arcellx and a $2 billion acquisition of Ouro Medicines, reflecting...
Gilead Continues Dealmaking Streak with $3.15B Tubulis Buy for ADCs
Gilead announced its third acquisition of 2026, agreeing to pay $3.15 billion upfront for Tubulis, a German startup that has built a next‑generation antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) platform. The deal includes a contingent earn‑out of up to $1.85 billion tied to future milestones....
Akeso Reports P-Ib/II Trial Data on Cadonilimab Combination to Treat NSCLC
Akeso presented Phase Ib/II data on its cadonilimab combination with anlotinib and docetaxel in patients whose advanced non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progressed after PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy. At a median follow‑up of 21.5 months, the regimen achieved a 6‑month progression‑free...
FDA’s 2027 Budget Proposes Permanent Rare Disease Vouchers, Easier Entry to Clinic
President Trump’s FY 2027 budget proposes a $7.23 billion allocation for the FDA, a 3.2% increase over 2026, while the broader HHS budget shrinks by 12%. The agency plans to make the rare pediatric disease priority‑review voucher program permanent, averting an estimated...
Sanofi's Bispecific Lunsekimig Has Mixed Readouts in Phase 2
Sanofi reported mixed phase 2 results for its bispecific antibody lunsekimig, which targets IL‑13 and TSLP. The drug met primary endpoints in the AIRCULES asthma trial and the DUET study for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, showing reduced exacerbations and improved...
Sanofi Bispecific Sails Through Asthma, Sinusitis Trials, but Disappoints in Eczema
Sanofi announced mixed mid‑stage results for its bispecific nanobody aimed at treating multiple immune‑mediated diseases. The drug achieved its primary endpoints in Phase 2 trials for asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, demonstrating clinically meaningful improvements. Conversely, the same molecule...
Organogenesis Reports Trial Results on PuraPly AM for Wound Healing in Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Organogenesis completed a 170‑patient randomized trial of PuraPly AM, an antimicrobial collagen matrix, versus standard of care for non‑healing diabetic foot ulcers. The study met its primary endpoint, showing significantly higher wound‑closure rates at 12 weeks. PuraPly AM integrates cross‑linked...
Apnimed Obtains up to $150m in Funds for Commercial Launch of AD109
Apnimed secured a senior secured credit facility of up to $150 million from HealthCare Royalty Partners to fund the commercial readiness and potential U.S. launch of AD109, an oral therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. The deal provides an initial $50 million at...
Generare Bags $21.6m for Nature-Derived Drug Leads
Paris‑based biotech Generare closed a €20 million Series A to expand its nature‑derived compound library. The company claims it uncovered more than 200 previously unknown microbial small molecules in 2025, outpacing the rest of the field combined. Generare’s platform scans microbial genomes,...
STAT+: Merck’s Experimental HIV Prevention Pill Could Be Made for Less than $5 a Year, Researchers Say
Merck’s experimental HIV‑prevention pill MK 8527 could be manufactured for less than $5 per patient annually, according to a recent cost‑analysis. The drug is in two late‑stage clinical trials that will report efficacy data in the second half of 2027. Earlier...
Amgen Scores with New Thyroid Eye Disease Formulation
Amgen’s Tepezza, the only FDA‑approved therapy for thyroid eye disease, generated about $1.9 billion in 2023 but its IV dosing schedule has limited broader adoption. The company has developed a subcutaneous formulation delivered twice weekly via a wearable injector, aiming to...
New CAR-T Approach May Extend Osteosarcoma Survival
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals have engineered a novel CAR‑T cell therapy, OSM CAR‑T, that targets oncostatin M receptors on osteosarcoma cells. Preclinical experiments demonstrated potent in‑vitro killing and significant tumor burden reduction in multiple mouse...
Standing up to Rising Prescription Drug Costs Increases Access to Breakthrough Medications
CVS Caremark negotiated a price reduction for Yeztugo, a long‑acting injectable PrEP drug with an original list price of $28,000 per year, to improve affordability and access. The medication offers twice‑yearly dosing, which can dramatically boost adherence compared with daily...
