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Clinical setbacks and label-driven market swings
Abivax’s ulcerative colitis maintenance results showed a high-efficacy signal, but reported cancer cases among recipients pulled the focus away from effectiveness and weighed heavily on sentiment....
ASCO 2026—oncology efficacy updates and trial readouts
At ASCO 2026, Revolution Medicines delivered detailed Phase 3 data for daraxonrasib, a pan-RAS inhibitor, in previously treated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The report follows...
ASCO 2026—diagnostics adoption steps after clinical evidence
Veracyte launched its Prosigna breast risk of recurrence assay in the U.S. after investors received trial data presented at ASCO demonstrating that the test can guide adjuvant therapy decisions...
Private placements and reverse mergers—companies aiming for Nasdaq access
Rallybio moved to a new reverse-merger structure with Avenzo to reach Nasdaq after its prior Candid deal was overtaken by a UCB acquisition. The new transaction pairs a reverse merger with a $215...
Advancing biomarkers and treatment selection through AI-enabled methods
A spatial-transcriptomics approach presented at ASCO predicted docetaxel benefit in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer using only routine H&E slides as a starting point. The biomarker...
Immuno-oncology competition in lung cancer—Phase 3 overall survival data
Akeso’s ivonescimab, a PD-1/VEGF bispecific, met a key Phase 3 overall survival milestone in Harmoni-6, with an interim analysis presented at ASCO 2026. The data showed a statistically significant...
Regulatory and safety disruption—companies exiting or pausing programs after feedback
Fulcrum Therapeutics scrapped its sole clinical-stage sickle cell ambitions and will seek an exit after FDA feedback tied to safety concerns referenced a recently withdrawn cancer drug from Ipsen....
Imaging and diagnostics tools—new platforms for faster detection
A University of Waterloo initiative described a real-time brain monitoring system intended for intensive care settings, aiming to flag infections earlier through continuous monitoring in patients...
Obesity care funding
Ilant Health, a virtual obesity-care startup, raised a $15 million Series A to expand its personalized approach for weight management. The funding is aimed at scaling the company’s employer and...
Epilepsy clinical setback
Praxis Precision Medicines paused enrollment in its POWER2 phase 3 study of vormatrigine after the drug missed the primary endpoint in the POWER1 phase 2/3 trial for focal onset seizures (FOS)....
Ulcerative colitis efficacy clouded by cancer cases
Abivax reported strong phase 3 efficacy for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis, with a 40% placebo-adjusted increase in clinical remission rates. However, the company’s stock fell sharply after it...
Neurodegeneration and immune-cell reprogramming
Researchers reported an experimental molecule that “reprograms” the brain’s immune cells in a way that could restore protective functions against Alzheimer’s disease. The work, led by José Vicente...
Brain atlas translation to drugs
The Allen Institute, known for foundational neuroscience, launched a new $200 million initiative to translate brain atlas insights into drug development for neurodegenerative diseases including...
Cancer diagnostics reimbursement via clinical evidence
Veracyte launched its Prosigna Breast Risk of Recurrence assay as a laboratory-developed test in the US after presenting clinical trial data supporting its use to guide adjuvant therapy decisions...
FDA diagnostic approval for prostate cancer biomarker testing
The FDA approved Foundation Medicine CDx assays for use as companion diagnostics with Pfizer’s Talzenna plus Xtandi in patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic...
Muscular dystrophy M&A—Servier buys Edgewise assets
Servier moved into muscular dystrophy by acquiring Edgewise Therapeutics’ muscular dystrophy business in a deal worth $1.55 billion upfront, with potential total value up to $2.65 billion...
Biotech IPO and reverse-merger pathway
Avenzo Therapeutics moved toward a Nasdaq listing through a reverse merger with Rallybio, raising $215 million alongside the transaction. The deal is framed as a NewCo model where assets licensed...
Clinical regulatory resubmission after FDA leadership shakeup
Replimune said it will resubmit its biologics license application for RP1 in advanced melanoma after an FDA leadership shakeup that followed two earlier rejections. The company plans to refile in...
Pancreatic cancer – RAS-targeted survival gains at ASCO
Revolution Medicines used the ASCO 2026 plenary to deliver detailed Phase 3 results for daraxonrasib (RASolute 302) in previously treated, metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The pan-RAS...
Lung cancer immunotherapy – PD-1/VEGF bispecific extends survival in China
ASCO 2026 spotlighted Akeso’s ivonescimab in a China-only Phase 3 setting, where interim overall survival data showed a 34% reduction in the risk of death versus PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy...