BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB

Cobenfy, a new schizophrenia drug targeting muscarinic receptors, offers fewer side effects and potential to address both positive and negative symptoms, priced at $1,850 per month.

S.B., A.D., T.J.F., I.M.G., L.G., R.K.J., G.K., J.M.L., G.V.L., K.P.-J., H.I.S., J.T., R.R.W., M.W., Y.L.W. have disclosed various financial interests, including funding, advisory roles, patents, and equity. C.M.B., E.B., M.W.B., and K.P. declare no competing interests.

Halda Therapeutics appoints Christian Schade as CEO, aiming to advance RIPTAC™ therapeutics for cancer treatment.

The FDA approved Bristol Myers Squibb's Cobenfy, a new oral medication for schizophrenia in adults, targeting specific brain receptors without affecting dopamine pathways. This marks the first new class of medicine in decades for schizophrenia, potentially changing the treatment paradigm. Cobenfy showed significant symptom reduction in Phase 3 trials and offers a novel approach by targeting M1 and M4 receptors, unlike traditional antipsychotic drugs.

Outpatient CAR-T therapy found effective for large B-cell lymphoma patients in a study of 82 participants, with 70% receiving treatment on an outpatient basis. Mild side effects were common, but no increased risk was observed compared to inpatient settings. The study, published in 'Blood Advances,' suggests expanding CAR-T programs with proper protocols and training.

The NRG-HN005 phase II/III trial failed to meet non-inferiority criteria for p16+ oropharyngeal cancer patients, affirming traditional chemoradiation's effectiveness. The study compared standard IMRT and cisplatin to lower dose IMRT with cisplatin or nivolumab, but interim futility analysis showed the control arm's 2-year PFS rate of 98.1% was too high for experimental arms to be deemed non-inferior.

Prime Medicine expands into oncology and immunology with Bristol Myers Squibb partnership, focusing on prime editing technology for precise gene editing. The deal includes $110 million upfront, potential milestone payments exceeding $3.5 billion, and royalties. Prime Medicine's pipeline refocuses on strategic programs, with PM359 in CGD leading efforts in hematology, immunology, and oncology. The company expects its capital to last into the first half of 2026.

The FDA approved Cobenfy, the first new schizophrenia treatment in over 30 years, which targets different neurotransmitters to reduce both positive and negative symptoms without significant weight gain or treatment discontinuation. However, long-term effectiveness remains uncertain due to short study durations.

In a large prospective study, outpatient CAR-T therapy for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) showed high efficacy with 80% objective response and 54% complete response, and minimal serious side effects. The study, published in *Blood Advances*, demonstrated the feasibility of community-based outpatient CAR-T treatment, potentially expanding patient access and reducing hospital stays.

Deucravacitinib demonstrated efficacy and safety in treating scalp and overall psoriasis in phase 3 and real-world studies, with significant improvements in symptoms and patient-reported outcomes.