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GSK/Pentraxin: Targeting SAP in Amyloidosis, and Maybe Alzheimer's Too

 
• By Melanie Senior

University College London spin-out Pentraxin's February 2009 tie-up with GlaxoSmithKline in amyloidosis showed GSK's willingness to invest in risky, early-stage research. Weeks later, Pentraxin announced promising clinical data with a related program in Alzheimer's, raising the possibility that this alliance may yet expand beyond a specialist niche.

University College London spin-out Pentraxin Therapeutic Ltd.’s March 2009 tie-up with GlaxoSmithKline PLC around a novel treatment for amyloidosis wasn’t a big deal (financials weren’t given). [See Deal] But it was noteworthy for showing GSK’s small-unit structure at work, and its willingness to invest in risky, early-stage research. Also interesting was the compound in question: a small-molecule and antibody dual treatment that Pentraxin claims is unprecedented in drug development. Then in April 2009, Pentraxin announced promising clinical data with the small-molecule component of the program in patients with Alzheimer’s, raising the possibility that this alliance may yet expand beyond a specialist niche—and provide further validation of Pentraxin’s approach.

The amyloidosis deal came about thanks largely to GSK’s (fairly) fresh-from-academia SVP drug discovery Patrick Vallance, MD, PhD, who joined...

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Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Scrip's Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in the coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access Scrip, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

Galapagos Expands Point-Of-Care CAR-T Study To The US

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

CEO Paul Stoffels said gaining US clearance for an IND for its novel CAR-T product was demanding, but now opens up a pathway towards a pivotal study starting in 2025.

Analysts Split On Eisai’s Chances Of Changing EU Regulator’s Mind On Leqembi

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

A final rejection of Leqembi could also spell the same fate for Lilly’s rival drug but public outcry and demand for Alzheimer’s therapies might force the regulator’s hand

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In Brief: Nanoscope Ploughs Forward With FDA Application For Retinitis Pigmentosa Gene Therapy

 
• By Manas Mishra

Nanoscope’s experimental gene therapy, MCO-010, is designed to target the broader retinitis pigmentosa population, regardless of the underlying gene mutation, with a completed US regulatory submission expected in early 2026.

Stock Watch: Pharma Financial Forecasts Cannot Withstand Headwinds Forever

 
• By Andy Smith

Pharma company financial guidance emerged largely unscathed from a first quarter punctured by a weakening US dollar and threats of import tariffs on drugs. With other pressures either already evident or on the horizon, guidance revisions may be unavoidable.

Q2 Korea Biotech Roundup: Licensing Deals End, Trials Progress, IPOs Recover

 
• By Jung Won Shin

Aside from several sizable global out-licensing deals, South Korean bioventures saw a cancellation of other alliances, updated their pipelines with losses and gains and reported clinical trial progress in the second quarter, while domestic IPO sentiment also improved.