Table of Contents
Clinical Trial Results
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals reported positive Phase 3 results for vutrisiran in treating transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy, boosting the company’s prospects in this rare disease area[1]. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk advanced its hemophilia pipeline, presenting encouraging Phase 3 data for its preventive treatment, positioning it as a potential competitor to Roche’s Hemlibra[1].
Regulatory Developments
PTC Therapeutics faced a setback as European regulators voted against renewing approval for Translarna, its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug[1]. In contrast, Merck received a boost when a CDC advisory panel unanimously recommended its pneumococcal vaccine Capvaxive for use in older adults and certain younger populations[1].
Obesity Drug Race
The obesity drug competition heated up this week:
- Altimmune and Hengrui presented promising early trial data at the American Diabetes Association meeting[1]
- Eli Lilly shared details on Zepbound’s impact on sleep apnea[1]
- Novo Nordisk announced a $4 billion investment in a new U.S. manufacturing facility, further solidifying its commitment to this therapeutic area[1]
M&A Activity
The M&A landscape saw some notable activity:
- AbbVie acquired Celsius Therapeutics for $250 million, expanding its inflammatory bowel disease portfolio[1]
- 2seventy bio divested its hemophilia assets to Novo Nordisk for $38 million as part of a strategic realignment[1]
Market Developments
Shares in Cabaletta Bio sank on safety concerns[2]. Meanwhile, Vertex secured reimbursement in England for its gene therapy Casgevy[2].
This week saw a mix of positive clinical trial results, regulatory decisions, and strategic moves shaping the biopharma landscape. The obesity drug market continues to be a major focus, with several companies advancing their pipelines in this lucrative area.
Citations:
[1] https://www.biotechblog.com/biotechblog-week-in-review/
[2] https://www.biopharmadive.com
[3] https://jonathanpolitzki.substack.com/p/biotech-week-in-review-03-03-2023
[4] https://www.biospace.com/2023-year-in-review-biopharma-industry-takes-one-step-forward-two-steps-back
[5] https://jonathanpolitzki.substack.com/p/biotech-week-in-review-02-17-2023
[6] https://www.biopharmcatalyst.com/articles/weekly-watchlist
[7] https://www.biospace.com/the-week-in-review-a-look-at-some-of-the-top-biopharma-stories
[8] https://www.bpiq.com/post/biopharma-pulse-3-6-3-10-weekly-review
