Xconomy: Bio Roundup: Kite’s CAR-T Approved, Obamacare Fix & Lilly mRNA Deal
Summary
—Interim data from a Phase 2 study of non-small cell lung cancer drug entrecitinib from Ignyta (NASDAQ: RXDX) showed improved overall survival in patients who have a particular genetic mutation, boosting the company’s stock price 25 percent.DEALS OF THE WEEK —Gemini Therapeutics emerged from stealth with a $42.5 million Series A round that the Cambridge, MA, company will use to develop gene-based therapies to treat dry age-related macular degeneration.—Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) paid CureVac $50 million up front in a partnership to develop up to five new cancer vaccines based on the German company’s messenger RNA technology.—Vir Biotechnology of San Francisco unveiled $500 million in committed financing and a slate of biotech and university partnerships that it plans to use to develop new treatments for infectious diseases.—Gene therapy developer uniQure (NASDAQ: QURE) is switching the hemophilia B treatment it will test in a Phase 3 clinical trial after receiving a go-ahead from regulators.