Reports + Research

Ionis Reports Promising Early Clinical Data in Huntington’s Disease

Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ drug, IONIS-HTTRX(RG6042), is designed to target and reduce the toxic mutant huntingtin protein that is believed to be the underlying cause of Huntington’s disease, a progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. The top-line data from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial showed significant dose-dependent reductions in the mutant huntingtin protein as well as a promising safety profile. Further analysis is needed, including a longer-term larger study that can establish clinical benefit of reducing mutant huntingtin protein levels.

Vividion Therapeutics and Celgene Collaborate on Intractable Drug Targets

Vividion says their drug discovery platform leverages more native protein-drug interactions to better develop compounds to act on “undruggable” proteins. The collaboration with Celegene will be to identify and develop small molecule drugs against targets for a range of oncology, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative indications. Celgene will pay Vividion a $101 million upfront payment, including equity investment.

Okogen Raises $10 Million for Anti-Infectives for Infectious Eye Diseases

Okogen obtained a $10 million Series A financing from Brandon Capital’s Medical Commercialisation Fund. The proceeds will be used to develop the company’s lead drug candidate for viral conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, one of the most well-known and contagious infectious eye diseases. The drug candidate is expected to enter clinical trials by the end of the year.

Beacon Discovery and Takeda Form Drug Discovery Collaboration for GI Disorders

Beacon Discovery’s multi-year drug discovery collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical will be targeting a number of G-protein coupled receptors that play an important role in the pathology of gastrointestinal disorders. In January, Beacon Discovery announced a similar deal with Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Opinion: Why Can’t the Drug Industry Solve Its Gender Diversity Problem?

C&EN tries to answer that question by interviewing nearly two dozen women working in all areas of life sciences. This article summarizes the discussion of implementable ideas to fix the gender disparity that leads to very few women being in leadership positions both in academia and industry.

Read + Listen

POW! Podcast of the Week

STAT News has launched a new podcast to discuss the insight, opinion, and gossip of the biotech industry. Called “The Readout LOUD,” the weekly podcast will be hosted by Adam Feuerstein, Rebecca Robbins, and Damian Garde.

BOW! Book of the Week

You do it every day but in the world of alternative facts and “fast thinking,” are you doing it right? Here’s a book not based in the sciences, but needed for the sciences: How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds.

Events

It’s Happening Here

March 9
4th Annual UCSD Division of Regenerative Medicine Symposium will take place at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.

March 14
To meet the need of science communication, or #SciComm, for researchers, SDBN is holding a special panel called “Making a Difference.” This event is open to anyone who wants to hear from thought leaders who are helping scientists communicate their science and making a difference locally and globally. The event is also a great way to celebrate #PiDay.

March 24
Now in its fifth year, the “What can you be with a PhD?” STEM Career Symposium is taking place at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.

Tags: Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Blogs, Diversity, Huntington’s Disease, Ionis