Astellas’ Mike Luther sees 2023 as a year of growing assets and creating partnerships. The global head of search and evaluation business development told In Vivo about the company's focus on gene and cell therapy and what he thinks makes for a successful business deal.

The anti-Claudin-18.2 agent plus chemotherapy improves progression-free survival in inoperable or metastatic stomach cancer, following a similar Phase III readout in November.

Novel candidate acquired from Ganymed in 2016 moves closer to first approval filing anywhere for a CLDN18-targeting antibody, and as a potential competitor for Opdivo in HER2-negative gastric cancer, following positive top-line Phase III results in the first-line combo setting. Results from GLOW trial in combination with CAPOX also awaited.

Companies announcing executives moves this week include Celgene with a new CFO, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Silence Therapeutics, Sosei, BioNTech, Nordic Nanovector, Axcella Health, and NDA Group. The British Generic Manufacturers Association also announced a new chair.