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Hullo! Today, some squiddy drug delivery, a leukemia deal between Kura Oncology and Kyowa Kiri, and a new GLP-1 startup from Versant Ventures.
Kura Oncology inks leukemia drug deal with Kyowa Kiri
Kura Oncology just partnered with Japan’s Kyowa Kiri in a $320 million licensing deal to develop and sell its experimental drug for acute leukemia. Kura developed ziftomenib, which belongs to a class of blood cancer drugs called menin inhibitor by targeting certain mutations and “rearrangements” of genes, STAT’s Adam Feuerstein writes.
Kura could get up to $1.2 billion in additional milestone payments. The drug, which is in late-stage trials, could potentially improve outcomes for refractory and relapsed leukemia patients.
“Leukemia is an indication where you need multiple global registration trials so we knew from the outset that we needed a partner with global reach,” Kura CEO Troy Wilson told STAT. “Kyowa has a clear focus on hematology and oncology. It’s one of their core areas of expertise, and they have a long history of prioritizing partnerships.”
Kura’s stock price dropped after the deal was announced. By partnering its lead product, Kura is now less likely to be acquired outright.
Versant enters obesity with new startup
Versant Ventures is joining the obesity race, launching a startup called Pep2Tango Therapeutics Thursday.
Scant details have been disclosed about Pep2Tango at this point. The VC firm is the sole financier behind the biotech, but declined to disclose how much money they’ve invested in Pep2Tango.
What is known is that Pep2Tango is developing drugs that target the GLP-1 and GIP receptors — the same ones hit by Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide — as well as amylin and calcitonin receptors. Amylin receptors, in particular, have garnered interest in recent months on the suggestion that targeting them could induce weight loss without sacrificing as much muscle mass, with fewer side effects. There’s little clinical data yet to back up this theory. Pep2Tango plans to seek Food and Drug Administration permission to begin clinical tests next year.
It is led by former Cellarity and AstraZeneca executive Cristina Rondinone and Amylin Pharmaceuticals veteran Soumitra Ghosh.
MASA: Make America Sick Again?
One of Robert F. Kennedy’s top priorities is to overhaul the FDA. He critiques the agency for conflicts of interest and questionable drug approvals, but there’s concern that his approach could undermine a system that’s globally regarded as the gold standard for regulating medicines and vaccines.
“Kennedy — who lacks a background in medicine, science or public health — appears intent on remaking the agency based on assumptions and conspiracy theories,” STAT’s Ed Silverman writes. “If he proceeds down that path, it is public health that will be corrupted. Or for those who prefer slogans: MASA — Make America Sick Again.”
Drug delivery device inspired by squids
Inspired by cuttlefish, bioengineers have developed a device that can be swallowed to deliver drugs that traditionally require injections, such as insulin and monoclonal antibodies. The device uses jets modeled after cephalopod propulsion to spray drugs into the submucosal tissue of the digestive tract, where they’re efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream, STAT’s Anil Oza writes.
Pig studies show the device made more than 10% of GLP-1 drugs bioavailable — which is an order of magnitude more powerful than current oral medicines.
More reads
- Weight-loss drug coverage rises among largest US employers, Mercer survey finds, Reuters
- Amgen taps Stanford’s Howard Chang to take CSO reins from Jay Bradner, FierceBiotech
- FDA updates label of 33-year-old cancer drug with new dose and warning, Endpoints