Dirozalkib

Plus, news about Boston Oncology, Garda and Assertio, an Everest deal and Forte’s raise: 🟢 FDA ends partial hold on MacroGenics cancer drug: In February, the agency stopped a Phase 2 trial of lorigerlimab after one patient died and three others experienced life-threatening side effects. The drug is a bispecific antibody that targets PD-1 and CTLA-4 in certain forms of ovarian and gynecological cancers. MacroGenics said it has implemented a “revised protocol” to enroll new patients to try to prevent additional “hematologic and cardiac toxicities,” and said the regulator will let the trial continue. — Max Gelman 🤝 Oxford BioTherapeutics secures third big pharma pact: The UK biotech signed a collaboration deal with Bristol Myers Squibb to develop next-generation T cell engagers for solid tumors. Oxford will use its OGAP-Verify platform for discovery and validation purposes. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. The company has previously announced deals with GSK and Roche . — Ayisha Sharma 🌏 Boston Oncology licenses Chinese cancer medicines: The US biotech is committing an undisclosed upfront amount and more than $100 million in milestones, to tap Xuanzhu Biopharmaceutical’s breast cancer treatment bireociclib and its lung cancer drug dirozalkib. Both medicines are currently approved in China. — Ayisha Sharma 🔀 Garda’s $125M Assertio deal: Garda Therapeutics will pay $18 per share to acquire Assertio $ASRT , plus a contingent value right for potential future milestones related to its nasal spray pain drug, Sprix. Garda is a specialty pharma company run by former Secura Bio CEO Joseph Limber. The sale price is roughly half the $248 million Assertio paid in 2023 to acquire Spectrum Pharmaceuticals and its drug Rolvedon, which is used to reduce infections in chemotherapy patients. As part of the Garda deal, Assertio will sell all “non-Rolvedon” assets to Cosette Pharmaceuticals. “These transactions provide our shareholders with a certain path to value realization amid a rapidly evolving regulatory, reimbursement, and macroeconomic environment,” Assertio CEO Mark Reisenauer said in a press release . — Kyle LaHucik 🏔️ Everest Medicines also did an acquisition: The Shanghai biotech signed an agreement to buy a Hasten Biopharmaceuticals subsidiary for $150 million upfront and up to $100 million across two additional installments. The deal gives Everest 14 chronic disease drugs that are marketed across the Asia Pacific region. — Kyle LaHucik 💰 Forte’s money moves: The Dallas biotech priced a $150 million offering at $26.27 per share $FBRX . The drug developer is testing a celiac disease treatment in Phase 2 . The asset, called FB102, is also being explored for alopecia areata and vitiligo . Forte Biosciences last did a $75 million offering in June. — Kyle LaHucik