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Nick Paul Taylor

Nick is a freelance writer who has been reporting on the global life sciences industry since 2008. With a BSc in biology, Nick writes about the science and business of biopharma and medtech for numerous healthcare publications. He can be reached at nick.paul.taylor@gmail.com or on LinkedIn.

Lonely drunk woman sitting on bar counter feels depressed spends time with strong alcoholic beverages holds glass drinking booze having dependence, addiction. Concept of alcoholism and social problems
psychedelics
Atai Touts Early Data on Psychedelic Depression Drug, Plans Phase II Trial
On the heels of last week’s FDA rejection of Lykos’ MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy, Atai announced Tuesday positive preliminary results for its DMT-based treatment for depression from a Phase Ib study.
August 13, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Entrance to Pfizer's office in Belgium
RSV
Pfizer Nabs Pivotal Phase III Win for RSV Vaccine in Immunocompromised Adults
Pfizer on Monday reported a “strong neutralizing response” against both subtypes of respiratory syncytial virus across all cohorts and age groups, according to topline data.
August 12, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Handshake over a deal/iStock, PeopleImag
Mergers & acquisitions
Recursion, Exscientia Merge to Create AI-Enabled Biotech
Armed with a combined $850 million in cash, the companies said Thursday the resulting biotech will have a pipeline that could deliver 10 clinical readouts over the next 18 months.
August 8, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Money growth/iStock, RomoloTavani
Funding
Symbiotic Capital Launches With More Than $600M to Provide Life Science Loans
Biotech entrepreneur Arie Belldegrun and former Roche CEO Franz Humer are part of the credit firm’s push to provide companies with another source of funding, Symbiotic Capital announced Tuesday.
August 6, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Bayer's global pharmaceuticals headquarters in Germany
Drug Development
Bayer’s Finerenone Hits Primary Endpoint in Phase III Heart Failure Trial
With the late-stage win, Bayer announced Monday that it plans to talk to regulators about seeking approval in an indication that is central to its $3 billion-plus peak sales forecast.
August 5, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Handshake in front of raining money / Ta
Deals
Otsuka Pays Up to $1.1B to Buy Jnana, Adds Drug Discovery Capabilities
With an upfront $800 million payment and $325 million in potential milestones, Otsuka Pharmaceutical is acquiring Jnana Therapeutics’ drug discovery platform and rare disease candidate, the companies announced Thursday.
August 1, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Drug Development
Novo’s Older GLP-1 Drug Slows Cognitive Decline in Phase IIb Alzheimer’s Trial
Cognitive function in the liraglutide cohort declined 18% slower than in the placebo arm over one year of treatment, researchers announced Tuesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
July 30, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: GSK's headquarters in London
Business
GSK, Flagship Commit $150M Upfront for Initial Development of Respiratory, Immunology Programs
Flagship Pioneering and its portfolio companies are in line to receive up to $720 million in milestones for each of the 10 programs that GSK could option, according to Monday’s announcement.
July 30, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Drug Development
Moderna’s Next-Gen COVID Vaccine Beats Current Shot in Pivotal Adult Efficacy Trial
Moderna said Thursday it plans to talk to regulators about the next steps after showing its next-generation candidate is more efficacious in adults than the biotech’s existing Spikevax COVID-19 shot.
June 13, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Businessmen shaking hands after closing
Business
Stada Bags European Rights from Alvotech to Biosimilar of Amgen Blockbusters
Stada announced Tuesday it has secured European rights from Alvotech to a clinical-stage biosimilar of Amgen’s blockbuster bone drugs Prolia and Xgeva.
June 11, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Nasdaq signage and building in New York City
Deals
Alumis Files for IPO to Fund Phase III Trials of Potential Rival Drug to BMS’ Sotyktu
In an SEC filing on Friday, Alumis said it aims to start late-stage trials of a TYK2 inhibitor in plaque psoriasis this year and is seeking public funding for the studies.
June 10, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim's office in California
Drug Development
Boehringer, Zealand’s GLP-1 MASH Data ‘Unintentionally’ Published by Medical Congress Website
Zealand Pharma said on Thursday that partner Boehringer Ingelheim will present the results from the study on Friday at the European Association of the Study of Liver Congress.
June 6, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: A volcano erupting of damaged and inflamed nerves
Drug Development
Annexon’s Pivotal Phase III GBS Trial Hits Goal, Tees Up Approval Filing
Annexon’s late-stage Guillain-Barré syndrome trial has hit its primary endpoint and laid the foundation for a filing for approval next year, the company said Tuesday.
June 4, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
Pictured: Illustration of a human body with the liver highlighted
Drug Development
Tango Stops Early Cancer Trial Over Liver Toxicity, Drops Out of Race Against Roche
Tango Therapeutics reported Thursday that solid tumor patients who stayed in the Phase I study for more than eight weeks developed Grade 3 and 4 liver function abnormalities.
May 23, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
AstraZeneca's sign on its office in California
Business
AstraZeneca Snags Option to Buy Versant’s New Obesity Biotech SixPeaks
SixPeaks Bio emerged from stealth Wednesday with up to $110 million, a deal with AstraZeneca and plans to take weight-loss candidates designed to preserve muscle mass toward the clinic.
May 22, 2024
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Nick Paul Taylor
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