California

MORE FROM BIOSPACE INSIGHTS
Amy Emerson is stepping down on the heels of the FDA last month rejecting Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA-based therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and the company laying off three-quarters of its staff.
With the regulator’s traditional green light in IgA nephropathy, Filspari is up against Novartis’ Fabhalta—which won accelerated approval last month—and Calliditas’ Tarpeyo, which was approved in December 2023.
A broad indication for MariTide could help Amgen secure Medicare coverage for the treatment following FDA approval, CEO Robert Bradway said at Wednesday’s Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference.
ImmunityBio will lay off 16 employees in El Segundo, California, and said it expects to need more funding to commercialize Anktiva, approved in April for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
Astellas Gene Therapies is closing its San Francisco biomanufacturing facility, shifting gene therapy manufacturing to North Carolina, cutting at least 17 employees and affecting dozens more.
Neurocrine Biosciences’ potential competitor to Bristol Myers Squibb’s KarXT improved symptoms of schizophrenia in a Phase II trial, but only at the low dose tested.
As the biotech implements a more focused strategy for its Roctavian hemophilia A gene therapy, BioMarin has recruited two seasoned pharma executives to bolster its C-suite.
With the help of third-party investors, the new venture will focus on three genetic and rare diseases: tuberous sclerosis complex, erythropoietic protoporphyria and alpha-A1 antitrypsin deficiency.
The unit’s closure comes as Genentech’s parent Roche rethinks its cancer business, an effort that has included the discontinuation of three early-stage candidates and a T-cell partnership with Adaptimmune.
Psychedelic drug developers are undeterred by the FDA’s Complete Response Letter for the company’s MDMA therapy for PTSD, and experts expect Lykos will ultimately obtain approval.
PRESS RELEASES