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Spotlight on Scrip Perspectives 24/25


M&A Takeoff May Be Delayed, Experts Predict

All the elements for a big M&A year are in place, but political uncertainty and interest rates could push more deals into the second half of the year, according to business development experts at BIO CEO & Investor.




Focus On Asia


Data Analysis


R&D


Parexel Leaders On Trial Diversity, AI And What’s Holding Sponsors Back In India

 

Parexel's CEO Peyton Howell and India boss Sanjay Vyas talk to Scrip about the value of clinical trial diversity, AI pilots underway and opportunities for India amid geopolitical rumblings, as well as the need for standardized regulatory approaches to enhance sponsor interest.

Bristol Gives Up On Adjuvant Melanoma For Opdualag With Failed Trial

 
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The checkpoint inhibitor combo missed a recurrence-free survival endpoint in Phase III in post-surgical melanoma. The LAG-3 inhibitor-containing product continues development in lung cancer, however.

Apollo Awaits First Proof-Of-Concept Data For Atopic Dermatitis Drug

 

Having built its portfolio from university collaborations and targeted in-licensing, the UK firm now hopes to validate its business model with Phase II readouts in 2025.

Finotonlimab A China IO Latecomer But First In Country For 1L HNSCC

 

SinoCellTech's PD-1 inhibitor finotonlimab has become the first immuno-oncology drug to be approved in China for first-line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma regardless of PD-L1 expression.

Business


Moderna’s Norovirus Program Remains On Track Despite FDA Hold

 

The biotech disclosed that its norovirus vaccine program was under US FDA hold due to a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome, but said this would not affect timelines.

Apollo Awaits First Proof-Of-Concept Data For Atopic Dermatitis Drug

 

Having built its portfolio from university collaborations and targeted in-licensing, the UK firm now hopes to validate its business model with Phase II readouts in 2025.

Egetis Eager To Launch Ultra Rare Disease Drug Emcitate

 
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The Swedish company is celebrating approval for the first treatment for MCT8 deficiency

Commission Led By HHS Secretary Kennedy Will Probe ‘Threats’ To Children, Including Medicines

 
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President Trump's Executive Order creating the commission does not mention vaccines, which Kennedy has criticized.

Scrip Originals


Finance Watch: Abcuro Raises $200m To See Lead Drug Through To Launch

 
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Private Company Edition: Abcuro’s series C venture capital round will fund its lead drug through pivotal results, filing with the US FDA and launch preparations. Also, AdvanCell completed a $112m series C round, Lutris Pharma raised $30m and Imvax closed a $29m financing.

Finance Watch: Third Harmonic, Q32 Bio Cut Jobs To Focus On Lead Assets

 
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Restructuring Edition: Third Harmonic cut its workforce by half based on positive Phase I data for THB335. Also, encouraged by early Phase IIa results in alopecia areata, Q32 Bio is focusing on bempikibart. In addition, X4, Turnstone, Fractyl, Cargo and others recently revealed layoffs.

Stock Watch: Global Issues Sway Big Pharma Stocks In Q4 Earnings Season

 
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Taking a broad view of big pharma share price movements as the sector reported 2024 financials, company-specific issues were complicated by geopolitical factors including Donald Trump’s tariff announcements.

Pipeline Watch: Six Approvals And Five 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.