Gwendolyn Wu

San Francisco

Reporting on drug discovery/VC @BioPharmaDive. Prev. @sfchronicle @houstonchron. Always @tblucsb @aaja @cspaworkshop, Chrome tab hoarder. 📸: @hannahlchinn

Articles

Kymera, with new data, takes early step toward a Dupixent-like pill

3 weeks ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Dive Brief:An experimental protein-degrading drug from Kymera Therapeutics appeared safe and able to affect its intended target in an early-stage clinical trial, leading shares in the biotechnology company to climb by nearly 50%. Data from a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers showed that all dose levels of Kymera’s therapy, KT-621, either completely or nearly completely degraded a key protein in the blood and skin that’s linked to inflammation.
Cancer drugmaker iTeos to shut down

1 month ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Dive Brief:Cancer drugmaker iTeos Therapeutics said Wednesday it plans to wind down operations and seek to sell the company’s assets and intellectual property rights. ITeos has for years struggled to develop a cancer treatment that sufficiently impressed investors and its pharmaceutical partners. Two weeks ago, it said it was shelving its most advanced drug prospect, a TIGIT-targeting treatment developed with GSK.
GlycoEra raises $130M, riding interest in protein degraders

1 month ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

A biotechnology startup developing drugs designed to eliminate troublesome proteins found outside of cells has raised $130 million to start its first clinical trial. The startup, GlycoEra, will use the Series B funds to generate initial clinical data for its lead program, an immune disease treatment dubbed GE8820. It intends to bring a second immune drug into human testing as well.
Prime Medicine claims ‘proof of concept,’ but lays off staff in pivot

1 month ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Prime Medicine will lay off one-quarter of its workforce and deprioritize its clinical-stage program for a rare genetic disease as part of a restructuring announced Monday. Moving forward, Prime will focus on Wilson’s disease and alpha-1 antitrypsin disease, as well as continue work with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on a treatment for that condition. A collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb in blood conditions, cancer and immune diseases will also continue.
AbbVie stakes $335M on a startup’s RNAi drugs

1 month ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

AbbVie is staking hundreds of millions of dollars on RNA interference, agreeing on Wednesday to work with biotechnology startup ADARx Pharmaceuticals to develop experimental medicines for neurological conditions, immune diseases and cancer. Under the , AbbVie will pay ADARx $335 million in cash upfront. The startup could receive “several billion dollars” more in the form of option-related fees and downstream payments, though that money isn’t guaranteed.
Novo to work with Septerna in hunt for oral obesity drugs

1 month ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Dive Brief:Novo Nordisk on Wednesday said it will collaborate with biotechnology startup Septerna to hunt new obesity drug prospects, agreeing to pay the California drugmaker more than $200 million in upfront and near-term fees. Septerna and Novo will initially prioritize four experimental programs aimed at drug targets like GLP-1, GIP or glucagon receptors.
Siren, a gene therapy startup, tests unconventional alternative to venture funding

1 month ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Biotechnology startups usually turn to a few tried-and-true options to raise the money they need to develop a new drug. Company founders might get initial financial help from friends, family or an angel investor. Perhaps they’ll apply for grant funding or a spot in a startup accelerator. More often than not, they’ll then rely on venture funding to survive. Siren Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based gene therapy startup, has already done some of that work.
Siren, a gene therapy startup, tests unconventional alternative to venture funding

1 month ago | finance.yahoo.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Unlock stock picks and a broker-level newsfeed that powers Wall Street. Gwendolyn Wu Thu, May 1, 2025, 2:00 AM 5 min read This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Biotechnology startups usually turn to a few tried-and-true options to raise the money they need to develop a new drug. Company founders might get initial financial help from friends, family or an angel investor.
Novartis to acquire Regulus in deal for kidney disease drug

1 month ago | biopharmadive.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Novartis will pay $800 million upfront to acquire Regulus Therapeutics, a San Diego biotechnology company that launched nearly two decades ago with plans to make drugs capable of targeting small strips of nucleic acid known as microRNA. Announced Wednesday, the acquisition will hand the Swiss pharmaceutical firm a drug prospect called farabursen, which recently completed a Phase 1b study in people with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, or ADPKD.
Novartis to acquire Regulus in deal for kidney disease drug

1 month ago | finance.yahoo.com | Gwendolyn Wu

Unlock stock picks and a broker-level newsfeed that powers Wall Street. Gwendolyn Wu Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 5:15 AM 2 min read In This Article: This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter.