Roughly a month after sharing that it would cut about half of its workforce, Leap Therapeutics has announced it will axe 75% of its staff over the next two months. The Cambridge, Massachusetts–based biotech is also winding down research and development activities and exploring strategic options that could include a sale, according to a June 23 SEC filing. The latest cuts affect 75% of the workforce, according to the filing, and will be carried out over two phases: one on or about June 30 and the second on or about July 31. The first round will include the departure of Augustine Lawlor, chief operating officer, while the second will include the exit of Cyndi Sirard, chief medical officer. Based on Leap having 52 full-time employees as of Dec. 31, according to its annual report, and the cuts detailed in a May 13 SEC filing, the company could have fewer than 10 staffers once the layoffs are complete.
All entries for: Discontinued Research
Discontinued Research, Layoffs
BioNTech
Discontinued Research, Layoffs
In conjunction with its decision to discontinue a study for one of its CAR T candidates, BioNTech will close down a cell therapy facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and lay off 63 employees at the site, according to a June 13 WARN notice and reporting from Fierce Pharma on Thursday.
Prime Medicine
Discontinued Research, Layoffs
As part of a strategic restructuring that includes deprioritizing its chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) programs, Prime Medicine is cutting about 25% of its staff and saying goodbye to its CEO, who resigned, the company announced May 19. The Cambridge, Massachusetts–based biotech had 214 full-time employees as of Dec. 31, 2024, according to an SEC filing, meaning the layoffs could affect about 54 people.
Kojin Therapeutics
Discontinued Research
Boston, MA
1-50 employees
“Kojin Therapeutics will be restructuring and winding down its operations in the coming months. Since last year, with a new leadership team in place, we have made striking progress in developing first-in-class, small-molecule, ferroptosis inducers for potential use in patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. However, obtaining sufficient funding to propel these programs forward into IND-enabling studies and clinical trials has proven difficult to achieve.”
1 Discontinued Research Program
Takeda
Discontinued Research
Cambridge, MA
10,001-50,000 employees
The clinical trial titled “A Study of TAK-951 in Participants With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)” (NCT06768658), sponsored by Takeda, was terminated due to business reasons before enrolling any participants. Specific details regarding these business reasons were not disclosed.
1 Discontinued Research Program
Daiichi Sankyo
Discontinued Research
Basking Ridge, NJ
10,001-50,000 employees
A study on the efficacy of DS-2325a for patients with Netherton Syndrome was terminated based on a business decision by the sponsor.
1 Discontinued Research Program
University of Rochester Medical Center
Discontinued Research
Rochester, NY
1-50 employees
The APATIT-G study was a pilot clinical trial conducted by the University of Rochester to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of avatrombopag in treating thrombocytopenia caused by temozolomide in glioma patients. However, the study was terminated by the sponsor before it could be completed.
1 Discontinued Research Program
IGM Biosciences
Discontinued Drug, Discontinued Research, Layoffs
Mountain View, CA
201-500 employees
“Staff cuts will leave IGM Biosciences with 37 employees. The company is also halting development of two bispecific antibody T cell engagers for autoimmune diseases.
IGM Biosciences is cutting 73% of its workforce and stopping development of two autoimmune drug candidates, the biotech announced Jan. 9…
Regarding its pipeline, IGM is halting work on imvotamab and IGM-2644, bispecific antibody T cell engagers for autoimmune diseases. In the company’s announcement, IGM CEO Mary Beth Harler said interim data from Phase Ib studies of imvotamab in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus showed that the depth and consistency of B cell depletion didn’t meet the biotech’s bar for success. She noted that IGM would discontinue IGM-2644 due to strategic considerations.
The biotech is also considering its next business move so it can maximize shareholder value, in part by evaluating “internal options as well as potential strategic alternatives,” according to the release, which stated that IGM has about $183.8 million in cash and investments as of Dec. 31.”
1 Discontinued Drug: IGM-2644, bispecific antibody T cell engager for autoimmune diseases
1 Discontinued Research Program
Galapagos
Discontinued Research, Layoffs
Cambridge, MA
1,001-5,000 employees
“To advance its goal of becoming a global leader in cell therapy in oncology, Galapagos plans to discontinue its small molecule discovery programs and seek potential partners to take over its small molecules’ assets, including the TYK2 inhibitor, GLPG3667, currently in Phase 2 for systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and other potential auto-immune indications.”
2 Discontinued Research Programs
Neuren Pharmaceuticals
Discontinued Drug, Discontinued Research
Camberwell, Australia
1-50 employees
At the end of 2024, Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited announced the suspension of its Phase II open-label study of the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of oral NNZ-2591 in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS-001) due to a revised development strategy.
1 Discontinued Drug: NNZ-2591 for treatment of Prader-Willi Syndrome
1 Discontinued Research Program
