Therapeutic delivery - industry update covering October 2024

This Industry Update covers the period from 1st October through to 31 October 2024 and is based on information sourced from company press releases, scientific literature, patents, and various news websites. This month saw two biotech company acquisitions being made by larger biopharma companies with Modifi Biosciences, a company focussing on the development of novel small molecule anticancer therapeutics, being acquired Merck, and AbbVie acquiring Aliada Therapeutics, which focuses on the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Elektrofi and Archon Biosciences both announced new investments, respectively, to support the development of novel high concentration subcutaneous drug delivery technology and for the development Antibody cages for therapeutic applications. GSK and Cambridge University announced a new five-year collaboration focusing on kidney and respiratory disease, and Aeropump and Resyca announced the launch of a new soft mist nasal delivery system that they have been jointly developing. UCB gained FDA approval for a higher dose of its injectable drug, BIMZELX for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, and AbbVie FDA approval for a continuous infusion treatment for Parkinson's Disease. Eisai announced it has completed its submission to the FDA for a subcutaneous version of its already approved therapy for Alzheimer's Disease. Clinical research updates included Johnson and Johnson announcing termination of a Phase III trial evaluating an implanted combination device for the treatment of bladder cancer, and Lilly announced positive results for modified dosing regimen for its approved Alzheimer's drug, Kisunla (donanemab). In October, the PDA held its annual Universe of Prefilled Syringes conference at which several updates on developments in injectable drug delivery were made. Scientific updates relating to therapeutic delivery included: a controlled drug delivery technology that enables a complete course of antibiotics to be delivered; a new lipid-based delivery system that improves the safety and efficacy of gene therapies; and the use of tiny controllable robots to enable targeted drug delivery of multiple therapeutics.