{"id":501641,"date":"2024-01-30T09:45:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T14:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/how-an-immunological-trojan-horse-could-treat-disease\/"},"modified":"2024-01-30T13:01:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T18:01:09","slug":"how-an-immunological-trojan-horse-could-treat-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/how-an-immunological-trojan-horse-could-treat-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"How an immunological Trojan horse could treat disease","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/how-an-immunological-trojan-horse-could-treat-disease.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today?&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/signup\/readout\/\">Sign up<\/a>&nbsp;to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Good morning, everyone. Damian here with some breathlessly anticipated news from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, an exit interview from an FDA lifer, and the debut of the $100 genome.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-in-article dfp-ad-midbreaker-wrap\">\n<p class=\"ad-label\">advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The need-to-know this morning<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pfizer<\/strong>&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/investors.pfizer.com\/Investors\/News\/news-details\/2024\/Pfizer-Reports-Full-Year-2023-Results-and-Reaffirms-Full-Year-2024-Financial-Guidance\/default.aspx?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;fourth-quarter and 2023 earnings, and reaffirmed 2024 guidance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kura Oncology<\/strong>&nbsp;reported&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ir.kuraoncology.com\/news-releases\/news-release-details\/kura-oncology-reports-positive-preliminary-ziftomenib?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">no cases of differentiation syndrome<\/a>, a closely tracked side effect, in a new study that combines its experimental menin inhibitor, called&nbsp;ziftomenib,&nbsp;with chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. High rates of differentiation syndrome reported in previous&nbsp;ziftomenib monotherapy studies were a concern.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Regeneron Pharmaceuticals<\/strong>&nbsp;is spending $5 million to&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/investor.regeneron.com\/news-releases\/news-release-details\/regeneron-announces-formation-regeneron-cell-medicines?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">acquire<\/a>&nbsp;2Seventy Bio\u2019s&nbsp;pipeline of cell therapies for cancer and other diseases. A smaller 2Seventy will&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ir.2seventybio.com\/news-releases\/news-release-details\/2seventy-bio-announces-new-strategic-path-forward?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">carry on<\/a>, supporting the marketing and further development of Abecma, a CAR-T for multiple myeloma partnered with&nbsp;Bristol Myers Squibb.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gilead Sciences<\/strong>&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gilead.com\/news-and-press\/press-room\/press-releases\/2024\/1\/gilead-and-arcus-announce-amended-collaboration-and-equity-investment?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">increased its ownership stake<\/a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<strong>Arcus Biosciences<\/strong>. The two companies are jointly developing an anti-TIGIT antibody for cancer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Vertex\u2019s pain drug hits in Phase 3<\/h2>\n<p>A novel pain medicine from Vertex Pharmaceuticals met its primary goals in three Phase 3 studies, setting the stage for an FDA application that could dramatically change the company\u2019s fortunes.<\/p>\n<p>As&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/vertex-nonopioid-pain-medication-succeeds-late-trial1114718\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">STAT\u2019s Jonathan Wosen reports<\/a>, Vertex\u2019s drug, VX-548, significantly outperformed placebo in studies enrolling patients with acute pain following surgery. The drug missed its secondary goal of proving superior to a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, a commonly prescribed opioid.<\/p>\n<p>Vertex will submit the results, among 2024\u2019s most hotly anticipated readouts, to the FDA by the middle of this year, the company said. If everything goes to plan, Vertex\u2019s oral, non-addictive pain medicine could become a multibillion-dollar product, analysts have said, transforming the company in the process.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-in-article dfp-ad-midbreaker2-wrap\">\n<p class=\"ad-label\">advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/vertex-nonopioid-pain-medication-succeeds-late-trial1114718\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How an immunological Trojan horse could treat disease<\/h2>\n<p>For millions of patients with autoimmune diseases, the body\u2019s natural defenses errantly attack healthy tissues. One startup\u2019s plan to intervene involves disguising drugs as bodily trash and tricking the immune system into dragging that Trojan horse to its biological targets.<\/p>\n<p>As&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/cour-pharmaceuticals-autoimmune-diseases-biotech\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">STAT\u2019s Allison DeAngelis reports<\/a>, the company is called Cour Pharmaceuticals, and it just raised a $105 million Series A round to flesh out its foundational idea. The technology involves using proprietary polymer nanoparticles to cloak molecules designed to sensitize the immune system. Once those nanoparticles reach the liver, the drug works like the inverse of a vaccine, telling the body to stop fighting against its own cells.<\/p>\n<p>Cour is already in Phase 2 development with treatments for celiac disease and a rare liver disorder called primary biliary cholangitis. The company is also at work on treatments for type 1 diabetes and the neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/cour-pharmaceuticals-autoimmune-diseases-biotech\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>The Janet Woodcock exit interview<\/h2>\n<p>After more than three decades at the FDA, including a lengthy stint as its most powerful regulator of new drugs, Janet Woodcock is retiring from the agency and in the process ending an era.<\/p>\n<p>Woodcock&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/janet-woodcock-fda-next-chapter\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">spoke to STAT\u2019s Sarah Owermohle<\/a>&nbsp;for a wide-ranging exit interview, addressing the FDA\u2019s often tumultuous relationship with Congress, the agency\u2019s future in a changing society, and, of course, the ongoing controversy over which drugs deserve accelerated approval and which do not.