Nick Paul Taylor

Aardvark Therapeutics has confirmed that it does not currently plan to resume its recently terminated phase 3 trials for ARD-101 in Prader-Willi syndrome as previously designed. The decision follows reversible cardiac observations in healthy volunteers, a full FDA clinical hold on ARD-101 studies, and the earlier pause of ARD-201, a related phase 2 candidate. The company reduced its workforce from 40 to 28 employees and its consultants from 35 to 27 between April and July. Aardvark is reviewing unblinded trial data in the third quarter and expects to determine next steps, potentially including an FDA-aligned development path, later in the year. Slower spending has extended its projected cash runway into late 2027.

Snapchat introduced a multi-CTA advertising format intended to help pharmaceutical marketers meet disclosure requirements for branded prescription-drug campaigns. Ads can include one primary call to action and up to three disclaimer CTAs linking to safety, patient and prescribing information across Snap Ads, Story Ads, Commercials and, later, Sponsored Snaps. The feature follows longstanding industry and regulatory challenges around presenting risk information in space-limited social media formats. Snapchat reported 493 million daily active users in the second quarter, including a large 18-to-34-year-old audience, though its reach remains smaller than Meta’s. The platform has also participated in Eli Lilly’s campaign featuring WNBA player Caitlin Clark.

Epicrispr Biotechnologies has raised $90 million in a Series C financing co-led by Octagon Capital and Janus Henderson Investors, with participation from Sanofi Ventures and other investors. The funding will support the company’s epigenetic medicine pipeline, led by EPI-321, an early-phase treatment for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy that uses a viral vector to suppress toxic DUX4 expression without directly editing DNA. Interim data from three patients showed gains of 0.5 to 1.3 pounds of lean muscle six months after a single infusion. Epicrispr is competing with Novartis, Sarepta Therapeutics and Scholar Rock in a field with no approved FSHD therapies.

Aura BioSciences is cutting 20% of its workforce and restructuring its C-suite as CEO Natalie Holles refocuses the company on ocular oncology. The biotech will complete follow-up in its bladder cancer trial but is withdrawing resources from the indication to prioritize bel-sar in choroidal melanoma and other eye cancers. Enrollment is complete in a phase 3 choroidal melanoma trial, with topline data expected in the second half of 2027. The changes are expected to cost $2.9 million to $3.2 million but extend Aura’s cash runway into the first half of 2029.

Abbott has recruited telenovela actress Gabriela Spanic for a Spanish-language campaign encouraging Latino adults to undergo colorectal cancer screening. Using humor and telenovela-style drama, the campaign promotes Cologuard Plus and emphasizes that screening does not have to be dramatic. The strategy builds on Exact Sciences' earlier Spanish-language outreach before Abbott acquired the test through its $23 billion takeover of Exact Sciences.

Sionna Therapeutics discontinued development of SION-719 as an add-on to Vertex’s Trikafta after a phase 2a cystic fibrosis trial produced only a 1.0 mmol/L placebo-adjusted reduction in sweat chloride, far below clinically meaningful expectations. The failure sent Sionna’s stock down 90% and strengthened Vertex’s position in the cystic fibrosis market, with analysts calling the result evidence that Vertex’s competitive moat remains strong. Sionna is evaluating its remaining pipeline, particularly a potential SION-451 and SION-2222 combination, but the path forward is uncertain.

AbCellera’s phase 2 trial of ABCL635, an antibody targeting NK3R for menopausal hot flashes, achieved a placebo-adjusted reduction of 5.3 moderate or severe hot flashes per day at Week 4, exceeding results reported for Astellas’ Veozah and Bayer’s Lynkuet. The drug also reduced symptom severity and produced no elevated liver enzymes or bilirubin values in the study, potentially offering safety and monitoring advantages over Veozah if confirmed in phase 3. CEO Carl Hansen and analysts described the program as potentially best-in-class, while investors sent AbCellera’s stock up 32% in premarket trading. The company plans to review Week 12 data and determine the design of phase 3 development.

