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Today, a brief rundown of news from IGM Biosciences and Metsera, as well as updates from Gritstone Bio, UCB and Moderna that you may have missed.
IGM Biosciences is shifting its focus to autoimmune disease research, the company said Monday. IGM’s most advanced candidate had been a cancer drug in testing against against colorectal tumors. But emerging data from that trial, as well as the potential for a pair of its T cell engagers to treat inflammatory conditions, has led the company to change course, the company announced. IGM is taking immediate steps, including job cuts, to minimize oncology spending going forward. It’s also named former Bristol Myers Squibb executive Mary Beth Harler as CEO. IGM’s two T cell engagers are being tested against a range of immune diseases, among them lupus, myositis and myasthenia gravis. — Delilah Alvarado
Obesity drug startup Metsera said Tuesday it has signed a deal with manufacturing firm Amneal Pharmaceuticals to produce, package and supply its weight-loss therapies in the U.S., Europe and other developed markets. Amneal will spend $150 million to $200 million to build two new manufacturing facilities related to the work. The company will also get rights to commercialize Metsera products in certain emerging markets as well. A spokesperson also confirmed that Whit Bernard, a co-founder and managing director of investment firm Population Health Partners, has taken over as CEO for Clive Meanwell, who led the company through its launch earlier this year. — Jonathan Gardner
Gritstone Bio is looking into “potential value-maximizing strategies,” and has tapped the investment bank Raymond James to serve as a financial adviser in its search. The cancer vaccine developer didn’t outline what kinds of strategies it’s considering. But, when biotechnology companies conduct these so-called strategic reviews, they often explore whether there might be buyers interested in assets or the entire company. Gritstone tucked news of the review into an announcement touting data from a clinical trial evaluating one of its most advanced vaccines in colorectal cancer patients. — Jacob Bell
Belgium-based drugmaker UCB is planning a first-of-its-kind, head-to-head trial that will pit its drug Bimzelx against AbbVie’s Skyrizi to see which anti-inflammatory agent is better at treating a type of arthritis. The late-stage study aims to enroll around 550 participants and should have results by 2026. Bimzelx and Skyrizi inhibit different members of a large protein family that regulates the immune system. First approved last fall, Bimzelx generated 215 million euros, or $230 million, during the first six months of this year. Net revenue from Skyrizi, meanwhile, totaled $4.7 billion over that period. — Jacob Bell
Moderna has dosed the first U.S. participants in a Phase 3 trial of an experimental vaccine for norovirus. The trial will evaluate the safety, effectiveness and ability of the shot, dubbed mRNA-1403, to induce an immune response in people at least 18 years of age. Norovirus is a foodborne illness and the leading cause of diarrheal disease in the U.S. Moderna plans to enroll approximately 25,000 people in the study, and see whether the vaccine can protect against moderate to severe novovirus acute gastroenteritis, a type of stomach bug caused by viral infections. — Delilah Alvarado