Tenvie Therapeutics, a new startup focused on developing drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, has launched with $200 million in funding from Arch Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital, and Mubadala Capital. The company is built around drug assets from Denali Therapeutics, another Arch-backed company. Tony Estrada, formerly head of drug discovery at Denali, will lead Tenvie, with the company's lead programs targeting proteins implicated in neurodegeneration.
Sana Biotechnology's Breakthrough in Type 1 Diabetes
Sana Biotechnology announced that researchers using its technology successfully transplanted pancreatic islet cells into a patient with Type 1 diabetes without the need for immunosuppression. This marks the first instance of an allogeneic transplant surviving without immune suppression in an individual with a fully functioning immune system, according to Sana's CEO. The study, conducted in partnership with Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden, utilizes Sana's "hypoimmune" technology, which generates cells capable of evading detection by the body's immune defenses. Sana is also preparing to initiate its own clinical trial of an allogeneic islet cell therapy for Type 1 diabetes.
Jasper Therapeutics' Briquilimab Shows Mixed Results in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Jasper Therapeutics presented data from a Phase 1b/2a study of its antibody drug briquilimab in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria. The company reported that the treatment reduced hives severity and itchiness in study participants across various doses. While the treatment was generally well-tolerated, three patients experienced neutropenia, one of which was medically significant. Investors reacted negatively to the data, causing a significant drop in the company's stock price.
Stoke Therapeutics Advances Dravet Syndrome Program
Stoke Therapeutics has finalized plans for a Phase 3 clinical trial of its experimental drug for Dravet syndrome, a severe developmental disease characterized by frequent seizures. The company has secured alignment from regulatory agencies in the U.S., Europe, and Japan to proceed with a one-year trial assessing the drug's impact on major motor seizure frequency. The trial, named Emperor, is expected to enroll approximately 150 children and teenagers with Dravet syndrome, with data anticipated by the end of 2027.