Silence Therapeutics reported that its siRNA candidate divesiran met the primary endpoint in a phase 2 trial for polycythemia vera, with 88% of treated patients avoiding phlebotomy while maintaining hematocrit below 45%, versus 19% on placebo. The drug also reduced phlebotomy rates and improved hematocrit control, iron markers and patient-reported outcomes, with no new safety signals. Silence plans to begin a phase 3 trial in the first half of 2027 using dosing every 12 weeks. Takeda and Protagonist Therapeutics’ competing drug rusfertide may reach the market earlier, but it requires weekly self-administered injections.

Novo Nordisk has appointed Omnicom as its U.S. media-buying agency of record, beginning in the fourth quarter, ending its six-year relationship with WPP’s Wavemaker. The account is valued at approximately $520 million and covers only the United States. The move comes as Novo seeks to revive growth in its GLP-1 business, counter competition from Eli Lilly and compounding pharmacies, and promote its recently launched oral Wegovy pill. The company says it plans to expand consumer-focused marketing and use emerging channels to reach patients with obesity and diabetes.

BioMarin Pharmaceutical has discontinued development of BMN 401 in all indications after a phase 3 trial in ENPP1 deficiency missed one of two co-primary endpoints. The program, inherited through BioMarin's $270 million acquisition of Inozyme Pharma in July 2025, was also being studied for ABCC6 deficiency and end-stage kidney disease. Analysts had already deemed the drug's success unlikely, while BioMarin's 20% second-quarter revenue growth and broader commercial portfolio may provide resources to strengthen its pipeline over the next 12 to 18 months.

BioVie reported phase 2 Parkinson’s data for bezisterim, highlighting the Early Parkinson’s Neuro-Inflammatory Composite 15 rather than clearly presenting results for the trial’s stated primary endpoint, MDS-UPDRS Part III. The company said most treated patients improved on the composite measure, particularly those with higher baseline inflammation, but the measure has limited independent documentation and includes selected subdomains from established scales. Investors reacted negatively, sending BioVie shares down 50% to $1, while the company also filed to sell stock at an assumed $1.33 per share.

The National Advertising Division recommended that Sanofi revise or discontinue several Dupixent advertising claims challenged by Galderma, including assertions about long-lasting clearer skin, rapid itch relief and the drug’s mechanism of action. Sanofi must clarify response rates and disclose that Dupixent was used with topical corticosteroids, while a Day 2 itch-relief claim was found unsupported. The NAD upheld other claims, including that Dupixent can help patients stay ahead of eczema and that many adults achieved 90% clearer skin. The dispute reflects intensifying competition between Dupixent and Galderma’s newer Nemluvio, whose first-half 2026 sales more than doubled to $433 million.

Context Therapeutics is ending development of CT-95, its MSLN×CD3 bispecific T-cell engager, and winding down the phase 1 trial to reduce costs. The decision extends the company’s cash runway from mid-2027 to the fourth quarter of 2027, allowing it to fund upcoming milestones for priority programs CTIM-76 and CT-202. Initial phase 1a data for both are expected in the second quarter of 2027, while the first patient for CT-202 is expected to be dosed in the third quarter. Both programs face competition in crowded CLDN6 and Nectin-4 markets.

Eli Lilly has removed its phase 1/2 LY3884961 gene therapy trial for Gaucher disease type 1 from its pipeline, saying the program failed to meet its internal success threshold despite no observed safety signal. The decision follows the termination of the same asset’s Gaucher disease type 2 program in 2024 and the earlier cancellation of Prevail’s frontotemporal dementia therapy, further weakening the prospects of Lilly’s $1 billion Prevail acquisition. Lilly is continuing LY3884961 development for Parkinson’s disease through the Propel trial and retains several other early-stage genetic medicine programs. The GD1 decision leaves Spur Therapeutics, Lingyi Biotech and Sanofi among the companies pursuing competing Gaucher gene therapies.