Augustine Therapeutics’ Post

Navigating the Neuro Frontier: Big Pharma's Quest for Breakthroughs As evidenced by Merck's recent acquisition of Caraway Therapeutics for up to $610 million, the pharmaceutical industry is actively embracing innovative neurodegenerative disease solutions. Merck's move, preceded by a similar trend where Novartis acquired DTx Pharma (preclinical stage) for a staggering $1 billion, underscores the growing interest in early-stage neuroscience programs. These strategic buyouts signify that the inflection point for biotech companies isn't when drugs hit the market but much earlier, during critical partnerships and collaborations. Merck's investment in Caraway, previously supported through its MRL Ventures Fund, reflects a commitment to neurological advancements. Caraway's focus on activating cellular recycling through lysosomes offers a promising avenue for treating genetically defined neurodegenerative and rare diseases. Novartis, on the other hand, seized the opportunity with DTx Pharma, gaining access to its FALCON platform and early-stage programs for neuromuscular and central nervous system indications. This flurry of acquisitions illuminates the enthusiasm among pharmaceutical giants for groundbreaking neuroscience solutions. The industry recognises the value of novel approaches in addressing neurological challenges, prompting significant investments in promising biotech ventures. As big pharma navigates the neuro frontier, these strategic acquisitions mark a paradigm shift, emphasising the pivotal role of early-stage collaborations in shaping the trajectory of neurotherapeutics. #neuroscience #neurology #mentalhealth #pharma #biotech #deals #dealmaking #acquisitions #merck #neurentis https://lnkd.in/eSvBiEhA

🚀 Explore how San Diego-based biotech, Libra Therapeutics, accelerates neurodegenerative drug development with a completely virtual setup. 🧠💉 Dive into Libra’s discovery and lead optimization workflow, focusing on their lead program targeting TRPML1 for CNS degenerative disorders. Get insights into their biomarker-oriented approach and the potential for clinical hypothesis testing. 🔬 Leveraging data through Collaborative Drug Discovery - CDD VAULT, Libra seamlessly collaborates with international CROs, advancing its TRPML1 program toward Phase 1 clinical trials in 2025. 💊📊 Discover the flexibility, functionality, and security provided by CDD Vault, empowering Libra in the dynamic realm of biomarker-oriented drug development in our latest article. 👇️ https://lnkd.in/dKj3abuq #biotechinnovation #drugdevelopment #neurodegenerativediseases #virtualbiotech #clinicaltrials #datamanagement #biomedicalresearch #healthcareadvancements #neuroscience #biotechcollaboration

Our partners Degron Therapeutics, the company using its molecular glue-based targeted protein degradation drug-discovery platform to advance human health, today announced they have entered into a collaboration and exclusive license agreement with Takeda to discover and develop novel molecular glue degraders for multiple targets in oncology, neuroscience, and inflammation. Degron will receive upfront payment and potential milestone payments of up to $1.2 billion. Degron and Takeda will collaborate to utilize Degron's proprietary GlueXplorer® platform to identify, validate, and optimize molecular glue degraders for specific therapeutic targets selected by Takeda. Upon reaching a certain stage of advancement, the projects would be transitioned to Takeda for further development and commercialization. Here's a link to the press release: https://lnkd.in/erzzemNY #biotechnology #partnership #therapeutics

M&A will be booming???? I believe the mergers & acquisitions will certainly be influenced by Market Dynamics, Global Economic Conditions and Technology Advancements in the upcoming year, especially in in Pharmaceutical Industry. I reckon you to give it a thought!

⭐ Great news for the biotech sector ⭐ Merck, one of the world's leading healthcare companies, has announced that they have reached an agreement to buy private biotech company Caraway Therapeutics✅ Caraway focuses on neuroscience research, hoping to address some of the world's most challenging neurological diseases 📈 💰This purchase marks a significant milestone for the sector, helping to bring more attention and resources to neuroscience research. The acquisition will also enhance Merck's diversity in the drug development market. It will allow the company to broaden its portfolio of products and to focus on disease areas currently untackled by existing treatments 💊👏🏼 I'm sure I'm not the only one who is excited at this recent news and very much looking forward to seeing what developments this could bring to neuroscience research 🔬🎉 #Merck #CarawayTherapeutics #Biotech #Biotechnology #NeuroScienceNews #NeuroLogicalDiseases #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalResearch #ClinicalTrials #Pharmaceuticals #ElixirAssociates #StaffingPartner LifeScience

If you're closely collaborating with CROs, #contractresearchorganization, and exploring innovative strategies to accelerate drug development, check out the latest article from Labiotech.eu. It offers an insightful look at how Libra Therapeutics is leveraging data to drive progress in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. #drugdiscovery #datascience #neurodegenerativediseases #assaydevelopment

