Immunology

Amgen is acquiring a pipeline-in-a-pill with ChemoCentryx’s Tavneos, currently approved for ANCA-associated vasculitis, at a time when the company’s existing portfolio is struggling to maintain sales growth.

Just over a month after raising $97m in a series B round, Oxford University spinout MiroBio and its immune checkpoint agonists have been snapped up by Gilead Sciences. 

The major has won US priority review for a commercially crucial label expansion of its breast cancer drug Enhertu while Tezspire and Ultomiris attracted positive CHMP opinions across the Atlantic.

Hemlibra receives new approval in Japan intractable disease indication, while positive Phase III results in mild/moderate disease hemophilia A will support a planned EU filing in this setting. 

The company announced data from the Phase III SPRING study of Takhzyro in children aged 2-11; there is no approved long-term prophylactic therapy for children under 6.

Can-Fite’s A3AR agonist was inferior to Amgen’s Otezla by most efficacy measures, while Bristol Myers Squibb’s competing deucravacitinib is closer to approval and did beat Otezla.

The Irish firm’s cannabis-derived nabiximols spray missed the primary endpoint in a late-stage multiple sclerosis spasticity trial, but it is unfazed as hopes remain for two ongoing spasticity studies.

Roivant and Pfizer launched Priovant to develop the oral drug brepocitinib for dermatomyositis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, but Roivant also cut programs to extend its cash runway.

Kezar’s lead asset zetomipzomib has demonstrated clinical significance in a mid-stage lupus trial just weeks after a disappointment in myositis but more robust data are needed for the first-in-class selective immunoproteasome inhibitor. 

Immunology president Patrik Jonsson talked to Scrip about being first to market with a systemic treatment for alopecia areata and launch plans for the new Olumiant indication.

In this week's podcast version of Five Must-Know Things: key takeaways from BIO; a new alopecia option in the US; how one small specialist company entered Japan; and the evolving BTK inhibitor landscape in multiple sclerosis.

The deal will help MorphoSys focus on lifting lackluster Monjuvi sales, and on bringing its promising myelofibrosis candidate pelabresib to market.