Quetzal Therapeutics, LLC.

Plus, news about DiaMedica Therapeutics, Cantargia and Quetzal Therapeutics: Bristol Myers Squibb suffers late-stage miss in anemia: Patients with myelofibrosis-associated anemia taking Reblozyl were no more able than those on placebo to go three months without a red blood cell transfusion in a Phase 3 trial. There was a numerical and clinically meaningful improvement in transfusion independence favoring the product, which is intended to boost levels of a patient’s native red blood cells, BMS said . However, this was not significant at p=0.0674. BMS said it was “encouraged” by the results and would discuss filing plans with regulators. — Elizabeth Cairns Sanofi closes $9.1B acquisition of Blueprint Medicines: It’s the second largest biopharma deal of the year after Johnson & Johnson’s $14.6 billion buyout of Intra-Cellular Therapies in January. — Jaimy Lee DiaMedica Therapeutics’ Phase 2 success in pre-eclampsia: The biotech’s DM199 achieved prespecified safety and efficacy endpoints in the dose-escalation part of the mid-stage study, including dose-dependent reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There were no cases of placental transfer and no serious side effects in any cohort, the company said Thursday. — Ayisha Sharma Cantargia’s IL1RAP antibody flops: An open-label Phase 1b/2 study found a 40% overall response rate (ORR) among triple-negative breast cancer patients taking the Swedish biotech’s nadunolimab plus carboplatin and gemcitabine. It also produced a 43% ORR in a control group taking the latter two drugs. Addition of the drug did not alter the chemo’s safety profile, according to Cantargia. — Elizabeth Cairns Quetzal Therapeutics launches with $50M: The company has two assets: QTX-2101, a mid-stage oral arsenic trioxide therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia, and QTX-2102, a preclinical antifungal and antiparasitic therapy. It’s run by Usman Ahmed, the former CEO of Nexus Pharmaceuticals. — Jaimy Lee