PETA asks SEC to investigate Charles River monkey purchases

PETA, a leading animal rights advocacy, is urging the SEC to investigate Charles River Laboratories for allegedly misleading investors about its business dealings in connection with wild-caught long-tailed macaques they sell to scientists. The clinical research behemoth has been accused of not disclosing the purchase of thousands of non-human primates that shouldn't have been imported into the U.S., and collaborating with companies involved in an international smuggling operation. Charles River was also accused of falsely labeling the monkeys it sold to research clients.

"The importation and use of wild-caught long-tailed macaques is not only rife with legal consequences, but also anathema to scientific integrity," PETA wrote in a letter to regulators. "The use of well-conditioned, well-characterized, purpose-bred primates is considered by the biomedical community to be a bedrock principle of vaccine development and testing."

Biopharma companies, universities, and other researchers use these animals regularly. They expect the monkeys to be "purpose-bred," PETA writes, coming from colonies that maintain high health standards. A 2022 U.S. DOJ investigation alleged that Cambodian wildlife officials labeled monkeys as "captive-bred" when instead they were caught in the wild. This is concerning for scientists: Wild-caught macaques may harbor disease or immune issues that might alter the outcomes of early-stage research.

podcast

How does a weight loss startup compete with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk?

And how did a major telehealth company fall flat after its pandemic-induced rise? We cover all that and more this week on "The Readout LOUD," STAT's biotech podcast.

We bring on biotech veteran Clive Meanwell to discuss his new obesity startup, Metsera, and running head-to-head trials against Wegovy and Zepbound. We also dissect how Teladoc CEO Jason Gorevic parted ways with the company after spending 15 years building the telehealth field.

Listen here.

adam's biotech scorecard

What Vertex's buyout means for Vera

Last week, Vertex Pharmaceuticals bought Alpine Biosciences for $4.9 billion — driving up interest in other companies developing B-cell modulators. Writing in his weekly Biotech Scorecard, STAT's Adam Feuerstein points out that Vera Therapeutics might now be a very lucrative acquisition target. Alpine and Vera are very similar, with each blocking two proteins — B cell activating factor and a proliferation-inducing ligand — that play a role in autoimmune kidney disease.

Although Vertex described Alpine's experimental drug for IgA nephropathy as "best in class," Vera's drug for the same indication is further along in clinical trials. It's fair to say, Adam writes, that Vera could be a very logical target for many other companies.

In his column, Adam also elaborates on recent news from Cullinan Therapeutics, the dwindling ALS pipeline, and the good old days at Dendreon.

M&A

KPMG: Why life sciences M&A was weak last quarter

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Life sciences dealmaking hasn't been great of late, a KPMG analysis shows. In the U.S., M&A activity totaled $59.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, down 31% compared to Q1 in 2023, when it was $86.2 billion. And in Q4 last year, these deals totaled $82.9 billion — representing a fairly significant plunge.

Inflation, interest rates, and the current regulatory environment are some of the main culprits. Companies are also taking a pause and integrating the businesses they've already acquired, so they've held off on further investment.

"On the positive side, we did see continued corporate divestments, targeted investments in health technology and artificial intelligence, and private equity interest stirring after a long lull," wrote Kristin Pothier, a life sciences sector leader for KPMG. She expects more deals to come this month and beyond.

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