This week in Drug Discovery (29 September – 3 October)
News round-up for 29 September – 3 October by Bruno Quinney, Content Team at DDW.
This week’s news is led by the agreement by Genmab to acquire Merus in a deal worth approximately $8 billion, an announcement which could have important ramifications in cancer research. Scientists have also made breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer, as well as in gene therapies and the understanding of Covid ‘brain fog’.
The top stories:
Genmab to acquire Merus for approximately $8 billion
Genmab has agreed to acquire Merus, a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a late-stage breakthrough therapy asset called petosemtamab, which is in Phase III development.
Long Covid breakthrough offers hope of new therapeutic target
Researchers from Yokohama City University in Japan have made a breakthrough in understanding Covid ‘brain fog’, providing clues for a new therapeutic target.
Scientists discover key protein target to treat pancreatic cancer
Scientists have discovered a key protein that could be targeted with a drug to treat the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
Read more…
Researchers develop new method for safer AAV gene therapies
Researchers at the HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences (HUN-REN TTK) have developed a new method for detecting neutralising antibodies (Nabs), offering the potential for safer and more successful AAV gene therapies.
Phase III trial of flu preventative CD388 accelerated
The Phase III study of CD388, a non-vaccine preventative of seasonal flu, has been accelerated by six months, biotechnology company Cidara Therapeutics has announced.