The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted Myqorzo (aficamten) a marketing authorisation across the UK for the treatment of symptomatic (New York Heart Association, NYHA class II-III) obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). At the same time, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)… Read More
The latest episode of the DDW Highlights Podcast is now available to listen to below. DDW’s Bruno Quinney narrates five key stories of the previous week to keep DDW subscribers up-to-date on the latest industry news. Last week, a UK group accelerated efforts to develop a vaccine for Ebolavirus. Elsewhere,… Read More
News round-up for 25–29 May by Bruno Quinney, Content Team at DDW. This week, a UK group has accelerated efforts to develop a vaccine for Ebolavirus. Elsewhere, significant findings in colorectal and brain cancer could shape future cancer treatments. The top stories: UK group steps… Read More
A single-shot gene therapy could slash cholesterol levels by 62%, potentially ‘transforming cardiovascular care’. Results from the Heart-2 study into VERVE-102, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed reductions of up to 62% in a cohort of 35 participants, with durability observed for up… Read More
Ronald A Li, CEO and Co-Founder at Medera, explores how human-centred preclinical models are… Read More
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Tenaya Therapeutics have agreed a research collaboration to discover novel human genetic targets for the potential development of disease-modifying treatments for cardiovascular diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Tenaya Therapeutics will validate up to 15 gene targets. In return, Tenaya will… Read More
Atrium Therapeutics has launched as a newly independent, publicly traded company developing RNA therapeutics for people living with rare, life-threatening genetic cardiomyopathies. Atrium Therapeutics was established in connection with Avidity Biosciences’ acquisition by Novartis. The company is led by Kathleen Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO),… Read More
Monte Rosa Therapeutics has shared positive interim data from an ongoing Phase I clinical study evaluating MRT-8102, a NEK7-directed MGD being developed for the treatment of inflammatory conditions driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1, and IL-6. “These remarkable interim data from our ongoing Phase I study of… Read More
CRISPR Therapeutics has shared positive Phase I data from an ongoing clinical trial evaluating CTX310, an investigational, in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing therapy targeting ANGPTL3. A single-course treatment with CTX310 produced dose-dependent, durable reductions in circulating ANGPTL3 with a mean reduction from baseline of -73% (maximum… Read More
Intellia Therapeutics announced it has temporarily paused its MAGNITUDE and MAGNITUDE-2 Phase III clinical trials of nex-z for patients with transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) and polyneuropathy (ATTR-PN), respectively. The action follows a report of Grade 4 liver transaminases and increased total bilirubin in a patient who… Read More
Anti-obesity medication semaglutide may help to prevent heart attacks and other major cardiac events regardless of how much weight people lose while taking the drug, says a new study led by University College London (UCL). The finding, the researchers say, suggests there are multiple ways the drug… Read More
By Ronald A Li, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder, Medera, and Kevin D Costa, PhD, Co-Founder, Novoheart. Recent NIH policy prioritising the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) as alternatives to laboratory animals in all new funding opportunities marks a seismic shift in how biomedical research will be conducted. For… Read More
A new treatment has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure in people whose levels stay dangerously high despite medication, according to the results of a Phase III clinical trial. The international BaxHTN trial, led by Professor Bryan Williams, UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, and sponsored by… Read More
Lilly has shared topline results from SURPASS-CVOT, a head-to-head Phase III cardiovascular outcomes trial comparing two incretin therapies in adults with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a GIP/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist, was compared to Trulicity (dulaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist that showed… Read More
Merck (known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is to acquire Verona Pharma for a total transaction value of approximately $10 billion. Through this acquisition Merck will add Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine), a first-in-class selective dual inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 (PDE3 and PDE4), to its… Read More
Longeveron has completed enrolment for its Phase IIb clinical trial (ELPIS II) evaluating cellular therapy laromestrocel as a potential adjunct treatment for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Laromestrocel is a scalable, allogeneic cellular therapy being evaluated in multiple indications. Top-line trial results are anticipated in… Read More
