Clinical Trials
5
2 active
Approvals
0
Total approvals
Agencies
0
Regulatory bodies
Founded
N/A
Active, not recruiting
2
40.0%
Recruiting
3
60.0%
No approval data available
- Arcus and Gilead discontinued development of domvanalimab combination therapy in gastric and esophageal cancers after the Phase III STAR-221 trial failed to improve overall survival compared to Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo plus chemotherapy. - The failure represents another significant setback for the TIGIT class of immunotherapies, following similar failures from Roche, GSK, and Merck, leaving AstraZeneca as the primary remaining player in this therapeutic area. - Arcus is pivoting to focus on casdatifan, a HIF-2α inhibitor for kidney cancer, which analysts view as having multi-billion-dollar revenue potential and is wholly owned by the company. - The company maintains $1 billion in cash and investments to support operations through the second half of 2028, while domvanalimab continues in two other Phase III lung cancer trials despite the gastric cancer setback.
- Arena BioWorks, a biomedical research institute backed by $500 million from billionaire investors including Michael Dell, is abruptly shutting down less than two years after its January 2024 launch. - The closure will result in approximately 50 layoffs, including co-founder Stuart Schreiber and CEO Harvey Berger, as the company cites "policy uncertainty and weak funding" in the current biotech environment. - Despite claims of "major advances" in oncology, immune disorders, and brain health, Arena's scientific discoveries will be transferred to its scientists for potential future development outside the company. - The shutdown follows Arena's August 2024 downsizing that eliminated 30% of its workforce as the company pivoted away from cell and gene therapies to focus on small-molecule and biologic treatments.
- Appia Bio, a cell therapy company founded in 2020, has officially ceased operations after four years in business, citing lack of funding to advance clinical testing. - The biotech had developed CAR-engineered natural killer T cell therapies and secured a $875 million collaboration with Kite Pharma in 2021, which ended in 2024. - Appia's closure adds to a growing list of biotech shutdowns in 2025, including Abata Therapeutics, NextRNA Therapeutics, and iTeos Therapeutics, reflecting broader industry funding challenges. - The company reached the cusp of filing an investigational new drug application for clinical testing before running out of financial resources.
- Concentra Biosciences has agreed to acquire Belgium-based iTeos Therapeutics for $10.05 per share in cash, slightly below iTeos' Friday closing price of $10.26. - The acquisition comes after iTeos' TIGIT antibody belrestotug failed to meet clinical endpoints in two mid-stage studies, leading GSK to terminate their partnership in May 2024. - iTeos shareholders will receive additional contingent value rights for excess cash beyond $475 million and 80% of proceeds from any asset sales within six months. - The deal represents Concentra's latest acquisition of a struggling biotech company, following similar purchases of Cargo Therapeutics, Elevation Oncology, and other distressed firms this year.
- bluebird bio, a pioneer in gene therapies for severe genetic diseases, has appointed three new executives to strengthen its leadership team as the company focuses on commercial execution. - Brian Riley joins as President and Chief Technical Officer, bringing over 25 years of manufacturing and operations experience from companies including Beam Therapeutics and Catalent Pharma Solutions. - Dr. Joanne Lager has been named Chief Medical Officer, contributing more than 20 years of drug development expertise from roles at NiKang Therapeutics, iTeos Therapeutics, and Sanofi. - Adrian Chaisson joins as Chief of Staff with strategic and operational leadership experience in advancing novel medicines from discovery through commercialization.
- Elevation Oncology has agreed to be acquired by Concentra Biosciences, controlled by hedge fund Tang Capital Partners, for $0.36 per share in cash with additional contingent value rights. - The acquisition represents the latest example of investment firms targeting struggling biotech "zombies" worth less than their cash reserves for liquidation rather than strategic repositioning. - Elevation's lead cancer drug disappointed in clinical testing, forcing the company to shelve its program, lay off most staff, and trade below $1 per share for nearly a year. - The deal follows Tang Capital's previous acquisitions of struggling biotechs including Allakos, Jounce Therapeutics, and Kronos Bio through its liquidation-focused investment strategy.
• iTeos Therapeutics and GlaxoSmithKline have discontinued development of their TIGIT inhibitor belrestotug after Phase II clinical trials failed to meet efficacy endpoints in non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. • The setback represents another blow to the TIGIT inhibitor class, which has faced multiple clinical disappointments despite initial promise as a potential breakthrough in immuno-oncology combination therapies. • The companies will now redirect resources toward other pipeline assets, while researchers continue to investigate whether specific biomarkers might identify patient subgroups who could benefit from TIGIT-targeted therapies.
- GSK and iTeos Therapeutics have discontinued development of belrestotug, their TIGIT-targeting immunotherapy, after it failed to significantly delay tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer patients. - The companies are terminating all ongoing trials, including a Phase 3 study, ending their four-year collaboration that began with GSK's $625 million upfront payment and potential $1.45 billion in milestone payments. - iTeos is now conducting a strategic review to preserve capital, as the failure eliminates its most advanced drug candidate and represents another setback for TIGIT-targeting therapies in oncology.
• e-therapeutics has presented new preclinical data demonstrating ETX-312, their GalOmic siRNA candidate, significantly improves NAFLD Activity Score in MASH mouse models both as monotherapy and in combination with other agents. • The experimental treatment showed comparable fibrosis progression reduction to GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists and FGF-21 analogues, with statistically significant reductions in hepatic collagen staining and circulating biomarkers. • ETX-312, currently in IND-enabling studies, is being developed with potential for quarterly subcutaneous dosing, with regulatory submission planned by the end of 2025.
- Concentra Biosciences has entered into definitive merger agreements to acquire both iTeos Therapeutics for $10.047 per share and Kronos Bio for $0.57 per share, with both deals including contingent value rights. - The iTeos acquisition includes a CVR providing 100% of closing net cash above $475 million and 80% of proceeds from product candidate dispositions within six months post-closing. - Both transactions are expected to close in 2025, with iTeos closing anticipated in Q3 and Kronos Bio mid-year, subject to tender offer conditions and regulatory approvals. - The deals represent a strategic consolidation in the biotech sector, with Concentra acquiring complementary assets in oncology and immunotherapy development.
