Immunology

Zenas BioPharma plans to have data from four trials – two under way and two starting this summer – for obexelimab, which targets CD19 and FcγRIIb, within about a year and a half.

The US Food and Drug Administration has requested additional efficacy information on the supplemental filing in the potentially large new indication.

Things are looking up for the UK company with growing dominance for Arexvy among respiratory syncytial virus shots and international growth for shingles vaccine Shingrix

In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: 2023’s top selling drugs and the COVID cliff; falling sales force Roche to reassess priorities; Phase III immunology win for Sanofi; BMS’s strong pipeline: and which companies could be acquired next.

Xolremdi was OKed as the first drug for WHIM syndrome and X4 set pricing at $372,000-$496,000 a year, but the drug’s bigger opportunity may be in chronic neutropenia.

The writing was on the wall for InDex after cobitolimod flopped for ulcerative colitis but that should soon been scrubbed off now a reverse-merger candidate has been identified to save the Stockholm-based biotech from liquidation.

CEO Paul Hudson says that the French major will continue to progress early-stage cancer projects despite jettisoning some oncology programs in favor of reallocating much of its research budget to immunology.

Incyte will pay $750m to acquire privately held Escient and its first-in-class oral antagonists of Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors X2 and X4.

Sanofi’s BTK inhibitor – one of two from its 2021 Principia buy – passed a Phase III test in immune thrombocytopenia as the company focuses on Dupixent-like blockbusters going forward.

Bristol Myers Squibb’s head of major markets, Monica Shaw, wants to improve patients’ access to lifesaving therapies. And the group has several new products ready to roll.

The French drugmaker has not abandoned oncology but has made it very clear that immunology and inflammation is the priority for its R&D euros.

The company will discontinue its trial of the CD19-directed bispecific CLN-978 in NHL and develop it in inflammatory diseases, where it could have an edge over CAR-Ts.