Novartis adds 322 jobs to NJ layoff tallyMeiraGTx gets $400M infusion for gene therapy trioFore fields a further $67.4M in series D funding Boehringer inks cancer vaccine licensing deal Novartis adds 322 jobs to NJ layoff tallyNovartis is planning another round of job cuts at its US headquarters in East Hanover, New Jersey, which will eliminate 322 positions in October. The latest reduction, disclosed in a state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, is the company's fourth round of layoffs at the site this year — 114 cuts were posted in March, 60 in April and 76 in May — and brings the total number of announced East Hanover job cuts in 2026 to 572. All cuts will go into effect by year-end (see – Vital Signs: Largest layoffs of the first quarter)."Novartis continually evaluates opportunities to align our organisation with evolving patient, customer and business needs," a Novartis spokesperson told FirstWord in an email. "As part of this, we are making changes across our field sales, patient support and marketing organisations to enhance operational efficiency and ensure we are investing resources where they can have the greatest impact."The company recently announced plans to build a new facility in North Carolina focused on the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients. That marked the seventh and final site under its $23-billion commitment to expand its US footprint.-Anna BratulicMeiraGTx gets $400M infusion for gene therapy trioOberland Capital Management will invest up to $400 million in gene therapy developer MeiraGTx, comprising up to $375 million in non-dilutive cash and up to $25 million in equity. In exchange, Oberland will receive low single-digit capped royalties on a trio of gene therapies: botaretigene sparoparvovec (bota-vec), which has completed Phase III testing for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa; AAV2-hAQP1, a treatment for grade 2/3 late radiation-induced xerostomia in the pivotal Phase II AQUAx2 study; and AAV-AIPL1, a one-time therapy for the rare inherited retinal disorder Leber congenital amaurosis 4. While J&J had been developing bota-vec thanks to a 2023 deal, the pharma in April sold global rights to the programme back MeiraGTx for $25 million upfront. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly paid $75 million upfront for exclusive, worldwide rights to AAV-AIPL1."MeiraGTx is in the rare position of having three potentially approvable therapies within the next 12 to 24 months, two of which have significant commercial potential," said Michael Bloom, a partner at Oberland Capital. "Each of these would be first to market in areas of complete unmet need where there are a large number of patients waiting for these potential treatments. -Elizabeth EatonFore fields a further $67.4M in series D fundingFore Biotherapeutics raised $67.4 million in a series D-2 extension Tuesday, bringing the round's total to $110 million. The financing was co-led by SR One, Medicxi and SymBiosis, with participation from new investors TaiAx, LG Technology Ventures, Primer Ventures and Axil, as well as existing backers including OrbiMed Advisors, HBM Healthcare Investments, Wellington Management, Cormorant Capital, Novartis Venture Fund, Windham Life Science Partners, Samsung and 3B Capital. The capital will go towards the development of plixorafenib, a BRAF inhibitor in the Phase II FORTE basket study involving patients with BRAF V600E primary central nervous system (CNS) tumours, solid tumours with BRAF fusions, and rare BRAF V600 mutated solid tumours.Topline data from the CNS tumour basket are due by year-end, and if positive, Fore plans to file for accelerated FDA approval of plixorafenib in 2027. -Elizabeth EatonBoehringer inks cancer vaccine licensing dealBoehringer Ingelheim has struck a deal to tap into Prime Vector Technologies' Orf virus (ORFV) platform, giving the German drugmaker access to a viral vector system that could support the next generation of off-the-shelf cancer vaccines. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but Prime Vector said it is eligible for an upfront payment, as well as development, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus royalties on future product sales.The agreement includes the assignment of certain patents and an exclusive license to use the ORFV platform. Boehringer plans to evaluate the technology both as a standalone cancer vaccine and in combination with assets from its existing oncology pipeline.Prime Vector was founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the University of Tübingen. "Having successfully advanced the platform from preclinical research through GMP manufacturing and Phase I/IIa clinical evaluation in infectious diseases, we are excited to further explore its potential in oncology," stated CEO Ralf Amann.-Anna Bratulic