Libra Therapeutics focuses on novel disease-modifying therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to restore disrupted cellular balance. 🧠 Libra operates as a virtual company, collaborating with international contract research organizations (CROs). No in-house lab space, just a plug-and-play concept. 💻 Explore how Libra leverages data to accelerate drug development, using Collaborative Drug Discovery - CDD VAULT as its primary repository. 🔍 Discover the importance of secure data management with the virtual setup, ensuring confidentiality and streamlined collaboration with CROs. 🔒 Explore their vision for biomarker-enabled clinical trials and potential therapeutic breakthroughs. 🔬 https://loom.ly/Lb0h6rw #neurodegenerativeresearch #drugdevelopment #virtualbiotech #datadrivenscience #biomarkerresearch #clinicalhypothesis #innovativetherapeutics #biotechinnovation #neuroscience #researchcollaboration #securedatamanagement #futureofmedicine

Preclinical evidence suggesting a central role of #mGlu5 receptors in post-stroke recovery. This is exciting for the field, and a new opportunity for #dipraglurant.

We all saw AbbVie acquire Cerevel Therapeutics this week with an $8.7B restock on its neuroscience portfolio, comprising assets in development for schizophrenia, dementia, and Parkinson's disease. 🧠💊 To recap, we've seen in pharma buy up many small powerhouses this year to expand their portfolios in a variety of therapeutic areas, including Merck's $10.8B acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences back in Q2. 💬 What's your prediction for pharma M&A trends in 2024? 2023 Company Acquisitions: AbbVie pads neuroscience portfolio with $8.7B deal to acquire Cerevel: https://lnkd.in/gSMpWitB Capitalizing on share price crash, AstraZeneca inks $1.8B CinCor takeover for blood pressure drug: https://lnkd.in/gYZV7HJT Concert joins SUN PHARMA's symphony for $576M with aim of bringing alopecia treatment to market: https://lnkd.in/g4dEUFcg Merck inks $11B Prometheus takeover, firing starting gun on race for blockbuster bowel market: https://lnkd.in/gDJNHRZk GSK coughs up $2B to buy Bellus for late-phase rival to Merck & Co.'s stuttering gefapixant: https://lnkd.in/ghBsP2ud Astellas Pharma keeps the big buyouts rolling, inking $5.9B Iveric takeover ahead of FDA eye disease ruling: https://lnkd.in/gqHA_tyQ Novartis inks $3.2B Chinook buyout to lift kidney disease plans: https://lnkd.in/gJNvQvaH Eli Lilly and Company makes fresh bet on IL-17 with $2.4B acquisition of Dice Therapeutics: https://lnkd.in/gtCtCEnW Eli Lilly and Company to surf radiopharmaceutical wave with $1.4B acquisition of Point Biopharma: https://lnkd.in/gbS6nsGx Boehringer Ingelheim builds out cancer capabilities with $500M deal for bacteria-focused Swiss biotech: https://lnkd.in/g3FSHiSU #PharmaNews #Biopharma #Neuroscience #MergersAndAcquisitions #DrugDevelopment #HealthcareTrends #PharmaPredictions2023

"WHAT IF" the big surprise of 2024 in biotech is increased interest in #CNS, #neuroscience and #mentalhealth by Big Pharmas (including those that exited the space)? #oncology will continue to dominate biopharma deal activity (rightly so) but there are growing and tangible signs that interest is growing strongly for CNS and mental health indications. 📈 IPOs / follow-on offerings / VC activity: - CNS is the second most popular TA, making consistently makes 10-20% of IPOs (vs. c.35% for oncology). In 2023, big events included Neumora's IPO (partly owned by Amgen), as well as Karuna Therapeutics and Compass Pathways large follow-on offerings - Lykos Therapeutics (formerly MAPS PBC) $100M series A raise, which mark a turning point in the psychedelics-based CNS space 🤝 M&A / licensing / collaborations: - Big transactions included Bristol Myers Squibb's acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics ($14bn) and AbbVie's acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics ($9bn) - Big licensing / collaboration deals included Roche's agreement with Monte Rosa Therapeutics and Eli Lilly and Company collaboration with Scribe Therapeutics 🚀 Regulatory / commercial updates: - Biogen / Eisai US's full FDA approval of Leqembi to treat Alzheimer, after much drama - Sage Therapeutics / Biogen's FDA approval of Zurzuvae, the first oral drug to treat postpartum depression - Johnson & Johnson's psychedelic drug #Spravato sales booming, with $600M LTM sales and now guidance of $1bn-$5bn peak sales (far from initially expected) A lot is happening and lots of catalysts are expected in 2024. The future is bright. #biotech #drugdiscovery #businessdevelopment #mergersandacquisitions