PFIZER INC.

Athira Pharma's lead candidate, fosgonimeton, failed Phase II/III LIFT-AD trial for Alzheimer's, causing a 81% stock drop. Despite missing primary and secondary endpoints, Athira remains committed to fosgonimeton's development, citing potential benefits in specific subgroups. Full data will be presented at the CTAD Conference in Madrid.

The oral thin films market is projected to reach $7.65 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 13.6%, driven by specialty pharmaceuticals, precision medicine, and telemedicine. Key players include ZIM Laboratories, NAL Pharma, and Cure Pharmaceutical. The market is segmented by type, disease indication, and distribution channel.

Kynurenine, a tryptophan metabolite, exacerbates Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by inhibiting astrocyte glycolysis and lactate production, starving neurons. IDO1 inhibitors, which block kynurenine production, could potentially treat AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

ArtLifting, founded by Liz and Spencer Powers, brokers art by disadvantaged artists, earning them $6.5 million. Their works, including by Allen Chamberland and Lisa Murphy, are displayed in corporate offices, including Moderna and Foundation Medicine, aiming to break stigmas and provide income.

Eli Lilly and Pfizer launch direct-to-consumer strategies to combat unauthorized copycats and leverage brand recognition, respectively. Telehealth and prescription delivery services aim to create a loyal customer base, with high net promoter scores indicating successful online health platforms. The shift is driven by data insights and potential for greater medication adherence, though the impact on traditional prescription systems remains uncertain.

Linker chemistry in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) plays a crucial role in cancer therapies, determining payload release and efficacy. Despite 11 FDA-approved ADCs and 266 clinical trials, the complexity of linkers remains a challenge, influencing ADC stability, toxicity, and target specificity. Innovations like PEG linkers and click chemistry aim to enhance ADC performance, but the field still lacks definitive rules for optimal linker design.

OrsoBio raises $67M to advance weight loss drugs; Vor Bio's CRISPR-edited stem cells show success in AML therapy; Boehringer Ingelheim to test eye drug for geographic atrophy; Novartis licenses capsid from Voyager for gene therapy; Vaxcyte raises $1.3B on positive pneumococcal vaccine data.

Relay Therapeutics to report interim data for RLY-2608 600mg BID + fulvestrant in 2L+, CDK4/6-experienced patients with PI3Kα-mutated, HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer on Sept. 9, 2024, at 8am ET.

The Global CD47 Inhibitor Drug Clinical Trials Insight & Market Opportunity Outlook 2028 report highlights the emergence of CD47 inhibition as a novel cancer immunotherapy, with multiple candidates in clinical trials, including magrolimab and evorpacept. The market is rapidly evolving, driven by rising cancer incidence and increased use of immunotherapies, with significant commercial interest and notable acquisitions. Challenges include managing toxicity and demonstrating therapeutic advantages over current treatments.

M.J.D. has consulted, advised, and spoken for Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Zealand Pharma, Carmot/Roche, and Amgen. She has also received grants from AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Sanofi-Aventis, and Eli Lilly. J.G. has no competing interests.