Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you. Given that this is already the middle of the week and we have survived this far, no reason not to continue, yes? Just consider the alternatives. In fact, this modest accomplishment calls for celebration. So please join us in quaffing a ritual cup of needed stimulation. Our choice today is peppermint mocha. Or grab a bottle of water, if you prefer. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest to help you along. Once again, we hope you have a successful day and, of course, keep in touch. We enjoy hearing your tips, feedback, and tidbits. …
A German court invalidated a patent that was the basis of a patent violation lawsuit brought by CureVac against its domestic rival BioNTech, in a blow to CureVac’s claims for a share in billions of euros in Covid-19 vaccine revenues, Reuters reports. The patent in question is one of several intellectual property titles related to messenger RNA technology in vaccines that CureVac claims were infringed in ongoing legal proceedings. BioNTech has responded by challenging the validity of CureVac’s patents and of its so-called German utility models, which are easier to obtain than patents but confer a shorter exclusivity period.
Argenx disclosed that its closely watched antibody therapy failed to outperform placebo in a Phase 3 trial in an autoimmune condition that causes the skin to blister — the second setback in less than a month for the biotech and its drug, STAT explains. Argenx has been testing efgartigimod in more than a dozen different autoimmune conditions, seeking to build on the commercial success of the treatment’s initial approval in 2021 for myasthenia gravis. Sales of the drug totaled $441 million in 2022 and $851 million in the first nine months of this year. The strong start and ongoing promise helped make Argenx one of Europe’s most valuable biotechs.