BARINTHUS BIOTHERAPEUTICS SRL

Pfizer's sasanlimab shows promise in bladder cancer treatment. AbbVie faces a $3.5B impairment charge from Cerevel acquisition. Royalty Pharma simplifies structure, saving $1.6B. Eli Lilly licenses a fibrosis drug. Barinthus cuts workforce, refocuses on immunology. Biogen appoints Adam Feire to lead business development.

Barinthus Biotherapeutics' Phase 2b HBV003 trial shows promising results for VTP-300, an immunotherapy combined with low-dose nivolumab, in treating chronic hepatitis B. Eight participants achieved HBsAg loss, with two meeting functional cure criteria. The therapy was well tolerated, indicating potential for long-term infection control and functional cures.

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies often change names to reflect mission and focus. Notable changes include J&J renaming Janssen to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, BeiGene becoming BeOne Medicines, Vaccitech rebranding as Barinthus Biotherapeutics, Cullinan Oncology shifting to Cullinan Therapeutics, and Eliem Therapeutics renaming to Climb Bio.

Barinthus Biotherapeutics has completed enrolment for its vaccine trials in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and prostate cancer. The Phase IIb HBV003 trial is evaluating VTP-300 in 121 adults with CHB, while the Phase I PCA001 trial is testing VTP-850 in 22 men with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Both trials aim to determine dosing regimens and evaluate safety and efficacy. Data readouts are expected in Q4 2024 and H1 2025, respectively.