David Ege, PhD

According to BioWorld News Biopharma financings hit $47B in Q1, marking second-highest quarter Biopharma firms amassed a total of $47.07 billion in the first quarter of 2024, the second-highest quarter recorded by BioWorld since 2011, trailing only behind $48.18 billion raised in 2Q20. This robust fundraising was driven by exceptional performances in IPOs, follow-ons and public/other financings, as well as sustained trends in venture capital raises. The amount marks a 118% increase from $21.62 billion raised in the fourth quarter of 2023 and a 257% rise from 1Q23’s $13.19 billion.

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#BigPharma's growing interest in the #cellandgenetherapy space has the potential to reshape the industry's future. At this year's Cell & Gene #MeetingontheMesa, industry leaders highlighted that large pharma companies' significant resources and expertise are uniquely positioned to address the complex challenges of developing and commercializing these therapies. From high #manufacturing costs to navigating #regulatory hurdles, Big Pharma is playing an essential role in scaling innovations that smaller biotechs often struggle to bring to market. Their partnerships will prove critical to bringing life saving treatments to patients who need them most. As the sector continues to evolve, collaboration between Big Pharma and biotech can help shape the future of cell and gene therapies.

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Astellas Pharma Pharma Opens Cambridge Life Sciences Center Featuring Incubator Space Astellas Pharma’s new life sciences center houses its first U.S.-based SakuLab, an incubator space for external partners, as well as its engineered small molecules unit. Astellas Pharma has opened the Astellas Life Sciences Center, which houses the company’s first U.S.-based SakuLab, an incubator space for external partners, the business announced Thursday. About 400 Astellas employees will work in the Cambridge, Mass., center, which will feature shared R&D resources, flexible workspaces and dedicated areas for cross-functional and partner collaboration. The new space will accelerate Astellas’ efforts to create an innovation network across the state by connecting leading incubators, ambitious biotechnology start-ups and academia, according to the announcement. “Our new Astellas Life Sciences Center and open innovation SakuLab will advance our efforts to deliver breakthrough therapies and novel modalities, with a focus on areas of high unmet need,” said Astellas Chief Medical Officer Tadaaki Taniguchi in the announcement. “It will also strengthen our partnerships with local academic institutions and biotech innovators, underpinning our commitment to pursue transformative treatments in oncology, ophthalmology and rare diseases for patients in need.” In addition to SakuLab, the life sciences center houses the company’s engineered small molecules unit. That group focuses on advancing research into targeted protein degradation, a novel treatment approach designed to remove specific proteins from cells to unlock targets that have been considered “undruggable,” according to the announcement. https://lnkd.in/eCPGt7MM

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The results from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals' Phase 3 PALISADE study on plozasiran are truly impressive and could be a game-changer for patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). I'm excited by the potential impact this could have on a condition that currently has no approved treatments in the U.S. The involvement of experts like Gerald F. Watts and Bruce Given, M.D. adds significant weight to these findings. Their work not only showcases the power of RNAi therapeutics but also highlights how targeted innovation can meet critical, unmet medical needs. If plozasiran is approved, it could dramatically improve the quality of life for FCS patients, and it’s exciting to see this kind of progress in the field. #RNAi #FCS #research #Biotechnology

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Trackinging pharma earnings for CAR T therapies as well as increased capacity ensures we are tracking delivery of these life saving therapies to patients. ....On Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson said it made $157 million in #Carvykti sales in the first quarter of 2024. Sales have been fairly stagnant, with fourth-quarter sales at $159 million and $152 million in the third quarter, which is a jump from $117 million in the three months prior. The slight dip in the first three months of 2024 is due to “a time phasing of when the product is actually delivered,” Foster said. Meanwhile, Bristol Myers Squibb made $100 million in #Abecma sales in the last quarter of 2023, up from the $93 million reported for the previous quarter. BMS is due to report its first-quarter earnings next week..... #cart #therapeutics #advancedtherapies #celltherapy #cellandgenetherapy #regenerativemedicine #biotech #biotechnology #lifesciences #pharma #pharmaceuticals #capacity #manufacturing #expandedlabel #earnings #patientaccess #therapies #oncology #cancer #multiplemyeloma #earningsreports