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI tend to look at results,\u201d Woodcock said. \u201cWhat have been the results of that aggressive posture toward getting new cancer therapies \u2014 particularly targeted cancer therapies \u2014 out there to patients? Some people might say \u2026 there were some that didn\u2019t work out. Well, that\u2019s how accelerated approval is set up. Is that wrong? What\u2019s the alternative? You hold back all of these until you have definitive evidence? Based on the results, you would have a lot of people who wouldn\u2019t be alive. Was that worth it to have all that certainty?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/janet-woodcock-fda-next-chapter\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>The \u2018dark horse\u2019 startup with a $100 genome<\/h2>\n<p>More than a year after promising to roil the market for sequencing with a $100 genome, the privately held Ultima Genomics is launching a line of instruments meant to challenge Illumina\u2019s near-monopoly.<\/p>\n<p>As&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/ultima-genomics-dna-sequencing-100-dollars\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">STAT\u2019s Jonathan Wosen reports<\/a>, the sequencer, called the UG 100, will cost $1.5 million and read up to 20,000 human genomes a year. Factoring in the cost of reagents, that works out to $100 per genome, according to Ultima, which plans to launch the sequencer at a scientific conference on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n<p>The question for Ultima, and all of the many of the firms trying to unseat Illumina, is whether it can win over customers at the drug companies, hospitals, and research institutions that handle most of the world\u2019s genomic sequencing. The company has raised more than $600 million in venture investment since its inception, tapping a syndicate that includes Andreessen Horowitz and Khosla Ventures.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/ultima-genomics-dna-sequencing-100-dollars\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>More reads<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Can Wegovy treat depression as well as obesity? New research looks to GLP-1 drugs for mental illnesses,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/wegovy-ozempic-depression-bipolar\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">STAT<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Pharma price cut proposals from US government could be steep, analysts say,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/healthcare-pharmaceuticals\/pharma-industry-get-us-government-price-cut-proposals-by-thursday-2024-01-29\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">Reuters<\/a><\/li>\n<li>European regulators tout their accomplishments against pharma\u2019s anticompetitive practices,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/pharmalot\/2024\/01\/29\/europe-antitrust-competition-medicines-prices-patents\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">STAT<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Scientists document first-ever transmitted Alzheimer\u2019s cases, tied to no-longer-used medical procedure,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/29\/first-transmitted-alzheimers-disease-cases-growth-hormone-cadavers\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mv33Yb13tA7pZxVizMzLK2p4Gure6ZQjwQVbQIUqDNnwBqmn8ucfB3uIIv5DCNbtKNsn8\">STAT<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<section class=\"the-content\"><em>Pssst. If you\u2019ve made it to the end of this article, you might be interested in joining this&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/scorecard\/\">secret list<\/a> for an upcoming biotech newsletter. Just some food for thought.<\/em><br \/>\n<\/section>\n<ul class=\"plato-post-bottom-links\">\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-amplifi\">SEO Powered Content &amp; PR Distribution. <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amplifipr.com\">Get Amplified Today.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-platodata-network\">PlatoData.Network Vertical Generative Ai. Empower Yourself. <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platodata.network\">Access Here.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-platoaistream\">PlatoAiStream. Web3 Intelligence. Knowledge Amplified. <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoaistream.com\">Access Here.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-platoesg\">PlatoESG. <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoesg.com\/aiwire\/carbon\/\">Carbon,<\/a> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoesg.com\/aiwire\/cleantech\/\">CleanTech,<\/a> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoesg.com\/aiwire\/energy\/\">Energy,<\/a> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoesg.com\/aiwire\/environment\/\">Environment,<\/a> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoesg.com\/aiwire\/solar\/\">Solar,<\/a> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoesg.com\/aiwire\/waste-management\/\">Waste Management.<\/a> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoesg.com\">Access Here.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-platohealth\">PlatoHealth. Biotech and Clinical Trials Intelligence. <a href=\"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Access Here.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-source\"><span>Source:<\/span> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/biotech-news-vertex-pfizer-kura-regeneron-gilead-arcus-biosciences-ultima-genomics\/?utm_campaign=rss\">https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/biotech-news-vertex-pfizer-kura-regeneron-gilead-arcus-biosciences-ultima-genomics\/?utm_campaign=rss<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today?&nbsp;Sign up&nbsp;to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Good morning, everyone. Damian here with some breathlessly anticipated news from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, an exit interview from an FDA lifer, and the debut of the $100 genome. advertisement The need-to-know this morning Pfizer&nbsp;reported&nbsp;fourth-quarter and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":501644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501641"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=501641"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":501643,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501641\/revisions\/501643"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/501644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=501641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=501641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=501641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}