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- Biotech & Pharma Updates | August 19 - 20, 2025
Biotech & Pharma Updates | August 19 - 20, 2025
🧬 Saniona hear's sweet Jazz with $42.5M upfront + $992.5M biobucks pre-clinical Kv7.2/Kv7.3 potassium channel activator partnership, biotech has reached a "new normal", Rocket Pharma's capillary leak syndrome gene therapy hold lifted, Xoma buys another "zombie" biotech, Catalent cuts 350 gene therapy manufacturing roles after "unexpected shift in demand from a large customer"
All the top Biotech & Pharma news in one daily newsletter.
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✅ The Good News ✅
THE GOOD
Business Development & Partnerships
IQVIA and Veeva end legal dispute, form clinical and commercial partnerships allowing cross-platform data integration
Partnership agreement, data integration, clinical development, commercial collaboration, technology services - Read more
Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Saniona partner on epilepsy drug SAN2355, selective Kv7.2/Kv7.3 potassium channel activator ; $42.5M upfront, up to $992.5M in milestones
Licensing deal, neurological, small molecule, milestone payments, epilepsy, R&D - Read more
Ginkgo Bioworks, Inductive Bio, Tangible Scientific partner to streamline AI-driven drug discovery through integrated workflow platform
Research collaboration, AI/ML, drug discovery, pharmaceutical, R&D - Read more
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✅ More Good News ✅
THE GOOD
Fundraises
Sana Biotechnology raises $86.3M public offering for engineered cell therapies
Cell therapy, engineered cells, platform technology, preclinical - Read more
Iantrek raises $42M Series C, bio-interventional ophthalmic surgery company launching AlloFlo Uveo
Ophthalmology, medical device, glaucoma, surgical platform - Read more
Somite.ai raises undisclosed strategic investment from AMD Ventures for AI foundation models for stem cells
Cell therapy, AI/ML platform, stem cells, platform technology, platform-enabled - Read more
THE GOOD
Market Reports
Biotech market recovers after Trump policy shocks, Santé Ventures sees "new normal" for private companies
Venture capital, financial, strategic, market volatility - Read more
THE GOOD
Mergers & Acquisitions
LifeNet Health acquires Netherlands' HCM Medical to expand global reach in regenerative biologics manufacturing
Regenerative biologics, tissue engineering, strategic, major transaction, manufacturing - Read more
Xoma Royalty acquires struggling Mural Oncology for $2.035 per share, continues trend of buying "zombie" biotechs for liquidation
Oncology, strategic acquisition, liquidation, financial transaction, biotech restructuring - Read more
THE GOOD
Politics & Policy
AAP contradicts CDC, recommends COVID-19 vaccination for infants and children despite Kennedy-led policy changes
mRNA vaccine, infectious disease, regulatory, policy conflict - Read more
THE GOOD
Product Launches
Iterum launches Orlynvah, first new uncomplicated UTI antibiotic in 25 years, targeting resistant infections
Antibiotic, infectious disease, strategic, regulatory, first-to-market - Read more
THE GOOD
Regulatory
FDA lifts hold on Rocket Pharmaceuticals' gene therapy trial after addressing patient death concerns
Gene therapy, rare heart disease, regulatory, clinical trial, safety - Read more
Kennedy's CDC vaccine committee firing contradicted by study showing conflicts of interest dropped dramatically since 2000
Vaccine policy, infectious disease, regulatory, scientific integrity - Read more
FDA issues draft guidance prioritizing overall survival data for cancer drug approvals
Oncology, regulatory, strategic, competitive - Read more
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❌ The Bad News ❌
THE BAD
Clinical Trials
Celldex halts barzolvolimab development for eosinophilic esophagitis after Ph2 trial shows KIT inhibitor lacks efficacy
Antibody, autoimmune, monoclonal antibody, eosinophilic esophagitis, KIT inhibitor, gastrointestinal disease - Read more
THE BAD
Layoffs
Catalent cuts 350 gene therapy jobs in Maryland following major customer's reduced demand
Gene therapy, rare disease, operational, workforce reduction - Read more
THE BAD
Politics & Policy
HHS staff demand RFK Jr. stop anti-CDC rhetoric following agency shooting
Public health policy, infectious disease, operational, regulatory - Read more
THE BAD
Regulatory
FDA delays Regeneron's Eylea HD decisions due to manufacturing issues at Catalent facility
Monoclonal antibody, ophthalmology, regulatory, manufacturing, operational - Read more
👹 The Ugly News 👹
THE UGLY
Regulatory
Indian drugmakers recall US medications due to carcinogens and foreign matter contamination
Small molecule, cardiovascular, small molecule, respiratory, regulatory, quality control - Read more
HHS under fire as scientists dispute mRNA research interpretations used to justify funding cuts
mRNA vaccine, infectious disease, regulatory, policy shift, scientific controversy - Read more [Paywall]
You’re all caught up on the latest Pharma & Biotech News!

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