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Hi! It’s Meghana. Today, some amazing intel on Merck’s Ebola vaccine: Turns out, it can reduce risk of death, even after a person has been infected. Also, investors bet on another obesity drug — this time from BioAge, which is combining Zepbound with a pill that keeps muscle wasting at bay.
The need-to-know this morning
- Biogen reported earnings for the fourth quarter and 2023.
- Regulators in Europe approved Casgevy, a CRISPR-based gene-editing treatment, for people with sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. Casgevy is made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics.
- The FDA extended a review of Rocket Pharmaceuticals’ gene therapy, called Kresladi, by three months to June 30, to allow additional time for the review of manufacturing information. Kresladi is being developed to treat leukocyte adhesion deficiency-I, a rare, genetic disease that causes immune deficiency in children.
- Roivant and Incyte also reported earnings.
- AI drug discovery firm Exscientia fired CEO Andrew Hopkins for cause following an investigation that found he had “inappropriate” relationships with two company employees. David Nicholson, chairman of Exscientia’s board, also resigned because he had prior knowledge of Hopkins’ relationships but didn’t notify the company.
BioAge’s $170 million Series D for GLP-1 combo pill
BioAge, a California biotech developing a combination therapy with the blockbuster obesity drug Zepbound, just raised a $170 million Series D round. Its lead candidate, azelaprag, is meant to help optimize weight loss from GLP-1 drugs so that muscle mass is preserved. BioAge is developing drugs for neuroinflammation as well.
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