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Innovative life science therapies are a dime a dozen, but the ones accessible to patients will drive success. Knowing that drug prices are most patients' window into the industry, manufacturers and stakeholders must be involved in the pricing decisions, as they should be with every step of the commercialization continuum. Backing pricing with robust data and transparency strengthens go-to-market strategies and reinforces trust with payers, providers, and patients. By embedding transparency into our pricing and product value messaging, we create a stronger foundation for long-term success because bringing therapies to market with measurable value is no longer optional; it's expected. The recent lawsuit against major PBMs and insulin manufacturers underscores a critical lesson for the life sciences industry: transparency in pricing and value creation must be a cornerstone of commercialization. https://lnkd.in/eHRaJywB

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🔬 Dive into cutting-edge biotech advancements for autoimmune diseases with this detailed mind map. 🌟 Stay on top of the latest developments and lead the way in the field! Check it out nowo

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In 2023, a record number of cell and gene therapy (CGT) products received regulatory approval in the US, and a still greater number of approvals is anticipated in 2024. Andrew Frazer and James Cody discuss the evolving C&GT landscape in European Pharmaceutical Review. https://bit.ly/4ekUUc1

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Converge Consulting, LLC Consultant, Ulpiano Flores, provides a nice summary of the valuable insights presented at this year's TraceLink FutureLink conference. If you weren't able to attend, or even if you were there, It's worth the quick read understand how end-to-end pharmaceutical supply chain orchestration is evolving. Thanks Ulpiano!! #lifesciences #supplychain #DSCSA

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The latest Stifel biopharma investment and performance update confirms what we’ve been observing throughout the first five months of this year. From the SCOPE conference in February to IPO readiness events, surveys, and articles about the state of SMID biotech companies, cautious optimism continues to flavor the stew. 🌿 Despite election year angst and global conflict, there’s still money out there. However, it doesn’t flow the same way it did a long time ago (you know, about 24 months back!). 📈💰 Danforth Advisors’ Clinical Business Operations team knows how to walk the fine line between belt-tightening cash-preservation (think delayed hiring and layoffs) and the need to get things done. Our expertise in biopharma ensures better budget management and solid supplier engagements. 💼💡 Whether it’s CDMO/CMC, Phase I-IV outsourcing, site budgeting, clinical forecasting, or vendor management, our multi-decade experienced team has you covered. Let’s navigate these dynamic markets together! 🚀🔬 #Biotech #ClinicalTrials #Outsourcing #Expertise

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Acurx Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation of Ibezapolstat Phase 2 Clinical Trial Results for CDI at Scientific Conference   • Additional analyses of clinical and microbiological data from the Phase 2b segment show favorable gut microbiome changes including increased relative proportion of Actinobacteria in ibezapolstat-treated patients with C. difficile Infection (CDI) • Results consistent with those shown in earlier human volunteer studies and Phase 2a studies • Preservation and increased concentrations of beneficial Firmicute (Bacilotta) phylum known to be involved in bile acid homeostasis and short chain fatty acid metabolism was demonstrated  • Actinobacteria and Bacteroides preservation also confirmed using quantitative analysis   https://lnkd.in/eseFt8GZ   #nasdaq #acxp #antibiotics #acurx Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACXP) David Luci

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ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. is set to make its largest acquisition yet, purchasing Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, an American cancer drug maker, for $2.4 billion. 💼 The move comes as Ono seeks to fuel #growth with new drug candidates, especially as key patents on its Opdivo #cancer immunotherapy are set to expire in 2028. 🌱 Established in 2003, Deciphera is the maker of the Qinlock cancer drug available in the U.S. and Europe. 🩺 Qinlock boasts a unique mechanism that inhibits enzymes critical for cancer cell proliferation. 🛑 Additionally, Deciphera holds promising new drug candidates. 🌟 One such candidate, a treatment for benign tumors in joints, is in the final stages of clinical trials in #Europe and the #US, with approval slated for 2024. 💉 Deciphera is also developing a drug to address complications in blood cancer treatment. 🩸 #Japan #Pharma #Pharmaceutical https://lnkd.in/dppfbjsy

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Thanks PharmaVoice for the chance to share more about the next chapter of Nimbus Therapeutics!

