Aligos tackles hepatitis B with combo approach, three drugs entering clinic this year
Lessons learned from development of hepatitis C therapies could be applied to the underserved hepatitis B population, potentially leading to a functional cure through a combination of optimized drugs that attack the virus from different angles. That is the mission of 2-year-old Aligos Therapeutics Inc., a South San Francisco-based startup focused on liver-related diseases.
Partnered with Gilead and Sanofi, protein degradation specialist Nurix bags $120M to chart its own clinical path
On the same day that Cambridge, MA-based Kymera Therapeutics unveiled a $102 million round to enter into development phase, Nurix said it has raised $120 million to do the same out of San Francisco’s Mission Bay.
After Kymera’s raise, Nurix nabs $120M as it too hones in on clinical work
Sanofi- and Gilead Sciences-backed Nurix Therapeutics is following suit with rival biotech Kymera in raising a major cash haul for its protein modulation R&D work. Nurix has grabbed $120 million to push on with its drug discovery platform that focuses on manipulating the ubiquitin system, which breaks down damaged or unneeded proteins.
Genetic testing hopes to speed up drug development in rare eye diseases
When it comes to fighting rare diseases, the biggest barrier to overcome is often the lack of knowledge around the condition. A free genetic test is hoping to combat this and speed up drug development in inherited retinal diseases.
Motus GI moving headquarters from Florida to Massachusetts
Motus GI is moving its corporate headquarters from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to the greater Boston area in the second quarter of this year to support commercial efforts for its Pure-Vu colon cleansing system. The new headquarters will be in Norwood, Mass., closer to major medical device hubs, giving the company access to a bigger talent pool. Norwood is about 25 miles south of Boston.
AI and antibodies align
Last month, OSE Immunotherapeutics SA reported a new collaboration agreement with MAbSilico, which is based in Tours, France. The companies plan to use artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions for therapeutic antibody drug development.
Cue up a potential answer to fighting tumors
In a “groundbreaking” preclinical study using the healing power of the body’s own immune system to treat human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), biopharmaceutical Cue Biopharma Inc. says it has demonstrated the ability of its lead biologic candidate, CUE-101, to activate tumor antigen specific antitumor immunity right on target.
Diasome Pharmaceuticals: A Future Without Lows?
Recently, Diasome Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from its Phase 2 OPTI-1 study on the efficacy of its hepatocyte directed vesicle (HDV) technology for preventing low blood sugar in patients with type 1 diabetes. The study results showed that this liver-targeted insulin may allow patients to reduce the amount of time they spend in hypoglycemia by using HDV technology and optimizing their relative basal and mealtime insulin doses.
