Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:

Headline: Unravelling GIP’s Role in Obesity Research and More Healthcare Market News

1) The science of GIP receptor agonism and antagonism is casting light on obesity research’s complexities. The conundrum lies in the contrast between treatments that both activate and inhibit the same receptor. Amgen is investigating this counter-intuitive approach with its experimental MariTide program, demonstrating promising initial results reflected by up to 14% weight loss in subjects.

2) The FDA has approved Merck’s pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment, sotatercept, soon to be marketed as Winrevair. The treatment, projected to be a blockbuster drug, could have a significant impact on the roughly 40,000 US patients suffering from PAH.

3) Bristol Myers Squibb will lay off 252 employees at a Mirati Therapeutics site in San Diego, following its acquisition of Mirati last year for $4.8 billion. Despite this workforce reduction, a focus remains on supporting impacted employees throughout the transition process.

4) In company news, Gamida Cell is set to go private after restructuring by Highbridge Capital Management. Meanwhile, Stoke Therapeutics is seeking to raise up to $75 million through a stock sale following positive trial results on its genetic epilepsy treatment.

5) Moderna is set to receive up to $750 million in R&D funding in a partnership with Blackstone on its influenza program. CEO Stéphane Bancel stated that the company’s ambitious multi-vaccine launch plans necessitate such significant investments.

6) Altimmune is terminating its hepatitis B program after failing in a phase 2 trial and will instead focus all efforts on its only other candidate, the injectable GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist for obesity and MASH. The drug previously reported positive data, showing a mean weight loss of 15.6% in a 48-week study.