Neuroscience and oncology fuel high hopes for therapeutic R&D progress among 90-plus surveyed biopharma industry leaders.

With Akero’s FGF21 analog showing ability to reduce fibrosis and resolve non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, some analysts think classmate BIO89-100 could yield a better overall profile. NASH data are starting to pour in.

ARCH closed a $3bn VC fund to end the month of June while in the same week six public biopharma firms said they are cutting jobs. Even so, some publicly traded companies have been able to launch sizeable offerings, including a $450m note sale by Cytokinetics and Xenon’s $250m follow-on. 

Additional patients and more long-term data could also help make case for obeticholic acid. Intercept hopes to complete its review of the pivotal REGENERATE trial during H1 2022.