BioNTech
NEWS
The acquisition will give BioNTech full ownership of an investigational bispecific antibody targeting the PD-L1/VEGF-A pathways, a hot area in oncology that could potentially replace standard checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment.
Driven by the early approval of its updated COVID-19 vaccine, BioNTech far exceeded analysts’ expectations in the third quarter and reported its first quarterly profit in 2024. However, the German biotech also cut its outlook for the year.
As companies roll out data showing the power and improved safety profile of antibodies that target two antigens, analysts say the class could overtake monoclonal antibody Keytruda as the “immunotherapy backbone” of solid tumor treatment.
The European Society for Medical Oncology’s annual meeting this week featured the hottest emergent areas of cancer treatment—antibody-drug conjugates, bispecifics and radiopharmaceuticals—while anti-TIGIT therapies made a bit of a comeback.
The potential of mRNA vaccines was established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a new wave of candidates could soon hit the market for cancer, influenza and more.
The regulator on Thursday said the mRNA vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty and Moderna’s Spikevax, will better protect against currently circulating variants as COVID continues to surge in many parts of the U.S.
In June, the regulator placed a partial clinical hold on a Phase I trial of the companies’ antibody-drug conjugate after three patient deaths were reported.
The companies’ late-stage stumble could allow Moderna to widen its lead, with its mRNA-based combination vaccine eliciting superior immune responses against COVID-19 and three influenza strains.
While some biopharma companies beat expectations, others fell short for various reasons, with some deciding to return or axe assets.
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