BAVARIAN NORDIC

2024 was a challenging year for the biopharma industry, with companies like Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson cutting hundreds to thousands of jobs. Cassava Sciences announced layoffs of 10 employees, 33% of its workforce, following a failed Phase III trial for its Alzheimer's drug. CytomX Therapeutics cut 40% of its staff to focus on clinical programs. Velia, a San Diego biotech, is shutting down, affecting 47 employees. Regeneron's acquisition of Oxular led to layoffs, with no Oxular employees joining Regeneron. Javara, Ring Therapeutics, Outlook Therapeutics, Editas, Bavarian Nordic, BenevolentAI, Chroma Medicine and Nvelop Therapeutics, Cellectar Biosciences, Carisma Therapeutics, Belharra Therapeutics, National Resilience, AmplifyBio, Agenus, Alligator Bioscience, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, Kronos Bio, Novartis, Recursion Therapeutics, Medigene, Alector, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sonata Therapeutics, 23andMe, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Gilead Sciences, Adaptimmune, Sensei Biotherapeutics, Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Orna Therapeutics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Charles River Laboratories, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Viracta Therapeutics, Astellas Gene Therapies, Sana Biotechnology, Sage Therapeutics, Compass Pathways, Spero Therapeutics, ICON, Pfizer, Takeda, SalioGen Therapeutics, Evonik, Medtronic, CareFusion Resources, Turnstone Biologics, Leo Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Prime Medicine, Kaléo, Stryker, Relay Therapeutics, ImmunityBio, Shattuck Labs, Inventprise, bluebird bio, Athira Pharma, AGC Biologics, Oncternal Therapeutics, Biosense Webster, Vesigen Therapeutics, Connect Biopharma, BioMarin, IN8bio, Edwards Lifesciences, DermTech, Repare Therapeutics, Genentech, Tome Biosciences, Aadi Bioscience, Lykos Therapeutics, Evotec, Galera Therapeutics, Grail, Ovid Therapeutics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Acelyrin, Boundless Bio, FibroGen, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, AN2 Therapeutics, Entero Therapeutics, Precigen, Sumitomo Pharma America, uniQure, Vir Biotechnology, Arbutus Biopharma, HilleVax, and Bayer also announced significant layoffs, reflecting a tough year for the industry.

FDA approved Pfizer's RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, for adults 60+, following GSK's Arexvy. Both aim to prevent RSV-related diseases, with availability expected by autumn 2023. Efficacy and safety data, including co-administration with flu vaccines, are under CDC review. Pfizer also explores Abrysvo for maternal vaccination and other high-risk groups.

The Cancer Immunotherapy Market 2025-2029 report forecasts significant growth in immuno-oncology therapeutics, highlighting technologies like CAR-T Cells and Checkpoint Inhibitors. It offers insights into market opportunities, key players, and the impact on healthcare, aiming to guide investment and strategic decisions.

Merck licenses a GLP-1 candidate from Hansoh Pharma; Astellas collaborates with Sangamo for gene therapy; Betta Pharma's Ensacove gains FDA approval for lung cancer; Mitsubishi Tanabe attracts buyout interest; BeiGene licenses a MAT2A inhibitor; Candid Therapeutics forms new collaborations; BMS regains China rights to a RayzeBio candidate.

Bavarian Nordic signed a license and manufacturing agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII) for its mpox vaccine, MVA-BN. The partnership aims to facilitate the vaccine’s supply in India through technology transfer. SII will obtain regulatory approval and manufacture the vaccine, expanding global access during mpox outbreaks. The deal is based on a profit-sharing model without upfront payments. Bavarian Nordic is also pursuing partnerships in Africa to enhance vaccine accessibility.

A second NIH clinical trial shows SIGA Technologies' tecovirimat ineffective for mpox, halting recruitment. The STOMP trial found no reduction in lesion resolution or pain vs. placebo in mild to moderate clade 2 mpox cases. This follows the PALM 007 study in DRC, also finding tecovirimat no better than placebo. Despite setbacks, three vaccines remain available, and three ongoing trials for tecovirimat continue.

WHO's Vasee Moorthy calls for systematic reviews to address underrepresentation in clinical trials, noting less than 5% include pregnant women and 13% include children. WHO's new guidance aims to improve trial design and oversight globally.

Air cargo's quick rebound post-Covid highlights the critical need for efficient medicine transport via air freight, emphasized by IATA's Korea manager Baek-Jae Kim. Robust cold supply chains, vital for pharmaceutical industry's $1trn annual air freight, were discussed at the 2024 Outsourcing in Clinical Trials and Clinical Trial Supply East Asia. IATA's Temperature Cargo Regulations (TCR) are essential for safe transit of temperature-sensitive medical products, with 2025 updates including marking and labelling additions. Kim stressed joint responsibility between shippers and operators for safe delivery, while HanulTL's Kangpyo Lee highlighted the necessity of contingency plans for geopolitical disruptions.

DelveInsight's report on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) market forecasts trends and epidemiology in the U.S., EU4, UK, and Japan until 2034. Key companies include Bavarian Nordic, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Moderna, ReViral, Pfizer, and others. Promising therapies in development include Nirsevimab, RSVpreF Vaccine, and others. The market is expected to grow due to increasing incident cases and upcoming therapies, despite current treatment limitations.