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
Epizyme, Inc. has terminated its study of tazemetostat with enzalutamide or abiraterone/prednisone in participants with advanced prostate cancer (CELLO-1) due to a sponsor decision unrelated to safety concerns.
1 Discontinued Research Program
“One of Massachusetts’ major life science companies, Charles River Laboratories Inc., has revealed new details on its ongoing cost-savings initiatives, stating in an earnings call that it’s “already generating significant savings.”
The Wilmington-based company revealed a strategic turnaround plan in Q4 of 2023, announcing it would cut more than 6% of its workforce, and has continued to reduce staffing levels through Q3 of 2024, the Boston Business Journal reported.”
A study on SerpinPC for patients with severe hemophilia A or moderately severe to severe hemophilia B was terminated due to a business and strategic decision.
1 Discontinued Research Program
Asceneuron, a small Swiss biotech, has terminated a mid-stage test of a new type of oral drug (ASN51) for people with Alzheimer’s disease citing strategic decisions, according to the federal clinical trials database.
1 Discontinued Drug: ASN51 (small molecule), O-GlcNAcase (OGA) inhibitor intended to curb the buildup of tau in patients with Alzheimer’s
“Today announced the decision to suspend further clinical development of ALN-KHK, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting ketohexokinase for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This decision reflects portfolio prioritization efforts to allocate clinical, managerial and financial resources carefully to bring transformative medicines to patients.”
1 Discontinued Drug: ALN-KHK (biologic)
1 Discontinued Research Program
Albert Bourla, chairman and chief executive officer:
“Clearly, IRA overall is negative for innovation and does not promote a spirit that people could provide investments, but there are also some good things about it. So clearly, I wouldn’t like to see that the out-of-pocket that next year will be $167 per month for all your medicines for seniors.
“That, we want to be maintained. But this forced price setting is not a negotiation and also the penalty deal between — are things that needs to change.”
Brian Foard — Global Business Unit Head, Specialty Care:
“I think from an environment standpoint, the Inflation Reduction Act, there’s a couple of things in there. And as we’ve said before, our position is, it’s not really good for innovation just in general, the Inflation Reduction Act.”
“Takeda is laying off dozens of employees in Massachusetts, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) alert filed with the state late last week. The layoff process kicked off in late September and will run through March of next year, according to state records.
“While the WARN alert states that 79 employees across the two sites are set to face cuts, the final number “is not clear at this time” and will depend on potential “redeployment opportunities,” according to a detailed filing cited by Boston Business Journal.”
Announced a restructuring to optimize the company’s cash structure…The initiative includes a reduction in the Company’s workforce of approximately 25%.
