biotech
BridgeBio bids farewell to oncology
The biotech is spinning out its oncology subsidiary into a fully independent company, as it concentrates its resources on an anticipated launch of its pivotal heart drug.
The subsidiary, which is developing treatments for cancers with mutations in the KRAS gene, will become BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics. It's backed by $200 million in private financing led by Cormorant Asset Management and Omega Funds.
It's an interesting development in BridgeBio's unique business model. The biotech grew out of an idea of being a "hub-and-spoke" company, meaning it's made up of several subsidiaries each working independently on different drugs. The goal is for the subsidiaries to share central resources while having the freedom and expertise to pursue their own research. But as BridgeBio develops more drugs that each require more spending, the business model has grown complicated.
Read more from me on BridgeBio's plans and what the CEO told me about the the business model.
M&A
Novartis expands its radiopharma plans
Novartis, which already produces the leading radiopharmaceutical drug, is doubling down on the field. It's paying $1 billion upfront and up to an additional $750 million if certain milestones are met to acquire startup Mariana Oncology.
Mariana is a three-year-old company developing medicines that drop radioactive isotopes on cancer cells, decimating them in a more potent way than traditional radiation treatment. It was founded by investors Atlas Venture, Access Biotechnology, and RA Capital Management.
The success of Novartis' own radiopharmaceutical drug, Pluvicto, has set off a domino effect in the industry. Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, and Bristol Myers Squibb have spent billions of dollars to acquire radiopharmaceutical startups.
Read more from STAT's Allison DeAngelis on this new deal.
gene therapy
Promising results in a rare skeletal disease
A team of academic researchers reported that a gene therapy alleviated skeletal defects tied to a rare inherited disease called Hurler syndrome in a small trial.
This treatment, called OTL-203, is licensed to Orchard Therapeutics, which was recently acquired by Japanese drugmaker Kyowa Kirin.
People with the disease suffer from short stature, spinal defects, and extremely stiff joints, complications that greatly limit their quality of life. But in the nearly four-year study, children on the therapy grew to heights within average norms, and had far more flexible shoulder, hip, and knee joints than untreated children.
If the treatment is shown to be effective in longer studies, it's possible it could offer patients more life-changing outcomes than bone marrow transplants, which are the current standard approach for Hurler syndrome.
Read more from STAT's Andrew Joseph on these new results.
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