Kalaris and AlloVir Complete Merger to Advance Novel Anti-VEGF Therapy for Retinal Diseases
• Kalaris Therapeutics and AlloVir have finalized their merger, with the combined entity operating under the Kalaris name and trading on Nasdaq as KLRS, led by CEO Andrew Oxtoby.
• The merged company has secured approximately $100 million in cash, providing financial runway into Q4 2026 to support the continued development of TH103, a novel anti-VEGF therapy for retinal diseases.
• TH103, engineered by Dr. Napoleone Ferrara, aims to address limitations of current neovascular age-related macular degeneration treatments with initial Phase 1 data expected in the second half of 2025.
Novel mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise in Phase 3 Trials for Cytomegalovirus Prevention
• A groundbreaking mRNA vaccine (mRNA-1647) demonstrates superior efficacy against cytomegalovirus infection in phase 3 clinical trials, offering new hope for preventing CMV transmission.
• The global CMV infections market is projected to experience significant growth across seven major markets, with a diagnosed population of 111,000 cases reported in 2022.
• Leading pharmaceutical companies including ModernaTX, Merck Sharp & Dohme, GlaxoSmithKline, and AlloVir are developing innovative therapies to address unmet needs in CMV treatment.
CAR T-cell Therapy Pipeline Surges with 180+ Companies Advancing Novel Cancer Treatments
• The CAR T-cell therapy pipeline has experienced significant growth, with over 180 companies actively developing more than 200 innovative cell therapy candidates across various stages of clinical development.
• Recent breakthroughs include Hemogenyx's first human administration of HG-CT-1 for acute myeloid leukemia and NICE's approval of lisocabtagene maraleucel for large B-cell lymphoma treatment.
• Strategic industry developments are accelerating progress, with companies like CARsgen Therapeutics forming alliances to advance allogeneic CAR-T products and multiple firms reporting successful trial milestones.
RSV Treatment Landscape Expands with New Vaccines and Clinical Trials in 2024-2025
• Moderna's mRESVIA vaccine received MHRA approval in February 2025 for adults aged 60 and older, joining GSK's Arexvy and Pfizer's Abrysvo in the expanding RSV vaccine market.
• The FDA has mandated new safety warnings for RSV vaccines regarding Guillain-Barré Syndrome risk, highlighting ongoing safety monitoring efforts in early 2025.
• Multiple pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi, GSK, and Pfizer are conducting advanced clinical trials in 2024, focusing on various patient populations and novel therapeutic approaches.
Robust Influenza Pipeline Features 120+ Drug Candidates with Novel Approaches to Prevention and Treatment
DelveInsight's latest report reveals over 120 companies actively developing innovative therapies for influenza, including promising candidates like Moderna's mRNA-1010 vaccine and SAB Biotherapeutics' polyclonal antibody treatment. The pipeline showcases diverse therapeutic approaches, from next-generation vaccines to broad-spectrum antivirals, addressing critical needs in influenza prevention and treatment.
RSV Therapeutic Pipeline Shows Promise with Novel Therapies and Clinical Advancements
• Over 50 companies are actively developing more than 50 therapeutic options for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) treatment, indicating a robust pipeline.
• GSK's Arexvy vaccine demonstrated encouraging Phase III results, preventing lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in older adults across three RSV seasons.
• Merck's clesrovimab showed positive topline results in a Phase IIb/III trial as a preventive treatment for RSV in infants, highlighting potential for vulnerable populations.
LIfT Biosciences Awarded ScaleReady G-Rex Grant to Advance N-LIfT Cell Therapy Manufacturing
• LIfT Biosciences receives a $300,000 G-Rex Grant from ScaleReady to bolster clinical manufacturing of its N-LIfT platform.
• The N-LIfT platform utilizes Immunomodulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs) to target and kill solid tumors while activating the patient's immune system.
• The collaboration aims to establish a scalable, closed, and semi-automated G-Rex manufacturing process for late-stage clinical trials and beyond.
• LIfT Biosciences' N-LIfT therapy represents a novel approach to overcoming treatment resistance in solid tumors through its unique mechanism of action.
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