Dr. Tia Lyles-Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia-based LucasPye Bio (LPB), a biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), is ready to embrace the work ahead in order to expand opportunities for her company, as well as for other biomanufacturing organizations across the country.
Incyte (NASDAQ:INCY) today announced that the Company has entered into an agreement to acquire Villaris Therapeutics, an asset-centric biopharmaceutical company seeded by Medicxi and focused on the development of novel antibody therapeutics for vitiligo. Its lead asset, auremolimab (VM6), an anti-IL-15Rβ monoclonal antibody (mAb), is expected to enter clinical development in 2023.
Talent looking to join Greater Philadelphia’s cell and gene therapy hub can hear firsthand from those living and working here about the industry’s opportunities and the region’s quality of life. So far, 11 talent ambassadors have shared their stories as part of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s “Discovery Starts with Me” series.
For our latest “Discovery Starts with Me” story, we sat down with Brent Chamberlain, Associate Director of Cell and Gene Therapy at the Jefferson Institute of Bioprocessing (JIB). JIB is a full-service development and training organization specializing in biopharmaceuticals and biologics. JIB offers early-phase pre-clinical process development, product development, analytical, quality control, stability and release testing, world-class industry training, and strong credential programs through Thomas Jefferson University. JIB’s team of bioprocessing experts brings both industry knowledge and seasoned experience to all of its work.
There’s a handful of reasons why the Philadelphia region has been (perhaps unfortunately) dubbed Cellicon Valley in the last few years, and a new report from the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and economic consulting firm Econsult Solutions has ID’d them all.
In the report, which looked at 14 large cell and gene therapy hubs in the US, Philadelphia ranked as the runner up, just behind Boston, as the top spot for research and innovation in this space. Other metro areas such as New York and San Francisco scored the third and fourth spots on the list. The report shouts out early local work, including the first FDA-approved gene (Luxturna) and cell (Kymriah) therapies developed here at Spark Therapeutics and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.
“The Philadelphia region is increasingly attracting new and expanding cell and gene therapy companies because it checks all the boxes, but it’s the region’s research infrastructure as defined by NIH-funded cell and gene therapy research and its large number of research institutions that give it the edge,” said Claire Marrazzo Greenwood, executive director and CEO of Council for Growth and SVP of economic competitiveness for the Chamber, in a statement.
Windtree Therapeutics Announces Positive Istaroxime Phase 2 Study in Early Cardiogenic Shock (SEISMiC) Published in the European Journal of Heart Failure WARRINGTON, Pa., Sept. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Windtree [….]
What caught Idera’s attention was Aceragen’s lead assets, including ACG-701, which is set to enter phase 2 trials later this year for acute pulmonary exacerbations associated with cystic fibrosis. Although sodium fusidate has been used in this indication for decades in the U.K. and Australia, it has yet to receive approval in the U.S.
ACG-701 is also undergoing a phase 2 trial as a potential treatment for a life-threatening infection called melioidosis, with an interim readout expected in the first quarter of next year.
The other cornerstone of Aceragen’s portfolio is ACG-801, a biologic enzyme replacement therapy that is due to enter clinical trials for Farber disease in the first quarter of 2023. The drug was itself acquired from Enzyvant by Aceragen shortly after the company launched last year.
Eagle Pharmaceuticals is keeping an eye on Enalare Therapeutics’ lead respiratory candidate, and apparently, so is the US government.
The New Jersey-based biotech struck a deal with BARDA worth up to $50.3 million to develop the lead compound, dubbed ENA-001, the company announced on Tuesday. The candidate is designed to simulate breathing and is meant to be used in emergency cases when treating drug overdoses or respiratory depression post-surgery.
According to Enalare, the first phase of the contract will give it $6 million to complete any actions through its Phase I trial. The overall award, which will be based on several milestones in R&D and production, will give funding for toxicology, human trials, manufacturing and regulatory filings.
In a newly released study comparing 14 U.S. cell and gene therapy hubs in five key categories, the Philadelphia region ranks #2 among U.S. locations. Commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and researched by economic consulting firm Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI), the study compares cell and gene therapy hubs in research infrastructure, human capital, innovation output, commercial activity, and value proposition. The only region ranked higher overall than Philadelphia was Boston. New York and San Francisco were ranked #3 and #4, respectively.
As long overdue change takes shape and the number of women in the biotech industry continues to grow, it is important to recognize those that have created the path for the next generation of diverse leaders. BioBuzz wishes to acknowledge the incredible contributions and efforts of women who have made their mark on the industry.
Sesen Bio’s decade-plus journey is over after failing to secure a bladder cancer drug approval and carve its own path for IL-6 antibodies. The Cambridge, MA company’s spot on Nasdaq will serve as the new home for Carisma Therapeutics, which is attempting to usher in a new CAR cell therapy in the world of macrophages and monocytes.
The two are executing an all-stock reverse merger, with the future resting solely on Carisma’s lineup of therapies, including a Phase I asset that had some limited data presented at ASCO in June. The Philadelphia startup will begin trading under the aptly symboled ticker $CARM in three to four months, the companies said Wednesday morning.
