Two strategic biopharmaceutical collaborations were announced, each merging one company’s innovative biologic technology with a second company that can drive potential therapeutics over the finish line to commercialization.

Ansa Biotechnologies, a California-based start-up focused on updating DNA synthesis technologies, is advancing toward the launch of a customizable DNA synthesis service, stemming from the development of a novel synthesis method.

Sanofi

Paris-based Sanofi and Mountain View, California-based IGM Biosciences inked a collaboration deal for oncology, immunology and inflammation that could surpass $6 billion.

Roche partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb to utilize two digital pathology platforms that would advance research into treatment options for patients diagnosed to have solid tumors. 

Pfizer building

In response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pfizer will cease operations within Russia and proceeds from the company’s subsidiary in that country will be donated to provide direct humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine. Regarding COVID-19, Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla noted in an interview with Face the Nation that it is likely that a fourth booster shot of the company’s vaccine will be needed to fend off another surge of infections.

AstraZeneca and Merck & Co. Inc. announced Lynparza (olaparib) was approved in the United States for the adjuvant treatment of patients with germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer who have already been treated with chemotherapy either before or after surgery.

BioNTech announced an expansion of a collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to continue advancing mRNA technology and develop the FixVac candidate BNT116 in combination with Regeneron and Sanofi’s shared pharmaceutical product Libtayo (cemiplimab) for non-small cell lung cancer.

Voyager Therapeutics partnered with Novartis in a potential $1.7 billion deal. The collaboration will enable Novartis to use the gene therapy company’s capsid discovery platform to create new treatments for three undisclosed CNS targets. 

Takeda

Takeda and Code Biotherapeutics announced a collaboration agreement to leverage the latter’s proprietary targeted 3DNA non-viral genetic medicine delivery platform for the design and development of gene therapies for rare diseases.

Amgen posted a 3 percent rise in total 2021 fourth-quarter revenue to $6.8 billion and a 2 percent increase in total revenue for the year to $26 billion, driven mainly through wins from “other” gains.