- | INmune Bio
Quellor clinical study underway to lessen COVID-19 symptoms
That drug is called Quellor. INmune BIO said if its drug is approved by the FDA, the hope is it could reduce symptoms of COVID-19 down to symptoms similar to a common cold. Doctors at the University of Louisville Jewish Hospital are currently accepting patients 65 and up to be a part of the clinical study.
- | Scynexis
Ibrexafungerp advances the fight against fungus
In December, SCYNEXIS Inc. reported progress on ibrexafungerp’s intravenous (IV) formulation and provided an update on the therapy’s ongoing Phase 3 studies in the hospital setting. SCYNEXIS has completed preclinical testing of its liposomal IV formulation of ibrexafungerp, and is moving the program into human trials in South Africa.
- | Clene Nanomedicine
Clene Nanomedicine Secures Crucial Patent for Gold Nanocrystal MS Treatment
Clene Nanomedicine was awarded a crucial patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its patented clean-surfaced gold nanocrystals used for treating patients with multiple sclerosis.
- | Aridis Pharmaceuticals
Exploring the Therapeutic Value of Blood Components
Convalescent plasma (CP) is plasma obtained from patients who have recovered from an infectious illness and thus generated antibodies to the disease. It can be used as an emergency measure when other treatments are not available. Unlike recombinant monoclonal antibodies engineered to bind to a specific target, CP possesses a range of antibodies to a viral antigen that provide better coverage by interacting with different parts of that antigen, according to Vu L. Truong, founder, CEO, and director at Aridis Pharmaceuticals.
- | NantKwest
New COVID-19 variant has emerged in California, says Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong
A new variant of COVID-19 has been detected in California, and it is entirely different from other variants found recently in the U.K. and South Africa, says Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, CEO of ImmunityBio. Dr. Soon-Shiong spoke with The National Desk’s Jan Jeffcoat Monday afternoon to discuss his concerns over the California variant, and what needs to be done to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- | Valneva
Valneva begins manufacturing vaccine candidate in Scotland
French biotech Valneva has started manufacturing its vaccine candidate in Scotland, the U.K. government announced Thursday.
The move follows a multi-million-pound joint investment in the facility in Livingston, West Lothian, by the U.K. government in 2020 as part of an in-principle agreement to secure early access to Valneva’s first 60 million vaccine doses, with an option to acquire a further 130 million if the jab is approved.
- | Oncocyte
J.P. Morgan: Will Biotech’s Virtual 2021 Launch Become the New Reality?
“J.P. Morgan and the meetings around J.P. Morgan are such a fun week for us in the industry typically, but I have to be blunt: This week has been extra busy. I think the Zoom environment, and the virtual environment, has created an efficiency that’s good for everybody, except the folks that have to present the data because we have to present every 30 minutes without bio breaks,” OncoCyte Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Ronnie Andrews told BioSpace.
- | Nirogy Therapeutics
Nirogy Therapeutics emerges with $16.5M to target metabolite transporters
After years working under the radar, Nirogy Therapeutics is officially launching with $16.5 million and a mission to drug a family of membrane proteins called solute carriers. The proceeds will see the company’s lead cancer program through phase 1, CEO Vincent Sandanayaka, Ph.D., said.
