Serum Institute of India wants government HPV contract

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Hello! A thought: I moved to San Diego last year and am always on the lookout for interesting news. If you’re here, reach out! In today’s newsletter, we discuss embryonic stem cell ethics, learn of parents searching for a treatment for their son’s ultra-rare neurological disease, and more.

The need-to-know this morning

• BridgeBio sold European marketing rights to acoramidis, its treatment for a form of progressive heart disease, to the German pharma giant Bayer. Under terms of the commercial licensing deal, BridgeBio will receive $310 million from Bayer in an upfront payment and will be eligible for royalties starting in the 30% range on acoramidis sales in Europe. European regulators are reviewing the drug, with a decision expected in 2025.

Longer treatment, less MASH

That’s the simple, take-home point from Akero Therapeutics this morning. Extending treatment with its experimental drug for the liver disease known as MASH from six months to two years resulted in better outcomes for patients — most notably reductions in liver scarring at a rate three times higher than placebo without worsening other symptoms.

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