Sleep disorder specialist Centessa is heading for an acquisition by Eli Lilly, which has offered $6.3bn for the US and UK-based biotech.
AI benchmarks are broken. Here’s what we need instead.
For decades, artificial intelligence has been evaluated through the question of whether machines outperform humans. From chess to advanced math, from coding to essay writing, the performance of AI models and applications is tested against that of individual humans completing tasks. This framing is seductive: An AI vs. human comparison on isolated problems with clear […]
Merck joins forces with Infinimmune to find therapeutic antibodies
Merck is tasking a 10-person biotech to hunt for new human antibody candidates. The drug giant will ship up to $838 million to the startup, called Infinimmune, in exchange for antibody candidates that are directed …
Novo Nordisk launches subscription program for Wegovy drugs
You can now pay for Wegovy shots and pills just like you pay for an Amazon Prime subscription. Novo Nordisk said patients paying cash can opt for 3-month, 6-month and yearlong subscriptions, securing a lower …
UCB brings first therapy for rare disease TK2d to EU
The EU has approved UCB’s Kygevi for rare disease TK2d, and Sanofi’s acute GvHD therapy Rezurock, in a pair of decisions announced this morning.
Biogen to acquire Apellis for $5.6B
Biogen has made a $5.6 billion deal to acquire Apellis Pharmaceuticals, the companies announced Tuesday. The deal will allow Biogen to get hold of the kidney disease drug Empaveli and the eye disease therapy Syfovre …
PepGen’s muscle disease program posts poor mid-stage results as one patient’s data get markedly worse
A new cut of Phase 2 data on PepGen’s beleaguered oligonucleotide therapy for a genetic nerve and muscle disease has shown disappointing efficacy compared with analysts’ expectations. The therapy, known as PGN-EDODM1, is intended to …
ViiV R&D head Kimberly Smith heads to retirement after three decades in HIV care
After more than 30 years fighting the HIV epidemic as a clinician and researcher — 13 of those years spent at ViiV Healthcare’s R&D unit — Kimberly Smith is retiring. “Many of the things that I really …
Eli Lilly to buy Centessa for $6.3B to get sleep disorder drug
Eli Lilly is making its biggest acquisition in years, devoting part of its GLP-1 cash influx to buy Centessa Pharmaceuticals and its experimental medicines for sleep disorders and neurological conditions. The …
First clinical trial of tRNA therapy will start soon
Alltrna, a startup developing a new class of RNA-based drugs where a single therapy could potentially be reused across many different diseases, has received clearance to begin its first clinical trial, the company told Endpoints …
Enveda’s first clinical readout shows strong eczema results
Enveda Biosciences’ first-ever clinical readout places its lead eczema drug among the top candidates in an increasingly crowded race to follow the blockbuster immunology treatment Dupixent. The trial was a Phase 1b test that looked …
AZ considers filings for long-acting Strensiq follow-up
AstraZeneca’s long-acting Strensiq follow-up efzimfotase alfa has hit the mark in children with rare disease HPP, but the data in adults is unclear.