Frank Vinluan, Author at MedCity News https://medcitynews.com/author/fvinluan/ Healthcare technology news, life science current events Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:32:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 Avalyn Pharma Takes a Breath to Raise $300M in IPO Cash for Lung Drug Trials https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/avalyn-pharma-ipo-idiopathic-progressive-pulmonary-fibrosis-ipf-ppf-avln/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/avalyn-pharma-ipo-idiopathic-progressive-pulmonary-fibrosis-ipf-ppf-avln/#respond Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:13:26 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146827

Avalyn Pharma found strong investor interest in its inhalable drugs in development for two types of pulmonary fibrosis, enabling the company to upsize its IPO. Data from two mid-stage studies are expected in 2027.

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Chiesi Group Grows Again in Rare Disease With $1.9B KalVista Acquisition https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/chiesi-kalvista-acquisition-ekterly-rare-disease-hereditary-angioedema-hae-kalv/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/chiesi-kalvista-acquisition-ekterly-rare-disease-hereditary-angioedema-hae-kalv/#respond Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:27:24 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146794

KalVista Pharmaceuticals brings to Chiesi Group the product Ekterly, the first FDA-approved oral drug for acute treatment of swelling attacks from the rare disease hereditary angioedema. Ekterly’s tablet formulation offers a dosing edge compared to injectable HAE medications.

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Immunology-Focused Coultreon Adds $125M for Pills That Pack the Punch of Injectable Biologics https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/immunology-inflammation-startup-coultreon-biopharma-sik-inhibitor-galapagos/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/immunology-inflammation-startup-coultreon-biopharma-sik-inhibitor-galapagos/#respond Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:30:01 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146774 prescription drug medication

Coultreon Biopharma’s lead drug candidate, acquired from Galapagos, is a small molecule designed to selectively inhibit a novel immunology target called SIK3. The Series A financing will support Phase 2 clinical trials in psoriasis and ulcerative colitis.

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Intellia’s Data Reveal Tees Up FDA Filing for CRISPR-Based In Vivo Gene-Editing Med https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/intellia-crispr-in-vivo-gene-editing-hereditary-angioedema-hae-rare-disease-ntla/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/intellia-crispr-in-vivo-gene-editing-hereditary-angioedema-hae-rare-disease-ntla/#respond Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:36:12 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146731 DNA molecular structure with sequencing data of human genome analysis.

Intellia Therapeutics’ lonvo-z uses CRISPR to inactivate a gene in the liver to reduce levels of a protein key to the swelling attacks from the rare disease hereditary angioedema. Intellia has filed a regulatory submission for this genetic medicine, which could become the first in vivo gene-editing therapy to land FDA approval.

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Novartis Antimalarial Clears Key WHO Review to Get the Combo Drug to Babies https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/novartis-antimalarial-coartem-baby-who-prequalification-malaria-infectious-disease-mmv-nvs/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/novartis-antimalarial-coartem-baby-who-prequalification-malaria-infectious-disease-mmv-nvs/#respond Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:19:15 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146697

The World Health Organization has prequalified Coartem Baby, the first and only antimalarial for babies. Novartis developed this combination drug in partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture.

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VC Firm Kurma Partners Closes €215M Fund in Pursuit of ‘Disruptive Therapeutic Solutions’ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/kurma-partners-fund-venture-capital-biotech-investing-startups-europe/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/kurma-partners-fund-venture-capital-biotech-investing-startups-europe/#respond Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:05:41 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146684

Kurma Partners’ new fund is the venture capital firm’s fourth and largest. Previous Kurma investments have led to exits that include the acquisitions of Corlieve Therapeutics, Emergence Therapeutics, and Amolyt Pharma.

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Regeneron Gets Landmark FDA Approval for First Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/regeneron-gene-therapy-hearing-loss-otarmeni-fda-approval-otof-otoferlin-db-oto-regn/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/regeneron-gene-therapy-hearing-loss-otarmeni-fda-approval-otof-otoferlin-db-oto-regn/#respond Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:12:14 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146650

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ Otarmeni is now approved for treating hearing loss from an ultra-rare genetic mutation found in an estimated 50 newborns per year. While Regeneron will offer this gene therapy for free, the approval came with a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher that the company can sell for hundreds of millions of dollars.

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FDA Nod for Merck HIV Drug Brings Competition to a Gilead Sciences Antiretroviral https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/merck-hiv-drug-fda-approval-idvynso-combination-drug-antiretroviral-virology-mrk/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/merck-hiv-drug-fda-approval-idvynso-combination-drug-antiretroviral-virology-mrk/#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:50:50 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146615

Merck’s HIV drug Idvynso could become a drug choice for patients who need to switch from Gilead Sciences’ Biktarvy for safety or tolerability reasons. The Merck combination drug pairs two molecules that bring different mechanisms of action to suppressing HIV.

