Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox.
Hello! It’s Meghana. Today, we learn that Verve Therapeutics is pausing the testing of its PCSK9-focused gene editing treatment. The FDA approves the first digital therapeutic from a pharma company, and we have a new biotech scoreboard for you.
The need-to-know this morning
- Roivant announced that an autoimmune drug it acquired from Pfizer succeeded in a Phase 2 trial. The drug blocks two proteins, including TYK2, a hot target for industry in the last couple years.
- Roivant also said it would spend up to $1.5 billion on a share buyback program, a little under half of which will be devoted to buying out its now-former partner Sumitomo.
- Ipsen licensed an antibody-drug candidate for solid tumors from Sutro Biopharma for $90 million in near-term payments and just over $800 million in longer-term milestones.
Verve pausing enrollment for cholesterol gene-editing treatment
Verve Therapeutics will pause trials of Verve-101, a gene-editing treatment for familial hypercholesterolemia, after a patient receiving it had a spike in liver enzymes and a drop in platelet levels. This is a snag for the high-profile therapy, though the company will soon launch a clinical trial for a similar gene-editing medicine, VERV-102.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and networking platform access.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect