Plus, news about Bavarian Nordic, Nuvectis Pharma, Flashpoint Therapeutics, Sparian Biosciences and TFF Pharmaceuticals:
Vitalli Bio axes Daewoong asset:
Vitalli, founded by Joe Jimenez’s
Aditum Bio
, plans to terminate its licensing
agreement
for an autoimmune disease drug developed by Daewoong Pharmaceutical, according to a regulatory
filing
. The deal was worth up to $477 million for Daewoong. Vitalli still has the option for two additional candidates from Daewoong, the company said. Jimenez declined to comment, citing “confidentiality with our partners.”
— Kyle LaHucik
Alector takes out $50M loan:
The money from Hercules Capital will help
fund
two studies: a Phase 3 for latozinemab in frontotemporal dementia, and a Phase 2 for AL002 in early Alzheimer’s disease. Alector will receive $10 million immediately and can get another $15 million at any time before June 30, 2026. The final $25 million will be available at Hercules’ approval.
— Max Gelman
Bavarian Nordic secures $340M in mpox, smallpox vaccine orders for 2025:
The company
told
investors that the additional mpox orders contributed to its decision to upgrade its financial guidance for this year. Nearly three million doses of the company’s mpox vaccine MVA-BN have been pledged to Africa so far.
— Anna Brown
Nuvectis Pharma’s stock dives on Phase 1b data:
Of 11 evaluable patients with late-line ovarian cancer who took NXP800, a GCN2 kinase activator, only one patient achieved an unconfirmed partial response, the company
said
. Nuvectis tested multiple dosing regimens, including different amounts and once- or twice-a-day. Nuvectis’ stock
$NVCT
closed 46% lower on Thursday.
— Max Gelman
Flashpoint Therapeutics partners with Saudi Arabia, Northwestern University:
The biotech is
teaming up
with the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center in Riyadh in a $50 million effort to establish a new nanomedicine research center, which will receive the money over five years. Flashpoint also said it expanded its IP to include “150 issued patents and patent applications” through a deal with Northwestern.
— Max Gelman
Sparian Biosciences’ $19.5M NIH grant:
The New York biotech got a five-year
grant
from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to help develop an opiate use disorder drug through Phase 1. It got a similar grant
last year
for another drug that aims to treat stimulant use disorder.
— Kyle LaHucik
TFF Pharmaceuticals to wind down:
The Fort Worth, TX-based biotech let go all employees and will
shut down
. It had been working on
dry powder formulations
for drugs, including for lung transplant rejection, flu and Covid. It had
$4.4 million
in cash and equivalents at the end of June.
— Kyle LaHucik