Allergan Aesthetics Finds Its Next Growth Engine in GLP-1s
Allergan Aesthetics presented new data at the 2026 AAD meeting linking the surge in GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug use to a growing demand for facial aesthetic treatments. A survey of U.S. clinicians showed that 52% of patients on GLP‑1 agonists express...
The Evolving Landscape of Subcutaneous Drug Administration
The pharmaceutical sector is rapidly moving toward subcutaneous (SC) delivery as biologic approvals outpace small‑molecule drugs. While SC administration cuts clinical‑site costs and boosts patient comfort, it suffers from 60‑80% lower bioavailability, demanding higher doses and larger volumes. Innovators are...
CGT’s Next Obstacle: Securing the Leukapheresis Supply Chain
Leukapheresis is emerging as a structural bottleneck as CAR‑T and other cell‑gene therapies expand beyond oncology into autoimmune, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The current model relies on a handful of academic centers, creating capacity constraints, geographic inequities, and variability in...
CuraTeQ Reports P-III Trial Data on BP11 (Biosimilar, Xolair) in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
CuraTeQ Biologics announced topline Phase‑III data showing its biosimilar BP11 matches Xolair in treating chronic spontaneous urticaria. The trial involved 608 patients at about 80 sites and met the primary endpoint of ISS7 score change at week 12 within predefined...
Neurocrine to Acquire Soleno in $2.9bn Transaction
Neurocrine Biosciences announced a definitive agreement to acquire Soleno Therapeutics for $53 per share, valuing the deal at $2.9 bn. The transaction brings Soleno’s FDA‑approved Vykat XR, a first‑in‑class treatment for hyperphagia in Prader‑Willi syndrome, into Neurocrine’s pipeline. Vykat XR posted $190 m revenue...
Amgen Reports Topline P-III Trial Data for Tepezza (Teprotumumab-Trbw) in Active Thyroid Eye Disease
Amgen announced topline results from a phase‑3 trial of subcutaneous Tepezza (teprotumumab‑trbw) administered every two weeks for 12 doses in patients with moderate to severe active thyroid eye disease. The study met its primary endpoint, showing a 76.7% proptosis response...
Self‐Assembled Carrier‐Free Nanomedicines Potentiate Chemo‐Photothermal Immunotherapy by Overcoming Prostaglandin E2‐Mediated Immunosuppression
Researchers have created a carrier‑free nanomedicine that self‑assembles indocyanine green, paclitaxel and celecoxib to treat triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC). The formulation delivers combined chemo‑photothermal therapy while inhibiting the COX‑2/PGE2 inflammatory axis that fuels immunosuppression. In preclinical models, the nanomedicine markedly...
Programmable Biohybrid Probiotics with Long‐Term Storage Stability for Enhanced Intestinal Microbiota Regulation and Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
Researchers unveiled a multilayer encapsulation platform that merges a metal‑polyphenol network, silica shell, and iron‑based metal‑organic framework to shield the anaerobic probiotic Bifidobacterium longum. The system achieved a 41‑fold boost in aerobic storage stability and an 871‑fold increase in gastric...
Sanofi Reports P-II Trial Results on Lunsekimig Across Multiple Immunology & Inflammatory Indications
Sanofi announced phase‑IIb results for its subcutaneous antibody lunsekimig across three inflammatory diseases. In the AIRCULES asthma study, the drug reduced exacerbations and improved pre‑bronchodilator FEV1 versus placebo, meeting both primary and key secondary endpoints. The DUET trial in chronic...
Press Release: Sanofi’s Lunsekimig Met Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints in Phase 2 Respiratory Studies in Asthma and CRSwNP
Sanofi announced that its bispecific Nanobody lunsekimig achieved both primary and key secondary endpoints in the phase 2b AIRCULES asthma trial and the phase 2a DUET study for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The asthma study showed a statistically...
Stop, Reduce or Stay on Antipsychotics After First-Episode Psychosis?
