New Haven biotech Arvinas is advancing its first cancer drug into the clinic after getting the green light from federal regulators. The FDA has cleared its investigational new drug application (IND) for ARV-100 to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Arvinas is developing a new class of drugs that destroy disease-causing cellular proteins, part of an emerging field in the pharmaceutical industry known as protein degradation. more
Three Innovation Places regions –- Hartford, New Haven and New London -– were among 50 communities across the country selected to be part of the National League of Cities to participate in the City Innovation Ecosystem Program, a new $100 million program supporting cities that have made commitments to local entrepreneurship, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education or innovation. Innovation Places is a CTNext-run program created to enable communities across the state to become top-tier destinations and magnets for talent and high-growth companies. more
Cara Therapeutics reports completion of enrollment in the KALM-1 Phase 3 trial of KORSUVA™ (CR845/ difelikefalin) Injection in hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP). More than 350 hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP have now been randomized across approximately 60 clinical sites in the United States. “Completion of enrollment in the first pivotal Phase 3 trial is an important milestone toward our goal of developing KORSUVA™ Injection as a first-in-class therapeutic for hemodialysis patients suffering from pruritus,” said Derek Chalmers, Ph.D., D.Sc., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cara Therapeutics. more
Taconic Biosciences is a fully-licensed, global leader in genetically engineered rodent models and services. It operates three service laboratories and six breeding facilities in the U.S. and Europe, maintains distributor relationships in Asia and has global shipping capabilities to provide animal models almost anywhere in the world. more
Blood levels of a special protein found only in the inner ear spike after exposure to loud noise, UConn Health researchers report. The findings point the way to blood tests that could warn people at risk of hearing loss before they suffer serious damage. UConn otolaryngologist Kourosh Parham and colleagues at UConn Health are collaborating with French pharmaceutical company Sensorion to develop a blood test that can warn patients and their doctors of early damage to the inner ear, before hearing loss is noticeable. more
Eli Lilly is set to acquire Loxo Oncology for approximately $8 billion. Loxo develops drugs that target cancers that have genetic mutations that can be detected by genomic testing. By targeting the DNA fingerprint of a tumor, researchers aim to treat cancer no matter where in the body tumors are found. The company’s approach has already yielded one FDA-approved drug. In November, the U.S. regulator gave the nod to larotrectinib (Vitrakvi), a drug that treats cancers that have a mutation called a TRK fusion, which occurs in an estimated 1 percent of tumors.more
SpringWorks Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that re-prioritizes promising science and pioneers efficient pathways for drug development for patients with severe rare diseases and cancer. Since its launch in 2017, SpringWorks has worked to identify, re-prioritize, and advance promising science, beginning with licensed clinical therapies from Pfizermore
Nevivo is a full-service contract vivarium company with expertise to support research programs from basic housing and husbandry to model development and implementation. Located in Branford, CT, the 8,200 square feet facility is staffed with dedicated industry experts with years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. more
“It’s been known for decades that proteins can be internalized from the cell boundary into cellular compartments known as endosomes,” says Yale’s Alanna Schepartz, Sterling Professor of Chemistry and professor of molecular, cellular & developmental biology. “Getting these molecules out of endosomes and into the cell interior was the big problem.” Schepartz and colleagues at Yale now report the identity of a molecular key that effectively unlocks the endosome, allowing the selective passage into the cell interior of potentially life-saving protein drugs.more
Achillion Pharmaceuticals reports that its Board of Directors has elected Nicole Vitullo Chair. Ms. Vitullo is a partner with Domain Associates LLC and has been a member of Achillion's Board of Directors since September 2010. As Chair, she replaces David Scheer, who has served on the Achillion Board since 1998 and was elected Chair in March 2010. Mr. Scheer will remain on the Board of Directors.more
