VBI Vaccines and Brii Biosciences Expand Hepatitis B Partnership To Address Both Prevention and Treatment in License and Collaboration Agreements for up to $437 Million Plus Royalties
VBI Vaccines Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIV) (“VBI” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company driven by immunology in the pursuit of powerful prevention and treatment of disease, today announced the expansion of its hepatitis B (HBV) partnership with Brii Biosciences (“Brii Bio”) (Stock code: 2137.HK). Through two license and collaboration agreements, Brii Bio expanded its exclusive license to VBI-2601 (BRII-179), VBI’s HBV immunotherapeutic candidate, to global rights and acquired an exclusive license for PreHevbri, VBI’s 3-antigen hepatitis B vaccine, in the Asia Pacific region (APAC).
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Enters Into a Strategic Licensing Deal With Zenyaku Kogyo for the Development and Commercialization of Eblasakimab in Japan
SAN MATEO, Calif. and SINGAPORE and TOKYO, June 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (“ASLAN”, Nasdaq: ASLN), a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients, and a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (“Zenyaku”), a subsidiary of privately held Zenyaku Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Zenyaku Holdings”), today announced a strategic licensing agreement granting Zenyaku exclusive rights to develop and commercialize eblasakimab in atopic dermatitis (AD) and all other indications in Japan.
Amgen and TScan Therapeutics Announce Collaboration to Identify Novel Targets in Crohn’s Disease
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. and WALTHAM, Mass., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) and TScan Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCRX), today announced a multi-year collaboration that will use TScan’s proprietary target discovery platform, TargetScan, to identify the antigens recognized by T cells in patients with Crohn’s disease. Under the terms of the agreement, TScan will receive a $30 million upfront payment and is eligible to earn over $500 million in success-based preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones as well as tiered single-digit royalty payments.
Inspirna Appoints Dr. Usman “Oz” Azam, M.D., as New Chief Executive Officer
NEW YORK– (BUSINESS WIRE) – Inspirna, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class cancer therapeutics, announced today the appointment of Dr. Usman “Oz” Azam, M.D., as its new Chief Executive Officer. Masoud Tavazoie, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder of Inspirna, recently stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and Director and will assume a new role as Advisor to provide ongoing support to the Company.
89bio, Inc. Announces Upsized Pricing of $275 Million Public Offering of Common Stock
SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 89bio, Inc. (“89bio”) (Nasdaq: ETNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of liver and cardio-metabolic diseases, today announced the pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 16,923,077 shares of its common stock at a public offering price per share of $16.25. In addition, 89bio has granted the underwriters of the offering an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 2,538,461 shares of its common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds of the offering to 89bio, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by 89bio, are expected to be approximately $275 million. The offering is expected to close on or about March 28, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
89bio’s Phase 2b ENLIVEN Trial of Pegozafermin in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Achieved High Statistical Significance on Both Primary Histology Endpoints
SAN FRANCISCO, March 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 89bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ETNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of liver and cardiometabolic diseases, today announced positive topline data from the Phase 2b ENLIVEN trial evaluating treatment with pegozafermin in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In the study, both the 44mg every-two-week (Q2W) and 30mg weekly (QW) doses met, with high statistical significance, both the primary histology endpoints per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on endpoints and statistical analysis.
Inozyme Pharma Reports Full Year 2022 Financial Results and Provides Business Highlights
BOSTON, March 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inozyme Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: INZY), a clinical- stage rare disease biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of pathologic mineralization and intimal proliferation, today reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2022, and provided recent business highlights. The Company also today announced that founding chief executive officer (CEO), Axel Bolte, MSc, MBA, will retire from his current role and that Douglas A. Treco, Ph.D., chairman of the Company’s board of directors (Board), will succeed Mr. Bolte as the CEO of the Company, effective April 1, 2023.
Inozyme Pharma Reports Positive Topline Data from Ongoing Phase 1/2 Trials of INZ-701
BOSTON, Feb. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inozyme Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: INZY), a clinical-stage rare disease biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of pathologic mineralization and intimal proliferation, today announced positive topline pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and safety data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trials of INZ-701 in ENPP1 Deficiency and ABCC6 Deficiency (PXE). The Company also reported encouraging patient reported outcome data as measured by global impression of change (GIC) in the ENPP1 Deficiency trial.
VBI Vaccines Announces Presentation of Interim Phase 2 Data Evaluating Combination of VBI-2601 (BRII-179) and BRII-835 for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
VBI Vaccines Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIV) (VBI), a biopharmaceutical company driven by immunology in the pursuit of powerful prevention and treatment of disease, today announced interim data from the Phase 2 study evaluating the combination of VBI-2601 (BRII-179), VBI’s HBV immunotherapeutic candidate, and BRII-835 (VIR-2218), an HBV-targeting siRNA candidate, in chronically infected HBV patients. The data, which will be featured in an oral presentation at APASL on February 18, 2023, demonstrated that the combination therapy was generally well-tolerated, restored strong anti-HBsAg antibody responses, and led to improved HBsAg-specific T-cell responses, when compared to BRII-835 alone. Notably, in two participants who received the combination therapy, maximum reductions in HBsAg to an undetectable level or to the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were achieved by Week 40, which were associated with robust HBV-specific antibody and T-cell responses.
