Sanofi and Regeneron have begun a second Phase 2/3 trial for Kevzara (sarilumab) in COVID-19 patients in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Canada and Russia following initiation of the first trial in the US. Sanofi is leading the trials outside the US, with Regeneron leading the US trials. Jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron under a […]

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Genentech is working with the FDA to initiate a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Actemra (tocilizumab) for hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This is the first global study of Actemra in this setting and is expected to begin enrolling in early April with a target […]

Leading Massachusetts life sciences and healthcare organization executives Robert Coughlin (MassBio), Steve Walsh (Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association), Brian Johnson (Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council) and Patricia McMullin (Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals) have joined together to make the following appeal to the area’s life sciences and healthcare organizations: As the leading life sciences and […]

The FDA has issued the fourth COVID-19 diagnostic Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Thermo Fisher for its TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit. The FDA issued an EUA to Thermo Fisher for its diagnostic test within 24 hours of receiving the request. This is the second commercially distributed test to receive an EUA during the COVID-19 outbreak. […]

Kymera Therapeutics has announced the closing of a $102 million Series C financing round. was led by Biotechnology Value Fund (BVF) and Redmile Group. Kymera also received a strategic investment from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society‘s Therapy Acceleration Program directed toward advancing the company’s work to treat blood-based cancers. “We are very excited to be […]

Rajeev Venkayya, President of Takeda’s Global Vaccine Business Unit, has announced that Takeda is “initiating the development of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal hyperimmune globulin (H-IG) to treat high-risk individuals with COVID-19, which we’re calling TAK-888. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.” He went on to explain that “Hyperimmune globulin is a plasma derived-therapy that has previously been […]

Thermo Fisher Scientific will acquire Netherlands-based Qiagen for approximately $11.5 billion, which includes the assumption of approximately $1.4 billion of net debt. Qiagen is a leading provider of life science and molecular diagnostic solutions and employs approximately 5,100 people at 35 locations in more than 25 countries and generated 2019 revenue of $1.53 billion. Its […]

Xilio Therapeutics (formerly Akrevia Therapeutics), a local bioteh developing tumor-selective immuno-oncology (IO) therapies for patients with cancer, has announced the closing of a $100.5 million Series B financing. Proceeds from the financing will be used to progress Xilio’s first two therapeutic candidates, XTX201 (tumor-selective IL-2) and XTX101 (tumor-selective aCTLA4 mAb) through Investigational New Drug (IND) […]

Biogen and California biotech Sangamo Therapeutics have announced a global licensing collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize ST-501 for tauopathies including Alzheimer’s disease, ST-502 for synucleinopathies including Parkinson’s disease, a third undisclosed neuromuscular disease target, and up to nine additional undisclosed neurological disease targets. The companies will leverage Sangamo’s proprietary zinc finger protein (ZFP) technology […]