{"id":622157,"date":"2024-06-25T09:38:03","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T13:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/one-firm-two-conflicting-takes-on-alnylams-helios-b\/"},"modified":"2024-06-25T17:34:41","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T21:34:41","slug":"one-firm-two-conflicting-takes-on-alnylams-helios-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/one-firm-two-conflicting-takes-on-alnylams-helios-b\/","title":{"rendered":"One firm, two conflicting takes on Alnylam&#8217;s HELIOS-B\u00a0","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/one-firm-two-conflicting-takes-on-alnylams-helios-b.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. Today, STAT published our&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/25\/summer-book-podcast-list-beach-reads-2024\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">annual list of the top books and podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;to check out this summer. Take a look \u2014 we\u2019ve sourced recommendations from Robert Califf, Rochelle Walensky, and also our staff and readers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-in-article dfp-ad-midbreaker-wrap\">\n<p class=\"ad-label\">advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s get into the news of the day, and then some discussion on the HELIOS-B data that was announced yesterday.<\/p>\n<h2>The need-to-know this morning<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-stringify-indent=\"0\" data-stringify-border=\"0\">Wave&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ir.wavelifesciences.com\/news-releases\/news-release-details\/wave-life-sciences-announces-positive-results-phase-1b2a-select?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/ir.wavelifesciences.com\/news-releases\/news-release-details\/wave-life-sciences-announces-positive-results-phase-1b2a-select\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">announced<\/a>&nbsp;early data for an experimental Huntington\u2019s treatment, designed \u2014 unlike previous approaches \u2014 to target only mutant protein.<\/li>\n<li data-stringify-indent=\"0\" data-stringify-border=\"0\">Ex-Meta scientists&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.evolutionaryscale.ai\/blog\/esm3-release?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/www.evolutionaryscale.ai\/blog\/esm3-release\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">raised<\/a>&nbsp;$142 million for a new company to design new protein drugs with AI.<\/li>\n<li data-stringify-indent=\"0\" data-stringify-border=\"0\">AstraZeneca&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20240625461835\/en\/IMFINZI%C2%AE-durvalumab-demonstrated-statistically-significant-and-clinically-meaningful-improvement-in-event-free-survival-and-overall-survival-for-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer-in-NIAGARA-Phase-III-trial?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20240625461835\/en\/IMFINZI%C2%AE-durvalumab-demonstrated-statistically-significant-and-clinically-meaningful-improvement-in-event-free-survival-and-overall-survival-for-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer-in-NIAGARA-Phase-III-trial\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">said<\/a>&nbsp;Imfinzi improved overall survival in certain bladder cancer patients.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Will Zepbound hamper CPAP sales? Experts are divided<\/h2>\n<p>Late last Friday, we got full results of the Phase 3 trial testing Lilly\u2019s obesity drug Zepbound in sleep apnea patients. The detailed findings further support the benefits of the treatment in this increasingly common disease. As a result, shares of CPAP maker ResMed and nerve stimulator Inspire dropped yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>But when colleague Lizzy Lawrence and I asked some experts how much Zepbound would actually affect sleep device sales, we got mixed responses. On one hand, Zepbound may be seen as more convenient than a device, and patients may also opt for it since it offers a range of health benefits. On the other hand, CPAP machines can provide immediate relief to patients.<\/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\/06\/25\/eli-lilly-zepbound-sleep-apnea-cpap-machines-obsolete\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>From skeptic to CEO of a new gene editing company<\/h2>\n<p>Tal Zaks, former chief medical officer at Moderna, used to routinely bash gene editing. But today, he announced that he\u2019s now the chief executive of a new company called Exsilio Therapeutics that\u2019s focused on, of all things, gene editing.<\/p>\n<p>The startup emerged from stealth with $82 million in Series A funding and a seed round led by Orbimed, where Zaks has been a partner. Zaks has not disclosed much about what the company is doing, but said it has technology that could allow researchers to insert whole genes with minimal disruption to a patient\u2019s DNA.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/25\/exsilio-therapeutics-tal-zaks-moderna-genome-editing?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">Read more<\/a>&nbsp;from STAT\u2019s Jason Mast.<\/p>\n<h2>A catchup with Grail as it debuts on the Nasdaq<\/h2>\n<p>As liquid biopsy company Grail debuts on the Nasdaq today, it faces a slew of challenges in getting approval and ultimately wide adoption of its cancer screening test called Galleri.<\/p>\n<p>My colleague Matt Herper sat down with Grail executives to chat about the data that doctors and regulators will want to see on its test, as well as hurdles with getting reimbursement for liquid biopsies.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/24\/grail-liquid-biopsy-cancer-nasdaq-challenges\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Ketamine tablet show potential in treating depression<\/h2>\n<p>In a Phase 2 trial of people with treatment-resistant depression, those taking the highest dose of a ketamine tablet experienced a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms compared to placebo.