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Neuroscience Reaches A New Inflection Point, Big Biotechs Say

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Celgene and Biogen are investing in the challenging therapeutic area, fueled by advances in science, growing understanding of the role inflammation may play in neurodegenerative diseases and improved tools for measuring efficacy.

High quality 3d render of nerve cells, concept for Neurologic Diseases, tumors and brain surgery.

A new day is dawning for neuroscience, at least according to some big biotechs, who are investing aggressively in the challenging therapeutic area despite investor reservations. Biogen Inc. took on neuroscience as a core research area several years ago, and it appears the company is as committed to the space as ever under Exec VP-R&D Michael Ehlers, an experienced neuroscientist who took over the role in April. Now Celgene Corp. also has its eye on building a new neuroinflammation franchise.

Ehlers, Celgene CEO Mark Alles and others talked at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco Jan. 9-12 about...

More from Neurological

Interest In PTC’s Sephience Launch Overshadows FDA’s Vatiquinone Rejection

 
• By Alaric DeArment

PTC said it got a complete response letter for the Friedreich’s ataxia drug, with the agency asking for an additional clinical trial.

Post-GLP-1 Patients Are Significant Opportunity, But Response Sees More

 
• By Alaric DeArment

The company will move ahead in testing RDX-002 among overweight and obese patients coming off GLP-1s, but the CEO said antipsychotic-induced weight gain could represent a multibillion-dollar market.

Xenon Nears Phase III Readout For Potential Epilepsy And Depression Blockbuster

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

Leading a field of rival potassium channel modulators, azetukalner will have a pivotal epilepsy readout early next year, with Phase III trials in depression and biopolar disorder also underway.

Sumitomo Parkinson’s Filing A Pivotal Moment For Japan’s iPSC Ambitions

 
• By Lisa Takagi

Sumitomo Pharma's iPSC therapy for Parkinson's has been filed for approval in Japan after showing safety and efficacy in a Phase I/II trial and may become one of the first such therapies to reach the market in the country, which has invested heavily in the modality.

More from Therapy Areas

Celldex Bullish On Barzolvolimab Despite Study Miss

 
• By Kevin Grogan

All eyes on chronic urticaria after eosinophilic esophagitis disappointment.

BioNTech/BMS Bispecific Shows Early Promise In Small Cell Lung Cancer

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

An updated abstract from the World Conference on Lung Cancer has given analysts confidence in BioNTech’s VEGF-A/PD-L1 bispecific challenger

China-Originated Assets Lead Global GLP-1 Deals

 
• By Xu Hu

The total value of deals for GLP-1-associated assets so far this year is already double that of the previous two years combined, with China-originated molecules accounting for a substantial majority. Scrip takes a look at some of the key factors behind this activity.