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Neuro Startup Tortugas Unveils $106M and a Pipeline of Drugs for the Brain https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/tortugas-neuroscience-startup-cure-ventures-schizophrenia-tinnitus-hansoh-eisai/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/tortugas-neuroscience-startup-cure-ventures-schizophrenia-tinnitus-hansoh-eisai/#respond Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:31:04 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146581

Tortugas Neurosciences’ two lead programs are in-licensed oral small molecules in development for schizophrenia and tinnitus. The startup is led by veterans of Sage Therapeutics, a neuroscience biotech that was acquired last year.

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Eli Lilly Makes Another In Vivo Genetic Medicines Move With $3.2B Kelonia Acquisition https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/eli-lilly-kelonia-acquisition-in-vivo-cell-therapy-cancer-multiple-myeloma-bcma-genetic-medicine-lly/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/eli-lilly-kelonia-acquisition-in-vivo-cell-therapy-cancer-multiple-myeloma-bcma-genetic-medicine-lly/#respond Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:51:33 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146535

Kelonia Therapeutics brings to Eli Lilly an in vivo cell therapy in early clinical development for multiple myeloma. The deal complements Lilly’s acquisitions of Verve Therapeutics and Orna Therapeutics in the past year, each taking different approaches to developing in vivo genetic medicines.

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Obsidian, Galera Merger Comes With $350M Infusion for Cancer Drug Trials https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/obsidian-galera-merger-til-cell-therapy-cancer-melanoma-grtx-obx/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/obsidian-galera-merger-til-cell-therapy-cancer-melanoma-grtx-obx/#respond Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:10:54 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146496 acquisition merger

Obsidian Therapeutics aims to show its TIL cell therapy has advantages over an Iovance Biotherapeutics TIL therapy marketed for treating melanoma. Obsidian’s merger with Galera Therapeutics will give it a public listing and a private placement to support clinical development of the combined company’s cancer drug pipeline.

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Kailera’s Upsized IPO Brings In $625M for Pipeline of Injectable & Oral Obesity Drugs https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/kailera-ipo-glp1-gip-ribupatide-obesity-drug-injectable-oral-weight-loss-klra/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/kailera-ipo-glp1-gip-ribupatide-obesity-drug-injectable-oral-weight-loss-klra/#respond Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:02:37 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146470

Kailera Therapeutics’ IPO proceeds will support global clinical trials for its obesity drug candidates. Meanwhile, proteomics company Alamar Biosciences upsized its own IPO while clinical-stage biotechs Seaport Therapeutics and Hemab Therapeutics joined the IPO queue.

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Startup Nula Emerges to Advance a New Class of Medicines for Metabolic Disease https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/nula-therapeutics-nuclear-envelope-metabolic-disease-obesity-mash-startup/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/nula-therapeutics-nuclear-envelope-metabolic-disease-obesity-mash-startup/#respond Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:15:21 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146453

The fatty liver disease MASH is one of the metabolic disorders that Nula Therapeutics is pursuing. The startup’s small molecules are intended to restore the integrity of the nuclear envelope, a cellular membrane whose dysfunction can contribute to metabolic disease.

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Eli Lilly Buys Startup CrossBridge Bio to Bring a More Powerful Strike to Tumors https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/eli-lilly-crossbridge-bio-acquisition-antibody-drug-conjugate-dual-payload-adc-lly/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/eli-lilly-crossbridge-bio-acquisition-antibody-drug-conjugate-dual-payload-adc-lly/#respond Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:46:40 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146428

Eli Lilly is paying up to $300 million for CrossBridge Bio, a startup developing antibody drug conjugates that deliver two drug payloads to cancers. Beyond potentially better efficacy, CrossBio’s dual approach could also fight drug resistance.

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Bouncing Back From Trial Failure, Travere Wins First FDA Approval in Rare Kidney Disease https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/travere-therapeutics-filspari-sparsentan-fda-approval-rare-kidney-disease-proteinuria-fsgs-tvtx/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/travere-therapeutics-filspari-sparsentan-fda-approval-rare-kidney-disease-proteinuria-fsgs-tvtx/#respond Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:26:01 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146399

Travere Therapeutics’ Filspari is now the first FDA-approved drug for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease. Analysts project the pill will become a blockbuster seller.

