Gilead announced on Mar. 25 an agreement to acquire Ouro Medicines for up to $2.1 billion, aiming to secure its T cell engager OM336 and potentially collaborate with its partner Galapagos. Sanofi also expanded its immunology portfolio by entering a licensing deal with Kali Therapeutics, which includes a $180 million upfront payment for another T cell engager.
The week saw significant developments in immunology and inflammation, as Johnson & Johnson and Protagonist Therapeutics achieved U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for Icotyde, an IL-23 receptor blocker used to treat plaque psoriasis. This marks the first commercial product launch for Protagonist Therapeutics.
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals underwent leadership changes with Kevin Tang becoming CEO. The company has previously been linked to former Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director George Tidmarsh’s departure from the FDA.
Controversy emerged when Robert Malone, Vice Chair of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), stated on social media that the committee was being disbanded. The Department of Health and Human Services responded by correcting this claim; however, Malone later commented that “dissolving and reforming remains one of options being considered.”
In regulatory news, BioSpace provided an overview of the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot program—now nine months old—and discussed new draft guidance related to alternatives in animal testing methods. Additional coverage included opinions on precision drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), advancements in gene therapy targeting hearing loss, and a review of Big Pharma's research spending projections for 2025.
