Novo Nordisk’s head of global drug discovery tells Scrip he hopes the strategic collaboration with Dicerna Pharmaceuticals will generate clinical candidates within three years.

Karuna Therapeutics’ top-line Phase II data for a combination of a centrally acting muscarinic agonist, xanomeline, and a peripherally acting muscarinic antagonist, trospium, were greeted with enthusiasm by investors and the Boston, MA-based biotech.

Zealand Pharma’s recently installed CEO says it is building US operations to prepare for four potential approvals there in 2020, with commercial launches starting in 2021, its first ever.

With gender diversity only slowly increasing in biopharma c-suites, Scrip spoke to executives from five companies about the importance of change.

Shares in the Spanish dermatology specialist have slipped as the majority shareholder sold a 6.3% stake. However, sales of its psoriasis and acne drugs, plus some promising late-stage assets, suggest Almirall is in rude health.

2019 has seen European biotech companies making waves in the US IPO space. Genmab’s listing was a blockbuster, but many more companies have proven their ability to go public on the NASDAQ.

The US FDA has for the second time placed a clinical hold on Solid Biosciences’ potential gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a move linked to a 70% decline in the company’s share price. The company had reported a serious adverse event in a patient treated with higher doses of the viral vector-delivered gene therapy.

Philadelphia is due to host the American Heart Association (AHA) meeting for the first time from 16-18 November, with the conference taking place in its condensed three-day format for just the second time. Scrip takes a look at the expected highlights.