Corbus Pharmaceuticals expands oncology pipeline with the addition of a clinical stage Nectin-4 targeting Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC)
NORWOOD, Mass., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRBP) ("Corbus" or the "Company"), a precision oncology company, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with CSPC Megalith Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited (CSPC; HKEX: 01093) for development and commercialization of CRB-701 (SYS6002): a novel clinical stage antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Nectin-4. The agreement covers exclusive commercialization rights to CRB-701 in the United States, Canada, the European Union (including the European Free Trade Area), the United Kingdom, and Australia. CSPC will retain all rights to SYS6002 in the remaining global markets. The IND for CRB-701 has been cleared by the US FDA. CRB-701 is currently being investigated by CSPC in a Phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial in advanced solid tumors in China. Corbus is planning to bridge data from this Phase 1 trial to support a US clinical trial starting in 2024. Corbus and CSPC will work collaboratively to execute the clinical development of CRB-701 with Corbus responsible for the clinical development in the US and other licensed territories.
TScan Therapeutics Announces FDA Clearance of Three Investigational New Drug Applications for the Treatment of Solid Tumors
WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TScan Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cell therapies (TCR-T) for the treatment of patients with cancer, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its investigational new drug (IND) applications for T-Plex, TSC-204-A0201, and TSC-204-C0702.
Surface Oncology Announces First Patient Dosed in a Phase 1/2 Study Evaluating SRF114, a Potential Best-In-Class Anti-CCR8 Antibody, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surface Oncology (Nasdaq: SURF), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation immunotherapies that target the tumor microenvironment, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 1/2 clinical study investigating SRF114, a potential best-in-class, fully human, afucosylated anti-CCR8 antibody, as a monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Click Therapeutics expand their existing Collaboration to develop Prescription Digital Therapeutics for Schizophrenia
Ingelheim, Germany and New York, New York, 19 December 2022 - Boehringer Ingelheim and Click Therapeutics today announced the launch of an expanded collaboration for the development and commercialization of a second prescription-based digital therapeutic (PDT). The companies will collaborate to develop and commercialize a novel mobile application, which combines multiple clinically validated therapeutic interventions for use alone and in combination with pharmaceutical therapy to help people with schizophrenia achieve positive clinical outcomes. The partnership aims to provide additional treatment options to those living with schizophrenia, where there remains a significant unmet need due to lack of access to psychosocial intervention therapies.
CEPI Boosts ‘Coronavirus X’ Vaccine Search with Expanded VBI Vaccines Deal
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is expanding its world-leading portfolio of potential variant-proof coronavirus vaccines in a deal with VBI Vaccines Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIV) to advance the development of multivalent coronavirus shots that could be deployed against COVID-19 as well as a future ‘Coronavirus X’.
Ribon Therapeutics Announces Acquisition of Pre-Clinical CD38 Program by Boehringer Ingelheim
Cambridge, MA – November 29, 2022 – Ribon Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics targeting stress support pathways, today announced that it entered into an agreement on the acquisition of its CD38 program with Boehringer Ingelheim. This includes a small molecule inhibitor designed to modulate intra- and extracellular CD38 activity, potentially restoring immune function in various diseases, as well as corresponding patents and other proprietary information. Boehringer Ingelheim aims to develop novel therapies based on Ribon’s CD38 program to transform the lives of patients with immunological and fibrotic diseases.
Surface Oncology Announces Promising SRF388 Monotherapy Data in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Opening Second Stage of Monotherapy Trial and NSCLC Pembrolizumab Combination Cohort
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surface Oncology (Nasdaq: SURF), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation immunotherapies that target the tumor microenvironment, today provided a corporate update and reported financial results for the third quarter of 2022.
Inari Raises $124 Million to Design Seeds for a More Sustainable Food System
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., October 4, 2022 — Inari today announced that it secured $124 million in the successful completion of its latest fundraise. Working to deliver nature-positive solutions, the SEEDesign™ company’s cumulative equity raised now totals $475 million. The investment will further advance Inari’s leading position in multiplex gene-edited seed technology, support expansion of company product development and ultimately deliver new value in the commercial seed market.
InterWell Health, Cricket Health, and Fresenius Health Partners Complete Three-Way Merger, Creating Premier, Value-based Kidney Care Provider
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InterWell Health today announced it has completed a three-way merger between Fresenius Medical Care's value-based care division, Fresenius Health Partners; InterWell Health, a leading physician organization driving innovation in the kidney care industry; and Cricket Health, a provider of value-based kidney care with an industry-leading patient engagement and data platform. The new independent company, which will operate under the InterWell Health brand, will set the standard in value-based kidney care by partnering with a patient's nephrologist, improving their care delivery throughout the entire spectrum of their journey with kidney disease. With extraordinary capabilities, expertise, and reach, the new company expects to improve health outcomes for individuals with kidney disease and reduce costs to public and private payers, health systems, and all others that take risk for this vulnerable and complex patient population. The transaction has satisfied customary closing conditions and received regulatory clearance in the U.S.