Mural lays off 100+ after IL-2 fail

 

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Today’s Big News

Apr 15, 2025

Sanofi's high hopes for $1.1B Kymab anti-inflammatory drug dented after phase 2 asthma failure


Boehringer boards B-cell depletion bandwagon, paying Cue $12M to line up autoimmune attack


Mural risks going to the wall as IL-2 flop triggers 90% staff reduction, hunt for strategic alternatives


Spruce smartens up pipeline with deal for BioMarin asset, plans 2026 approval filing 


'One of the lucky few': Bicara's CEO on operating in today's market, while hoping for a different one


NAYA Biosciences spins off cancer drug business 6 months after INVO merger


Fierce Biotech Fundraising Tracker '25: Attovia attracts $90M series C; Merida debuts with $121M


Trump administration launches national security investigation into pharmaceuticals, paving way for tariffs

The Top Line Podcast: Don’t miss out on the newest episode. Listen now.

 

Featured

Sanofi's high hopes for $1.1B Kymab anti-inflammatory drug dented after phase 2 asthma failure

Sanofi’s blockbuster ambitions for amlitelimab hit a bump in the road this morning with the news that the highest dose of the anti-OX40-ligand monoclonal antibody missed the main goal of a phase 2 asthma study.
 

Top Stories

Boehringer boards B-cell depletion bandwagon, paying Cue $12M to line up autoimmune attack

Boehringer Ingelheim has joined the surge of companies entering the B-cell depletion space. But while its peers have largely focused on CAR-Ts and bispecifics, the German drugmaker has paid Cue Biopharma $12 million for a novel preclinical program that could eliminate some of the risks of rival approaches.

Mural risks going to the wall as IL-2 flop triggers 90% staff reduction, hunt for strategic alternatives

The writing is on the wall at Mural Oncology. Responding to clinical data, the biotech is laying off 90% of its employees and stopping clinical development of its lead program to hunker down and seek a strategic alternative.

From Startup to Global Leader: How CTI is Shaping the Future of Clinical Research in Ohio and Beyond

CTI grew from a Cincinnati startup to a global leader in clinical research. CEO Tim Schroder shares insights on its success and what’s next.

Spruce smartens up pipeline with deal for BioMarin asset, plans 2026 approval filing

Spruce Biosciences has put out new shoots, snapping up rights to a former BioMarin rare disease candidate and outlining plans to seek accelerated FDA approval in the first half of next year.

Artificial Intelligence and Real-World Data: Speeding Up Drug Development Like Never Before

Discover how AI and RWD are transforming drug development by optimizing clinical trial protocols, enhancing recruitment, and accelerating timelines.

'One of the lucky few': Bicara's CEO on operating in today's market, while hoping for a different one

Amid an FDA overhaul and market volatility, one biotech executive says her public company still operates with the mentality of a private company, while urging the industry to work together with federal health agencies so drug developers can continue to transform cancer care.

NAYA Biosciences spins off cancer drug business 6 months after INVO merger

Having picked up a pipeline of oncology drugs as part of a merger last year, NAYA Biosciences is reverting back to its original focus of fertility and spinning off the cancer business.

Fierce Biotech Fundraising Tracker '25: Attovia attracts $90M series C; Merida debuts with $121M

The Fierce Biotech Fundraising Tracker records venture capital rounds of $50 million or more secured by biotechs.

Trump administration launches national security investigation into pharmaceuticals, paving way for tariffs

An investigation into the national security implications of pharma imports has been underway for two weeks, the Trump administration disclosed Monday.

UK launches one-year rollout of clinical trial regulations designed to slash red tape

The U.K. is rolling out new regulations meant to reduce red tape for clinical studies and boost the nation’s role in international trials.

RFK Jr. blasts FDA as industry's 'sock puppet,' warns about 'deep state' influence at agency: Politico

In a Friday speech to FDA employees, the HHS secretary laid bare his belief that the agency hasn't acted in the best interest of Americans—going many steps further in his own colorful language.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

Q1 biopharma layoff trends, plus expectations for Q2

In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Deputy Editor Andrea Park and Fierce Biotech Senior Editor Gabrielle Masson discuss how workforce reductions impacted the biopharma industry in the first quarter.
 

Resources

eBook

Through a CRO's perspective: Innovative, Agile Solutions In Vaccine Efficacy Testing

Typical vaccine development timelines have averaged 10 years, but the time from the SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence’s release to the submission of the first vaccine clinical trial data for regulatory review was a mere 314 days. In IQVIA Laboratories’ Vaccine eBook we focus on how contract research organizations (CROs) can best leverage strategic partnerships with sponsors to prepare for the next pandemic.
Whitepaper

Protect Your Trial Data: Endpoint, Imaging, and Safety Review

Is your clinical trial data truly reliable? Learn how a combined approach using Imaging Core Labs and Endpoint Adjudication Committees (EAC) can minimize risk, control costs, and strengthen your study from the ground up. Don’t leave success to chance—arm yourself with the insights to stay ahead.
Research

Best Practice Customer-Facing Organization Study Report

We interviewed 15 biopharma leaders on the critical success factors for building a Best Practice customer-facing organization. This report shares what we learned.

 

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