A recent pragmatic RCT followed 347 first‑episode psychosis patients to compare continued antipsychotic maintenance with gradual dose reduction or discontinuation. In the first year, the reduction group faced a higher relapse rate, lower quality of life, and increased mortality. By...
Interventional Radiologist 1st in World to Deliver Newly Approved Cancer Treatment
Interventional radiologists at Mount Sinai performed the world’s first TheraSphere Y‑90 Any Day Dosing procedure for hepatocellular carcinoma, following the FDA’s March 2026 clearance. The treatment uses microspheres to deliver targeted radiation directly to liver tumors while sparing healthy tissue. The...
Why ImmunityBio Stock Slumped on Monday
ImmunityBio (NASDAQ: IBRX) saw its stock dip after the FDA sent a warning letter accusing the company of false or misleading promotion of its bladder‑cancer drug Anktiva. The regulator flagged a TV advertisement and a provocative podcast episode, prompting ImmunityBio...
3D-Printed 'Spanlastics' Could Change How Cancer Drugs Reach Tumors
University of Mississippi researchers unveiled a FRESH 3D‑printing technique that fabricates hydrogel‑based spanlastic nanocarriers, 200–300 nm in size, loaded with anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin. The printed implants can be placed directly onto tumor sites, delivering high‑dose therapy locally while shielding...
2Q Markets Preview, Tariffs and Biotech Takeouts — a BioCentury Podcast
Biotech remains resilient as markets wobble, with M&A activity persisting. The BioCentury podcast highlighted two major pending deals: Eli Lilly’s $6.3 billion acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals and Biogen’s proposed $5.6 billion purchase of Apellis. Analysts also examined the lingering effects of Trump-era tariffs...
A Nanoparticle Therapy to Treat Lung Cancer and Associated Muscle Wasting at the Same Time
Researchers at Oregon State University have engineered lipid nanoparticles that carry follistatin messenger RNA to lung tumors, simultaneously attacking the cancer and the muscle‑wasting cachexia that often accompanies it. In mouse models the nanocarriers bind circulating vitronectin, home to integrin‑rich...
Pharmacist-Led Discharge Programs Show No Overall Benefit: 4 Study Notes
A randomized trial at Cedars‑Sinai evaluated pharmacist‑led transition‑of‑care programs for adults 55 and older on multiple or high‑risk medications. Across 6,478 hospitalizations, the intervention did not significantly lower 30‑day overall or same‑hospital utilization compared with usual care. However, among patients...
Treating Previously Untreatable Cancers: How CAR-T Cell Therapy Could Be Made Accessible to More Patients
CAR‑T cell therapy, a personalized immunotherapy that re‑programs a patient’s T cells, has transformed treatment for certain leukemias and lymphomas but remains prohibitively expensive in Canada, with commercial products costing roughly $325‑$466 k USD per patient and requiring 4‑6 weeks for manufacturing....
STAT+: Pharma Companies and Patient Groups Seek to Exempt Orphan Drugs From Colorado Pricing Limits
Colorado lawmakers are advancing a second bill in two years that would carve out orphan drugs—medicines for rare diseases—from any price caps imposed by the state Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The board, created to curb soaring prescription costs, could otherwise...
DIG-RHD: Digoxin Effective in Rheumatic Heart Disease
The DIG‑RHD trial, presented at ACC 2026, randomized 1,759 patients with symptomatic rheumatic heart disease in India to digoxin or placebo. Over a median 2.1‑year follow‑up, digoxin achieved a 4.1‑percentage‑point absolute reduction in the composite of all‑cause death or new‑onset/worsening...
Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)
The FDA’s Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) now requires manufacturers to supply prepaid mail‑back envelopes (MBEs) for safe opioid disposal, with pharmacies able to order them starting March 31 2025. The REMS education program, funded by unrestricted grants, offers...
Court Strikes HRSA 340B Policy Restricting Initial Hospital Drug Purchases Through GPOs
On March 31, a U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. vacated the Health Resources and Services Administration’s 2013 rule that barred disproportionate‑share hospitals from making initial outpatient drug purchases through both the 340B Drug Pricing Program and a group purchasing...