Apellis’s pegcetacoplan – approved for two other indications – will not go forward in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after a Phase II failure, two days after Wave Life made a similar call in the neurodegenerative disease.

Neuroscience and oncology fuel high hopes for therapeutic R&D progress among 90-plus surveyed biopharma industry leaders.

Deal-making between big pharma and biotech looks set to rise with a looming patent cliff increasing the need for the former to replenish its pipelines. Meanwhile, biotechs need partners to help them advance amid the ongoing big freeze on raising cash on public markets.

The US biotech has out-licensed a preclinical candidate to GSK as the firms pair up to discover and develop multiple oligonucleotide assets.