Pliant joins a slew of recent biotechs that have seen substantial first-day gains. The fibrosis company closed up $5.30 (33%) to $21.30 on Wednesday after raising $144 million through the sale of 9 million shares...

A $100 million series C round led by Novartis and backed by multiple crossover investors gives Third Rock-founded Pliant ample cash to push forward with multiple fibrosis programs. The cash bolus comes less than half...

Pliant’s deal to out-license its NASH candidate to Novartis for $80 million will allow the fibrosis company to fund development of its lead candidate, as well as advance its preclinical pipeline. Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN)...

Seven years after regaining rights to BG00011 (STX-100), Biogen terminated its Phase II trial of the mAb for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) due to safety concerns. Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) had licensed the humanized mAb against...

DISEASE CATEGORY: Cancer INDICATION: Breast cancer Hydroquinone macrocycle-peptide conjugates targeting CD51/CD61 could treat breast cancer by trapping polyamines, which promote cell proliferation and differentiation. The conjugates consist of pillararenes attached to the peptide sequence arginine-glycine-aspartate...

Three preclinical studies and one clinical trial could not replicate the antiviral effects of an antibody against α4β7 to treat HIV or simian immunodeficiency virus, casting doubt on a theory that preventing CD4+ T cells...

TECHNOLOGY: Peptides; polymers An amphiphilic dendrimer-peptide construct could be used for tumor-targeted delivery of siRNA therapies. The construct has four components: an amphiphilic dendrimer complex for loading with siRNA cargo; a peptide composed of repeating...

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4502) said it proposed to the European Commission a potential divestment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis candidate SHP647 once it completes its acquisition of Shire plc (LSE:SHP; NASDAQ:SHPG). The move...

With Morphic Therapeutic’s second integrin program running ahead of schedule, the company has raised an $80 million series B round to sustain its current development pace. Existing investor Omega Funds and new investor Novo Holdings...

Morphic Therapeutic (Waltham, Mass.) raised $80 million in a series B round led by existing investor Omega Funds and new investor Novo Holdings A/S (Hellerup, Denmark). New investors Invus and EcoR1 Capital, and existing investors...