A Pfizer gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy failed its Phase 3 clinical trial. But analysts draw distinctions between that therapy and Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys, which awaits an FDA decision that could grant it full regulatory approval.
The PTC Therapeutics drug Translarna failed its confirmatory study in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Analysts say the European Commission’s decision to not adopt the Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use’s negative opinion on the drug is unusual, if not unprecedented.
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Corticosteroids are a standard first-line treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but these drugs have many side effects. FDA approval of Italfarmaco’s Duvyzat is the first nonsteroidal drug to pass the agency’s regulatory bar for treating this rare disease.
Dyne Therapeutics recently reported encouraging Phase 1/2 clinical data in myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. At the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, CEO Joshua Brumm said Dyne’s existing cash combined with the new capital is expected to last through 2025—well beyond the next key milestones for both therapeutic candidates.
Sarepta Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy fell short of its main Phase 3 goal, but the firm contends the full body of evidence supports expanding the therapy’s label to all patients who have the muscle-wasting disease. Analysts say prospects of the therapy, Elevidys, rest on FDA willingness to exercise flexibility it has already shown to rare disease drugmakers, including Sarepta.
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Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys is now the first FDA-approved gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Elevidys is an engineered version of a gene intended to restore function lost to the mutation at the root of the inherited muscle disease.
Private equity firm KKR teamed up with OMX Ventures to lead the seed investment in Replay, a company developing a suite of technologies that could overcome capacity limitations of adeno-associated viruses used for genetic medicines delivery. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is among the disease targets of the new startup.
Sarepta Therapeutics has more clinical data showing the safety and efficacy of its experimental gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A pivotal Phase 3 test is already underway and could post data next year but the company is also talking with regulators about the possibility of a submission under the accelerated approval pathway.
A Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug candidate from Italfarmaco Group has encouraging preliminary data from a pivotal study. The Milan, Italy-based pharmaceutical company says it now plans to meet with U.S. and European authorities about seeking regulatory approval for the small molecule.
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Code Biotherapeutics uses synthetic DNA as the foundation for its genetic medicines, which the startup claims offer several key advantages compared to genetic medicines delivered via engineered viruses. The startup plans to use its new capital to develop lead programs in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and type 1 diabetes.
PepGen’s technology improves the delivery of a therapy to more tissue types and the clinical-stage biotech plans to use its IPO cash to continue developing its lead program for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Meanwhile, eye products giant Bausch + Lomb returned to the public markets as a standalone company. Both the PepGen and Bausch + Lomb IPOs priced below their respective price ranges.
Pfizer now has the regulatory O.K. to resume pivotal tests of its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy—but with new limitations and safety measures. The FDA had placed a clinical hold on the study late last year following a patient death.
The FDA has halted tests of a Pfizer gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The clinical hold is one of several placed on gene therapy tests in the past year due to safety concerns.
Capricor Therapeutics’ cell therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy posted encouraging results from a Phase 2 study enrolling 20 patients. But the FDA said a Phase 3 test is needed to support a regulatory submission, and the biotech is hunting for a pharmaceutical industry partner.