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Hey hey, this is Meghana. Today, we talk about major restructuring at Editas Medicine, see a new commercialization strategy from Ionis, and learn what people in Trump’s orbit think of GLP-1 drugs.
The need-to-know this morning
- Advisers to the European Medicines Agency recommended the approval of BridgeBio’s heart drug acoramidis. The drug will be marketed there by Bayer under the brand name Beyonttra.
- EMA advisers also recommended the approval of a drug for myelodysplastic syndrome from Geron and a kidney cancer drug from Merck.
Editas Medicine lays off two-thirds of its staff
Editas Medicine is laying off 65% of its workforce, and is shelving its lead ex vivo gene-editing treatment for sickle cell disease, Reni-Cel — even though early data suggested it might be able to outperform Vertex’s approved therapy. STAT’s Jason Mast reports that the company is pivoting now to in vivo gene editing, which avoids the intensive chemotherapy needed for ex vivo treatments. The plan, the company says, is to develop safer and more scalable therapies.
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