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Revolution Medicines Reports ‘Unprecedented’ Survival in Pivotal Pancreatic Cancer Trial https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/revolution-medicines-pancreatic-cancer-daraxonrasib-ras-inhibitor-pdac-rvmd/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/revolution-medicines-pancreatic-cancer-daraxonrasib-ras-inhibitor-pdac-rvmd/#respond Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:47:20 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146348

Revolutions Medicines’ daraxonrasib met the main goals of its Phase 3 test in pancreatic cancer, posting results that were both statistically significant and clinically meaningful. The company now plans to file for speedy regulatory approval under a new FDA pilot program.

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Two New Takes on Making a Type of Targeted Cancer Therapy Even Better https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/antibody-drug-conjugate-cancer-oncology-sidewinder-stipple-adc-startup/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/antibody-drug-conjugate-cancer-oncology-sidewinder-stipple-adc-startup/#respond Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:53:29 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146336

Sidewinder Therapeutics and Stipple Bio each raised mega-rounds of financing to support their approaches to improving the targeting abilities of antibody drug conjugates for cancer. Both startups are on track to enter the clinic next year.

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Oricell Lands $110M to Take Cell Therapy to New Territory in Cancer https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/oricell-liver-cancer-car-t-cell-therapy-solid-tumor-hepatocellular-carcinoma-gpc3-hcc/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/oricell-liver-cancer-car-t-cell-therapy-solid-tumor-hepatocellular-carcinoma-gpc3-hcc/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:03:32 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146315

There are no FDA-approved therapies for GPC3, a protein highly expressed by liver cancers. Oricell Therapeutics claims its cell therapy could be best in this class, but it faces competition from companies such as AstraZeneca and Eureka Therapeutics.

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Gilead and Roche Bet on Protein Degraders for Their Cancer Drug Pipelines https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/gilead-sciences-kymera-cdk2-protein-degrader-roche-c4-antibody-drug-conjugate-dac-gild-kymr-rhhby-cccc/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/gilead-sciences-kymera-cdk2-protein-degrader-roche-c4-antibody-drug-conjugate-dac-gild-kymr-rhhby-cccc/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:05:52 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146268

Gilead Sciences exercised its option to license a Kymera Therapeutics’ protein-degrading drug designed to eliminate the cancer-driving protein CDK2. Meanwhile, Roche’s new partnership with C4 Therapeutics is focused on developing degrader antibody drug conjugates for undisclosed cancer targets.

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Trial Failure in the Skin Does Not Dent Insmed Drug’s Potential in the Lungs https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/insmed-brinsupri-brensocatib-hidradenitis-suppurativa-chronic-inflammation-dpp1-inhibitor-insm/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/insmed-brinsupri-brensocatib-hidradenitis-suppurativa-chronic-inflammation-dpp1-inhibitor-insm/#respond Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:49:05 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146232

Insmed drug Brinsupri failed to beat a placebo in a mid-stage clinical trial testing the daily pill as a treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Brinsupri is still projected to become a blockbuster seller in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, where it is the first approved therapy for this chronic lung condition.

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Gilead’s Pipeline Strategy Takes Shape With $3B Acquisition of Cancer Biotech Tubulis https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/gilead-sciences-tubulis-acquisition-ovarian-cancer-antibody-drug-conjugate-adc-gild/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/gilead-sciences-tubulis-acquisition-ovarian-cancer-antibody-drug-conjugate-adc-gild/#respond Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:21:08 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146185

Gilead Sciences’ Tubulis acquisition brings antibody drug conjugates in clinical development for cancer. Analysts say the Tubulis platform technologies that yielded these ADCs could also help Gilead develop drugs in other therapeutic areas.

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Neurocrine’s $2.9B Soleno Buyout Brings What Could Become Its Next Blockbuster Drug https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/neurocrine-soleno-acquisition-vykat-prader-willi-syndrome-endocrinology-slno-nbix/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/neurocrine-soleno-acquisition-vykat-prader-willi-syndrome-endocrinology-slno-nbix/#respond Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:42:57 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146151

Soleno Therapeutics brings Neurocrine Biosciences Vykat XR, a drug commercialized for treating the rare genetic disease Prader-Willi syndrome. This blockbuster prospect complements Crenessity, a Neurocrine drug approved for treating a rare endocrine disorder called congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

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Pinnacle Medicines Adds $89M for Oral Peptides With Properties of Injectable Biologics https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/oral-peptide-startup-pinnacle-medicines-orbimed-asthma-copd-immunology-inflammation/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/oral-peptide-startup-pinnacle-medicines-orbimed-asthma-copd-immunology-inflammation/#respond Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:38:13 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146127

Startup Pinnacle Medicines is developing peptide drugs with the same efficacy as biologic medicines and the dosing convenience of oral small molecules. The lead program of OrbiMed-incubated Pinnacle is on track to enter the clinic in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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The Drug Companies Avoiding Trump’s Tariffs — For Now https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/trump-pharmaceutical-tariffs-most-favored-nation-drug-price-mfn-api-supply-chain/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/trump-pharmaceutical-tariffs-most-favored-nation-drug-price-mfn-api-supply-chain/#respond Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:30:25 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146101

Generic medicines face no tariffs, though the Trump administration reserves the right to revisit that in the future. Some branded drugmakers face a reduced tariff rate, but that could change if they don’t reach a so-called most-favored nation drug price deal.

