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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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