In a dynamic week for the pharmaceutical and healthcare communications sector, Spyre Therapeutics, formerly known as Aeglea BioTherapeutics, announced a significant rebranding and a reshuffle of its leadership team. The company welcomed Cameron Turtle as its new CEO, with a suite of experienced executives including Joshua Friedman, Deanna Nguyen, Mira Huyghe, and Brian Connolly to bolster its clinical development and technical operations.
In financial leadership moves, Resilient Healthcare appointed Heather Hiles as CFO, while The Bloc, celebrated the return of Stephanie Berman as global chief creative officer. Imre has expanded its executive team with Scott Tucker as the first chief client officer, and the Ad Council has recruited Corrina Greenberg to drive revenue and development.
Frazier Life Sciences and Levicept have strengthened their leadership with VP of company creation Lauren Mifflin and CEO Eliot Forster, respectively. Hale Advisors has brought on Rebecca Zobbe and Hank Conant to lead business development and creative efforts.
The FDA has announced the promotion of chief scientist Namandjé N. Bumpus to principal deputy commissioner, succeeding the retiring Janet Woodcock. In agency news, uncapped communications, a GCI Group company, has appointed Alex Canale as managing director, and Johnson & Johnson has added Advocate Health CEO Eugene A. Woods to its board.
Board appointments continued with Vaxcyte welcoming Jacks Lee, and Zealand Pharma introducing Enrique Conterno and Elaine Sullivan as board observers. Atropos Health revealed its life sciences advisory board, and TFF Pharmaceuticals named Catherine Lee, JD, to its board of directors. PDS Biotechnology announced CFO Matthew Hill’s departure, with Lars Boesgaard stepping in as his successor.
The industry also faced significant workforce adjustments. Candel Therapeutics cut its staff by 50%, and Real Chemistry, reduced its workforce by 66 positions. Generation Bio and Orna Therapeutics announced workforce reductions of 40% and less than 25%, respectively, while Novocure is laying off 13% of its staff to reduce operating expenses.
Collaborations and acquisitions have been prominent, with Avidity Biosciences expanding its cardiovascular collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, potentially earning up to $2.2 billion in milestone payments. Boehringer Ingelheim and Phenomic AI have embarked on a $509 million partnership targeting stroma-rich cancers. Johnson & Johnson MedTech completed its acquisition of Laminar, and Amgen has broadened its agreement with Amazon to enhance drug manufacturing with AI.
Eli Lilly has entered into a significant drug discovery collaboration with Prism BioLabs, and Prime has acquired Aventine, specializing in market access and payer communications. Biodexa has secured an exclusive license for a Phase II-ready diabetes treatment, and Season Health has completed its acquisition of clinical assets from Wellory.
Partnerships continue to flourish with Thermo Fisher Scientific and Flagship Pioneering expanding their collaboration, Unlock Health acquiring SPM Group, and Walgreens teaming up with RxSense for a prescription drug discount marketplace.
In funding news, Arvinas raised $350 million in an oversubscribed private placement, Verve Therapeutics secured about $148 million, and Arrivo BioVentures closed a $45.25 million Series B round. Aro Biotherapeutics and Mytos also successfully completed funding rounds to further their research and development efforts.
Novo Nordisk is investing $2.4 billion in its French manufacturing facilities, while Xenon Pharmaceuticals faced a setback with its depression drug failing a mid-stage study. Novartis has raised its sales growth target, and Autolus Therapeutics has submitted a Biologics License Application to the FDA.
In other regulatory news, the FDA approved SpringWorks Therapeutics’ Ogsiveo for desmoid tumors, while rejecting Aldeyra Therapeutics’ dry eye treatment. Karuna Therapeutics awaits an FDA decision on its schizophrenia drug, and Orchard Therapeutics received Fast Track designation for its gene therapy.