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Why Biogen Is Paying $5.6B to Buy Apellis Pharma https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/why-biogen-is-paying-5-6b-to-buy-apellis-pharma/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/why-biogen-is-paying-5-6b-to-buy-apellis-pharma/#respond Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:26:54 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146045

Biogen’s Apellis Pharmaceuticals acquisition comes nearly two years after the drugmaker purchased immunology startup Human Immunology Biosciences. CEO Chris Viehbacher said Apellis accelerates Biogen’s expansion in nephrology, supporting a HI-Bio drug currently in pivotal testing for three kidney conditions.

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Eli Lilly Gets Speedy FDA Nod for Oral GLP-1 Drug, a Competitor to New Novo Nordisk Pill https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/eli-lilly-oral-glp-1-fda-approval-foundayo-orforglipron-obesity-weight-loss-lly/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/04/eli-lilly-oral-glp-1-fda-approval-foundayo-orforglipron-obesity-weight-loss-lly/#respond Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:53:20 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=146016

FDA approval for Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 drug, Foundayo, comes about three months after Novo Nordisk launched its Wegovy pill. While clinical trial results for both daily pills showed comparable weight reduction, Lilly’s pill offers patients a slight dosing advantage.

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Eli Lilly’s Neuro Prospects Expand to Sleep Science With $6.3B Centessa Acquisition https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/eli-lillys-neuro-prospects-expand-to-sleep-science-with-6-3b-centessa-acquisition/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/eli-lillys-neuro-prospects-expand-to-sleep-science-with-6-3b-centessa-acquisition/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:59:51 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=145974

Centessa Pharmaceuticals’ cleminorexton is part of the orexin agonist drug class, which could introduce a new approach to the treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. Acquiring Centessa brings Eli Lilly into a group of clinical-stage orexin agonist drug developers that includes Takeda Pharmaceutical, Alkermes, and Eisai.

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Kailera Plans IPO for Obesity Drug That Could Top Lilly’s Zepbound https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/kailera-ipo-obesity-weight-loss-ribupatide-dual-glp-1-gip-receptor-agonist-zepbound-klra/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/kailera-ipo-obesity-weight-loss-ribupatide-dual-glp-1-gip-receptor-agonist-zepbound-klra/#respond Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:42:08 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=145946 obesity glp-1s costs

Kailera Therapeutics’ planned IPO will fund ongoing clinical development of a pipeline led by a drug that could rival Eli Lilly’s Zepbound in both efficacy and tolerability. Meanwhile, Renaissance Capital’s recap of first quarter 2026 IPOs shows slowing activity amid market turbulence from tariffs and war.

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FDA Approval Makes Rocket Pharma Gene Therapy the First for Ultra-Rare Immune Disorder https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/rocket-pharmaceuticals-gene-therapy-fda-approval-kresladi-lad-i-ultra-rare-immunodeficiency-rckt/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/rocket-pharmaceuticals-gene-therapy-fda-approval-kresladi-lad-i-ultra-rare-immunodeficiency-rckt/#respond Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:47:31 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=145920 Digitally Generated Images

Rocket Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for Kresladi, a gene therapy developed to treat leukocyte-adhesion deficiency type 1, an inherited immunodeficiency that can become fatal to infants and young children. Kresladi is the first gene therapy for this ultra-rare disease and the first commercial product for Rocket.

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Taking a Page From Cancer Drugs, Autoimmune Biotech Alumis Aims for Precision Immunology https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/alumis-plaque-psoriasis-autoimmune-precision-medicine-immunology-inflammation-tyk2-alms/ https://medcitynews.com/2026/03/alumis-plaque-psoriasis-autoimmune-precision-medicine-immunology-inflammation-tyk2-alms/#respond Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:55:59 +0000 https://medcitynews.com/?p=145886

Alumis’s genomic research guided its development of envudeucitinib, a TYK2 inhibitor that some analysts now view as best in class. The Phase 3 results that will support a planned FDA submission in plaque psoriasis are scheduled for presentation this weekend during the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in Denver.

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