PF-07899895

Plus, news about Jasper, AbbVie, Belite Bio and Axoltis Pharma: ✂️ Pfizer ends work on ulcerative colitis asset: The big pharma axed a Phase 1 contender called PF-07899895 “due to a business decision,” according to an update to the US federal trials database. The decision was “not due to any safety concerns,” according to the update last week. “This decision was based on prioritization of resources to programs we believe will be most impactful for patients,” a Pfizer spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Pfizer still listed the SIK inhibitor in its pipeline during its third-quarter update. Other companies working on SIK inhibitors include Nimbus Therapeutics and Galapagos spinout Onco3R Therapeutics . — Kyle LaHucik 🚚 Tiziana plans to spin out IL-6 candidate: Tiziana will attempt to house its IL-6 antibody, known as TZLS-501, in a new public company. In a press release , Tiziana said the move was prompted by Novartis’ recent $1.4 billion acquisition of Tourmaline Bio. Tiziana noted there is “no certainty” that a deal will take place. — Max Gelman 📊 Jasper touts Phase 1b asthma data, releases investigation findings: In seven patients with allergic asthma, Jasper’s drug briquilimab reduced their allergen-induced responses by 10.4% after 6 weeks, compared to baseline. Researchers measured the improvement by looking at how much air patients could forcibly exhale in one second. At 12 weeks, the improvement was 8.7% over baseline. Jasper also announced the results of its investigation into why briquilimab showed no responses in patients with chronic hives, saying nine of the 10 patients enrolled in the study did not have the condition. — Max Gelman 🇪🇺 AbbVie seeks to expand migraine drug indication in Europe: AbbVie said Monday that it asked the European Medicines Agency to expand the label of atogepant, which is marketed as Aquipta in Europe and Qulipta in the US, for acute migraine treatment in adults. Currently, the drug is used to prevent migraines. AbbVie plans to present data this week at the European Headache Congress in Portugal from its Phase 3 ECLIPSE study showing 24.3% of participants who received atogepant achieved pain freedom two hours after treatment of the first migraine attack compared to 13.1% of placebo participants. — Lei Lei Wu 💰 Belite Bio’s $350M public offering: The San Diego biotech’s stock sale follows its successful Phase 3 readout Monday in a rare genetic eye condition called Stargardt disease, which currently has no approved treatments. Belite said it plans to use the money from the offering to prepare for commercialization. — Lei Lei Wu 💶 Axoltis Pharma closes €18M Series A: The French startup will use the money, equaling about $21 million, to advance lead drug NX210c, which is currently in Phase 2 trials for ALS. A second tranche of the Series A is contingent on the results of an 82-patient Phase 2 ALS study, with results expected in the second quarter of 2026. — Max Gelman