STAT+: Eli Lilly to Buy Orna Therapeutics for $2.4 Billion
Eli Lilly announced a $2.4 billion acquisition of Orna Therapeutics, a biotech developing in‑vivo CAR‑T cell therapies. Orna’s platform leverages circular RNA to edit patient cells directly inside the body, improving stability and delivery. Its lead candidate, ORN‑252, is a CD19‑directed CAR‑T aimed at treating autoimmune diseases, a shift from traditional ex‑vivo cancer applications. The purchase follows a series of science‑focused deals as Lilly broadens its immunology portfolio.
STAT+: A Sign Biotech Is Back? Four Drugmakers Go Public, Raising Nearly $1 Billion in All
Four biotech firms—Agomab Therapeutics, Eikon Therapeutics, Spyglass Pharma, and Veradermics—went public this week, collectively raising close to $1 billion. A fifth company, Generate Biomedicines, filed IPO paperwork, signaling renewed confidence in public markets. The wave follows a prolonged downturn where only...
STAT+: Roivant Immune Drug Significantly Outperformed Placebo in Treating Rare Skin Disease
Roivant and its spin‑out Priovant reported that brepocitinib dramatically outperformed placebo in a 31‑patient trial for cutaneous sarcoidosis. Patients receiving the high‑dose regimen improved by an average of 22.3 points on a 165‑point disease activity scale, versus just 0.7 points...
STAT+: A Rival Goes After Ocular Therapeutix on Eve of Pivotal Readout on Eye Treatment
Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals' CEO Jay Duker publicly questioned Ocular Therapeutix's wet AMD drug Axpaxli during a Puerto Rico investor conference, alleging the company was withholding negative Phase 3 SOL‑1 results. Ocular is currently in a self‑imposed quiet period ahead of the pivotal...
STAT+: Vertex’s CRISPR Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease Hits Unexpected Roadblock
Vertex's CRISPR‑based therapy Casgevy, approved over two years ago for sickle cell disease, has treated only about 60 patients globally. The slowdown stems from an unexpected manufacturing hurdle: centers cannot harvest enough autologous cells to produce the drug. This bottleneck...
STAT+: Novo Strikes Deal for Diabetes Cell Therapies
Novo Nordisk announced a strategic deal to acquire Aspect Biosystems, a 3‑D bioprinting company specializing in cell‑based therapies. The acquisition aims to accelerate Novo's development of encapsulated beta‑cell products for type 1 diabetes, leveraging Aspect's platform to scale manufacturing. Financial terms...
STAT+: Secretive Project Prometheus Takes VC Bob Nelsen Beyond Just Health Care
Venture capitalist Bob Nelsen is spearheading Project Prometheus, an AI‑driven venture that fuses artificial intelligence with physics. The startup is co‑led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former Foresite Capital AI chief Vik Bajaj, with renowned scientist Rick Klausner on board. While...
