Nov. 16 Quick Takes: Roche-Lead in immunology deal; plus TNBC approval for Keytruda and Apellis, BMS, BeyondSpring, Start Codon, Myricx and PureTech
Roche, Lead Pharma form immunology partnership
Dutch biotech Lead Pharma Holding B.V. will collaborate with Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) to develop preclinical small molecules against a single, undisclosed target to treat immune-mediated diseases. Lead will receive €10 million ($11.9 million) in the deal and is eligible for a further €250 million in R&D funding and milestones, plus royalties.
Approval in TNBC for Keytruda
Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said Monday that FDA approved Keytruda pembrolizumab with chemotherapy to treat triple-negative breast cancer in patients whose tumors express PD-L1. Tecentriq atezolizumab is also approved to treat PD-L1-expressing TNBC, and in June Roche and Genentech Inc. reported data that could support broadening the therapy’s label into neoadjuvant TNBC regardless of PD-L1 status...