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Start-Ups Set Sights on Flu

 
• By Nancy Dvorin

The swine flu/H1N1 pandemic presents a lucrative opportunity for drug developers and Big Pharmas won't be the only firms to capitalize on the sudden multibillion-dollar opportunity. There's evidence that the pandemic is driving investors to flu-focused biotechs as well. In this issue, we profile four emerging companies that hope to reap the rewards of what should continue to be a promising fund-raising environment for potentially novel flu therapies.

Influenza H1N1, aka swine flu, is now officially a pandemic. The World Health Organization made the call on June 11, citing the nearly 30,000 confirmed cases in 74 countries. That number had climbed close to 40,000 as START-UP went to press in late June. Although more than 160 people have died from H1N1, most cases so far have been mild. There are, of course, no guarantees that the virus won’t mutate into a more virulent form as it continues to spread around the globe. In the US, where 44 people have died thus far, there is major concern about H1N1’s impact when flu season returns in the fall.

This pandemic presents a lucrative opportunity for drug developers, and dozens of companies are rushing to get vaccines to market...

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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

More from Scrip

Pipeline Watch: ASCO Dominates Phase III Readouts

Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events and approvals announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.

Quick Listen: Scrip’s Five Must-Know Things

 
• By Ian Haydock

In this week's episode: Sanofi’s Blueprint buy; AstraZeneca’s breast cancer resistance results at ASCO; BMS and BioNTech’s big bispecific deal; Kymera’s Dupixent in a pill; and Degron’s CEO on pipeline and strategy.

Chinese Biotech VC/PE Fundings Rise But Still Modest

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

LTZ Therapeutics and Beijing Sungen Biomedical are among the Chinese biotechs raising new funding, of around $40m each, based on their clinical assets with novel mechanisms of action. While fundings have risen, they remain moderate however.