Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:
Day One Enters ADC Field, Targeting a Promising Prospect
Day One Biopharmaceuticals is diving into the hotbed of oncology drug development with a $55 million up-front purchase of MTX-13 from Shanghai-based MabCare Therapeutics. This antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) will enter Phase 1 trials soon, with an overall potential deal value of $1.2 billion, about $100 million more than Day One’s own market cap. This move aligns with similar strategic shifts by companies like Genmab, Ipsen, and BioNTech to strengthen their footholds in ADC development.
FDA Places Partial Hold on Zentalis Trials After Patient Deaths
Following two patient deaths from presumed sepsis, the FDA has placed a partial hold on three clinical trials for Zentalis’ WEE1 inhibitor, azenosertib. These deaths occurred in the Phase 2 DENALI study, which evaluated patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The hold, which also affects two other trials, allows current participants to continue but halts new enrollments. This development led to a 30% drop in Zentalis’ stock.
Taysha Shows Early Promise in Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome
Taysha Gene Therapies has revealed early Phase 1/2 data suggesting their Rett syndrome treatment TSHA-102 may be effective. Adolescent and adult patients showed sustained improvements in motor skills, communication, and socialization. Notably, one patient sat unaided for the first time in over a decade, while another experienced reduced seizure frequency and intensity. This encouraging news comes after the company had to pare down its pipeline earlier this year.
New Obesity Biotech Emerges as UroGen Moves to Raise $107M
Supercede Therapeutics has launched with a focus on developing an oral obesity treatment targeting the same pathway as Eli Lilly’s bimagrumab. CEO Ilan Zipkin, previously with Aditum Bio, aims to leverage molecules licensed from Fudan University and East China Normal University. In parallel, UroGen Pharma is aiming to raise $107 million to support its pipeline and ongoing initiatives.
Roche Partners with Ascidian Therapeutics for $1.8B RNA Editing Deal
Roche has entered a partnership with Ascidian Therapeutics to explore RNA exon editing for neurological diseases. The agreement begins with a $42 million payment and could reach up to $1.8 billion in milestone payments. Ascidian’s technology promises to replace large chunks of genetic code, potentially offering broad applications for various conditions. Ascidian CEO Michael Ehlers emphasized Roche’s early scientific understanding as key to the collaboration.
Marea Therapeutics Launches with $190M to Target Cardiometabolic Diseases
Marea Therapeutics, a startup incubated by Third Rock Ventures, debuts with $190 million to advance a Novartis-licensed antibody targeting ANGPTL4 for cardiometabolic diseases. The therapy is already in Phase 2 trials. CEO Josh Lehrer, previously of Graphite Bio, and CSO Ethan Weiss, a long-time UCSF cardiologist, lead Marea in tackling genetic risk factors for heart disease.