Interviews

Acepodia Plays Dual-Payload Ace To Join Global ADC Race

 

Acepodia’s dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates can link multiple tumor-killing agents without antibody modification. Apart from a GPC3-targeting candidate, the Taiwan-US biotech is also working on a bispecific antibody ADC with two different payloads, its CEO tells Scrip in an interview.

XGene’s Non-Opioid Pain Contender Shows Pre-/Post-Op Promise

 
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XGene's pain candidate has shown positive results in a US bunionectomy trial and the Chinese company is also eyeing chronic and cancer pain indications for its contender, which may provide a competitor to Vertex's suzetrigine.

Venture Fund Aims To Enrich Chugai’s Discovery Engine

 

The head of Chugai's new $200m venture capital fund talks to Scrip about its investment priorities.


Oculis Eyes Opportunities For Third Ophthalmology Candidate

 
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The Swiss-headquartered, NASDAQ-listed group has posted a Phase II win for OCS-05 in acute optic neuritis, which opens up its potential in additional, and much larger, neuro-ophthalmic indications, CEO Riad Sherif tells Scrip.

Merck KGaA’s AI Platform Architect On Redefining The Drug Discovery Process

 

The head of AI and automation in drug discovery at Merck KGaA’s life science business talked to Scrip about the company’s AI-powered platform that leverages a “gold mine” of proprietary R&D data, better in silico predictions and the next frontier of AI.

Novartis Hopes To Broaden SMA Patient Pool After Intrathecal Zolgensma Success

 
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The Swiss giant’s blockbuster gene therapy is currently only administered intravenously into patients with spinal muscular atrophy under two years of age. Its intrathecal candidate, called OAV-101, has just passed a Phase III test which could expand its use in children and young adults.

Merck KGaA, Aragen Execs On AI-Led Drug Discovery, Incubator Set-up, US Tariffs And More

 
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Merck’s India head for process solutions and Aragen Bioscience’s CEO talk about an incubator set-up and AI-led drug discovery to enable India’s research ecosystem, US tariffs on China, ADC and GLP-1 development, funding path for Goldman Sachs-investee Aragen and more in this video interview


Zealand CEO On Amylins And Obesity: We’re Not Following Novo, We Have Our Own Narrative

 

Adam Steensberg talked to Scrip about his firm’s vision for obesity treatment, Zealand’s independence from neighbor Novo Nordisk, and the hunt for a partner for its amylin candidate, petrelintide.

How Sanofi Is Shaping Plug-And-Produce Manufacturing

 

Sanofi's EVP, manufacturing and supply, Brendan O’Callaghan, tells Scrip how modular concept manufacturing at a new site in Singapore can drive efficiencies and minimize downtime, with technologies such as digital twins expected to further improve operational metrics.

Why J&J Still Wants In On Atopic Dermatitis

 

The immunology company has used business development to bring in atopic dermatitis bispecific antibodies. J&J VP-immunodermatology disease area leader Liza O’Dowd talked to Scrip about the developments.

Citryll Hits Back Of the NET With €85m Financing

 
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The Dutch group has assembled an impressive syndicate which is betting that the first-in-class monoclonal antibody CIT-013 could be a transformative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa.


Benzos to Breakthroughs: Bill Burns on Roche’s Transformation

 
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Former Roche CEO Bill Burns reflects on transforming Roche into a global leader in specialty care and oncology. Now, as he spearheads efforts to combat antibiotic resistance, Burns shares insights on industry evolution, the power of cultural change, and the urgent need for a new business model in antibiotics development.

Leo Pharma Picks Up Momentum As Growth Plan Progresses

 

CEO Christophe Bourdon talked to Scrip about the company’s revitalization as revenue grew 10% in the third quarter.

Broad Benefits Of Immunic MS Drug Could Transform Treatment

 
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While most drug development in the multiple sclerosis space has focused just on relapse prevention, Immunic’s dual-acting therapy vidofludimus calcium also offers a novel approach for neurodegeneration, its CEO Daniel Vitt tells Scrip.

The Scrip Awards Podcast, Ep2: 2024 Awards Preview & Verona Pharma Interview

 

The second podcast in our series marking 20 years of the Scrip Awards and their recognition of biopharma innovation looking back at some of the trends that have shaped the sector in that time.


Novartis Benefits From Biotech Lessons Taught By Development Head Aradhye

 
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The Swiss major’s chief medical officer tells Scrip about how “an R&D/commercial continuum” is helping to speed up innovation across the group.

Fosun Pharma’s Global R&D Head On Original Innovation In China

 

Original innovation in drug development is vital for Chinese pharmas to grow into international majors within a decade, while originality is not necessarily restricted to the first-in-class category, Xingli Wang, head of Fosun Pharma’s Global R&D, shares his thoughts with Scrip.

Inventiva Getting Back On Track In NASH Development

 
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Following Phase III safety and cash problems, Inventiva has its eye on lanifibranor becoming the second oral agent approved in NASH. Former Intercept CEO Mark Pruzanski is advising the effort.

HopeMed Hopes For First-Line Inroads In Endometriosis-Associated Pain

 

Interim results from an international Phase II study with its prolactin inhibiting antibody have boosted HopeMed’s confidence in its first-line potential in the chronic disorder, the Chinese venture's CEO tells Scrip.