Today, a brief rundown of news from Avidity Biosciences and Nodthera, as well as updates from Syntis Bio, QurAlis and Kyowa Kirin that you may have missed from earlier this week.Shares in Avidity Biosciences rose by nearly one-third Wednesday as the company revealed new clinical trial data for its drug del-brax in a form of muscular dystrophy. Among eight patients treated with del-brax, Avidity reported greater than 50% average reduction in a panel of genes regulated by another gene called DUX4. Abnormal DUX4 expression leads to muscle function loss in people with the condition, called facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Avidity also said participants showed signs of increased strength. Ned PagliaruloBoston-based Nodthera has chalked up more positive data for its lead drug candidate, which is designed to inhibit a protein complex that triggers inflammation. A small study of obese patients with cardiovascular risks found those given Nodthera's drug had, after a month of treatment, reduced biological markers tied to inflammation. The study limited daily calorie intake. While all participants lost weight, the most pronounced reductions were among “high-risk subgroups“ of drug-treated patients. Nodthera claims these results support the “anti-obesity potential“ of its therapy. Jacob BellStartup Syntis Bio launched Tuesday with plans to advance therapies for weight loss, other metabolic conditions and rare pediatric diseases. The company, which was co-founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Robert Langer, is testing in human trials an oral medicine called SYNT-101 that it says “mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery.“ Syntis raised $15.5 million in a seed round in 2023. Gwendolyn WuQurAlis is refreshing its executive team, announcing Tuesday the appointment of a new chief medical officer and chief financial officer. Douglas Williamson, who most recently worked at Avadel Pharmaceuticals and Acadia Pharmaceuticals, will succeed Angela Genge as CMO. Meanwhile, Jason Brown will become QurAlis top finance executive. Brown previously was CFO at Karuna Therapeutics, which sold to Bristol Myers Squibb for $14 billion last year. Ned PagliaruloJapans Kyowa Kirin plans to invest as much as $530 million to build a production plant for biologic drugs in Sanford, North Carolina, a town located about a 45 minute drive southwest of Raleigh. The plant, which will cover some 170,000 square feet and contain two bioreactors, is scheduled to be completed in 2027. In a Monday statement, Kyowa Kirin said it would make next-generation antibodies. Ned Pagliarulo '