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This article shows a top-tier Big Pharma player providing an upfront payment of $150M in an overall up to $3B deal for an immune-oncology company in Phase 1/2 trials for treating blood cancer. This shows the potential in the near term for value creation for investors as Cell Source, Inc. turns the corner into the back half of its Phase 1/2 trial and gears up for its first off-the-shelf CAR-T trial   https://lnkd.in/gpPReJpR #AlternativeAdvisoryGroup #AAG #AlternativeInvestment #PrivateEquity #FinancialAdvisory #InvestmentOpportunities #InvestmentStrategies #FinancialGrowth #WealthManagement #BusinessAdvisory #IPO #Valuation #BusinessValuation #Capital #Funding #Exit #AccreditInvestors

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Biopharma M&A more than doubled in Q1 compared to the year prior: report The number of biopharma M&A deals more than doubled in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period a year ago, exemplifying a top exit route for pre-commercial companies vying for validation and attention. A new report from Leerink Partners released this week tallied 13 biopharma M&A deals in the first quarter of 2024 compared to six in the first quarter of 2023. There were 47 deals in the last twelve months through March 2024, compared to 42 through March 2023. The Leerink M&A team described persistent Big Pharma interest specifically in biotechs focusing on new cancer drugs, namely radiopharmaceutical and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) makers. AstraZeneca made two deals in the oncology sphere while Merck offered bait to T-cell engager company, Harpoon Therapeutics. The report’s authors conclude that they expect M&A activity to stay hot through the rest of the year. Elsewhere, public companies that struggled to produce stellar data were able to find reverse merger partners, including Tectonic’s deal with AvroBio and LENZ's merger with Graphite Bio. The report notes that among 10 public-private mergers that have closed since the beginning of 2023, stock prices are up 29%. https://lnkd.in/eQe7WtYs

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Rivus Pharmaceuticals is making waves in biotech with its innovative approach to weight loss for heart failure patients. Unlike existing therapies, their drug HU6 targets fat loss without sacrificing muscle mass—crucial for frail patients. This novel mechanism could redefine treatment options for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and other metabolic diseases. With the weight loss market booming and Rivus poised for a Phase III study, this is one company to watch as it tackles high-burden diseases with groundbreaking science. This could be the next leap forward in cardiometabolic health! Jayson Dallas University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Ambarish Pandey GlobalData Healthcare Novo Nordisk Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen Eli Lilly and Company Dave Ricks #Biotech #Pharma #Innovation #CardiometabolicHealth #ClinicalTrials #WeightLoss #HeartFailure #PharmaInnovation #MetabolicHealth #ObesityResearch #Biotechnology

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Alia Therapeutics is present at ASGCT Baltimore, the 27th Annual Meeting of American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy.  Meet Antonio Casini, Alia co-founder and CTO, on Wednesday 8th, presenting poster “ A novel mutation-independent CRISPR-based gene therapy to treat autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa”. https://lnkd.in/drdhej43 , POSTER SESSION B6 - Ophthalmic and Auditory Diseases 654   Alia Therapeutics has a vision to revolutionize medicine by curing genetic diseases at their roots. Our thesis: The diversity and complexity of human genetic diseases demands a customized approach and relying on a limited set of enzymes wouldn’t suffice. Alia’s versatile portfolio of novel CRISPR systems expands the range of targetable genomics sites and increases the precision of genetic modifications, bringing gene editing to the next level of specificity and safety, which is required for therapeutic applications. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/dDVgwXVE #genetherapy, #geneediting, #asgct, #baltimore, #aliatherapeutics

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The approval of Ojemda® (tovorafenib) is yet another example of how de-prioritized compounds can be transformed into valuable treatments. The idea to re-develop tovorafenib encountered enormous skepticism. The compound already had been de-prioritized by Biogen and Takeda. Additionally, tovorafenib’s IP would have been considered “weak” because the compound was already over a decade old when its development re-started. Thanks to visionary decisions that looked beyond herd mentality on drug redevelopment, glioma patients now have a lifeline in tovorafenib. #DrugDevelopment, #Pharmaceuticals, #ClinicalTrials, #DrugDiscovery, #PatientSafety, #pharma, #patent, #patents, #patentlaw, #biotechstartup #venturecapital #stroke #lifesciences #lifescience #orphandrugs #raredisease

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📈 The Rapid Growth in the Cell and Gene Therapy Landscape: A Game Changer 🌟 At Allucent, we understand the critical importance of cell and gene therapy in revolutionizing healthcare. Our CEO Mark A. Goldberg, MD understands the importance, and our dedicated team remains focused at advancing these life-changing therapies. 🌍 #cellandgenetherapy #allucent #lifescience #celltherapy

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