<\/p>\n<p>The trial, sponsored by New Zealand-based Douglas Pharmaceuticals, is the latest attempt by researchers to study psychedelic drugs\u2019 role in treating mental health disorders. This comes after an FDA advisory panel earlier this month voted against an MDMA-based treatment for PTSD.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/24\/oral-ketamine-treatment-resistant-depression-rct-phase2\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">Read more<\/a>&nbsp;from STAT\u2019s Mohana Ravindranath.<\/p>\n<h2>One firm, two conflicting takes on HELIOS-B<\/h2>\n<p>After Alnylam yesterday announced&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/24\/alnylam-vutrisiran-results-helios-b-attr-cm\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">results of its ATTR-CM drug in the pivotal HELIOS-B study<\/a>, industry watchers immediately tried to determine how the company\u2019s drug, called vutrisiran, stacks up against an approved treatment from Pfizer and a late-stage candidate from BridgeBio. But if it\u2019s any indication of how difficult that is to do right now with the limited data, see the conflicting takes written by two analysts from the same firm:<\/p>\n<p>TD Cowen analyst Ritu Baral, who covers Alnylam, wrote that these were the \u201cbest case scenario\u201d results, noting that the primary outcomes were statistically significant and the effect sizes exceeded average investor expectations.<\/p>\n<p>In HELIOS-B, some participants were already taking Pfizer\u2019s treatment, and a big question is how much added benefit vutrisiran adds on top of that background therapy. While Alnylam didn\u2019t report that data, Baral said that based on commentary from executives, she believes the full data will show that vutrisiran has an added benefit. Ultimately, the data support use of vutrisiran as a first-line therapy in severe patients, she said.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, TD Cowen analyst Tyler Van Buren, who covers BridgeBio, wrote that he sees vutrisiran, a \u201csilencer\u201d drug, as a second-line treatment behind \u201cstabilizer\u201d drugs, such as Pfizer\u2019s and BridgeBio\u2019s treatments.<\/p>\n<p>On the primary outcome in HELIOS-B, vutrisiran cut the risk of death and recurrent cardiovascular events by 28% in the overall trial population and by 33% in the group of patients who weren\u2019t on background therapy. Van Buren noted that BridgeBio\u2019s drug appeared to have a greater effect in its trial, with a 42% risk reduction on cumulative death and cardiovascular hospitalizations over a shorter time period studied. (Note, though, that BridgeBio\u2019s trial was designed differently, and the 42% risk reduction was not the primary outcome. This number was not part of the journal publication of the results; it\u2019s part of a subsequent analysis <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/investor.bridgebio.com\/static-files\/908a6b63-84ee-4b0c-aaa7-7918bbfffc4f?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">recently communicated<\/a>&nbsp;by BridgeBio.)<\/p>\n<p>As analysts continue to pick apart the few pieces of data in Alnylam\u2019s topline announcement, all eyes will be on the full presentation later this year. Observers want more details on when how quickly benefits started to emerge in HELIOS-B and what the efficacy looked like across subgroups.<\/p>\n<h2>More reads<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ginkgo job cuts to hit at least 35% of workforce; as many as 400 jobs to be cut,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bizjournals.com\/boston\/news\/2024\/06\/24\/ginkgo-layoffs-35-percent.html?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">Boston Business Journal<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Amylyx, searching for post-ALS future, licenses a GLP-1 drug,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/endpts.com\/amylyx-makes-35-1m-deal-for-eigers-glp-1-drug-after-als-setback\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\" data-hs-link-id=\"0\">Endpoints<\/a><\/li>\n<li>WHO warns global health toll of alcohol remains \u2018unacceptably high\u2019,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/25\/alcohol-related-deaths-global-who\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">STAT<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/25\/gun-violence-public-health-crisis-surgeon-general-declaration\/?utm_campaign=the_readout&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_3EuZs3lRx93lZHmui2vIGWPULjHWpQdf8mBI_H8wsxHlRQtSjkjf20qlg_a1tX_3uv27L\">STAT<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\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\/06\/25\/biotech-news-alnylam-wave-astrazeneca-el-lilly-zepbound-moderna-grail-nasdaq\/?utm_campaign=rss\">https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/06\/25\/biotech-news-alnylam-wave-astrazeneca-el-lilly-zepbound-moderna-grail-nasdaq\/?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. Today, STAT published our&nbsp;annual list of the top books and podcasts&nbsp;to check out this summer. Take a look \u2014 we\u2019ve sourced recommendations from Robert Califf, Rochelle Walensky, and also our staff and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":622160,"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\/622157"}],"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=622157"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":622159,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622157\/revisions\/622159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/622160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=622157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=622157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=622157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}