STAT+: Alnylam versus BridgeBio: The ATTR-CM debate
I coined the term “Typo-gate” to describe the misguided dustup Alnylam Pharmaceuticals executives instigated last…
Category: Adam’s Take
STAT+: Thoughts, takes, and burning biotech questions as the beginning of the end of the year approaches
This is the online edition of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter. STAT+ subscribers can…
STAT+: With resignations of top leaders, Cassava Sciences exposes a dark, ugly corner of the Alzheimer’s disease world
Cassava Sciences is imploding — and as it crumbles, a dark, ugly corner of the…
STAT+: Roche’s TIGIT study was a bust. What’s the outlook for its next big bet?
This is the online edition of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter. STAT+ subscribers can…
STAT+: What’s next for Cassava Sciences, and Cartesian Therapeutics has a novel excuse for dodgy data
This is the online edition of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter. STAT+ subscribers can…
STAT+: Novartis is flashing warning signs about the fate of its newly acquired myelofibrosis drug
CHICAGO — Something is off about the way Novartis is talking about pelabresib, its newly…
STAT+: Did Sarepta Therapeutics earn $4 billion from exon-skipping drugs that don’t work?
This is the online edition of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter. STAT+ subscribers can…
STAT+: Setting the table: What to expect at this year’s ASCO meeting
This is the online edition of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter. STAT+ subscribers can…
STAT+: Cytokinetics CEO Robert Blum is on my Worst CEO shortlist again, and other thoughts
Thoughts about Cytokinetics after Wednesday night’s financing announcement: 1. Management is raising $500 million at…
STAT+: A new PIPE lawsuit challenges the fairness of sharing confidential, stock-moving information
The fairness of PIPEs, particularly the preferential sharing of confidential, stock-moving information, is now a…
STAT+: Matt & Adam’s Take: Amylyx did the right thing by withdrawing its ALS drug. That’s rare and worthy of praise
On Thursday morning, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals announced that it would withdraw its ALS drug, Relyvrio, after…
STAT+: A preview of Intra-Cellular Therapies’ depression drug, and sizing up the MASH opportunity
I am one week away from the launch of my weekly email newsletter! It’s called…
STAT+: I was wrong about Geron’s blood cancer drug. Now, is it a takeover target?
I was wrong about Geron. For years, I’ve believed — and declared publicly — that…
STAT+: Argenx readies another blockbuster opportunity with its antibody drug
Have you heard the news? I’m launching a weekly email newsletter starting on March 28….
STAT+: An inside look at PIPEs, the financing trend that has biotech abuzz
Biotech is awash in PIPEs. The numbers behind these privately negotiated purchases of public-company stock…
STAT+: Ocular Therapeutix moves in the right direction, and Alnylam tries to calm some nerves
This week, an encouraging turnaround for Ocular Therapeutix, a chat with Alnylam’s CEO defending changes…
STAT+: Annovis Bio delivers candor on its Parkinson’s study, even if it doesn’t inspire much confidence
Annovis Bio had my biotech bull%^&! meter running red after it made a late change…
STAT+: Gaming Amylyx stock reactions to the next ALS drug test, and a chat with CRISPR’s CEO about a new investor
This week, a preview of the TUDCA study in ALS and thoughts on how it…
STAT+: A looming cancer vaccine test for Gritstone Bio, and pushback about Novartis-MorphoSys
This week, I address pushback I received on my Novartis-MorphoSys column. But first, a preview…
STAT+: A looming cancer vaccine test for Gristone Bio, and pushback on my Novartis-MorphoSys take
This week, I address pushback I received on my Novartis-MorphoSys column. But first, a preview…
STAT+: Can gene therapies make for a profitable business? Keep your eye on Bluebird Bio
Happy Groundhog Day eve. Some takes and thoughts on Bluebird Bio’s quest for gene therapy…
STAT+: What to make of Gilead’s Trodelvy troubles and Elevation Oncology’s surprising rise
Hello! Some takes and thoughts on Gilead’s Trodelvy troubles, Elevation Oncology’s surprising rise, and Kura…
STAT+: A single drug and multiple study failures leave Anavex with nothing but cash
It took Anavex Life Sciences seven months to finally acknowledge the failure of a late-stage…
STAT+: After sickle-cell screwups, Bluebird Bio’s only option might be a company sale
The approval Friday of Bluebird Bio’s gene therapy for sickle cell disease should have been…
STAT+: Moonlake’s credibility takes another hit with mid-stage study spin job
Moonlake Immunotherapeutics, a Swiss biotech, was buried Monday under an avalanche of its own data…
STAT+: Astellas shows enough data for eye treatment to support expanded use, but still lags competitor
Astellas on Saturday presented study results showing an increased treatment effect over time for its…
STAT+: Cassava pulled back the curtain on its Alzheimer’s study — and revealed insurmountable problems
Cassava Sciences has long claimed its experimental drug, called simufilam, slows the cognitive decline of…
STAT+: Roivant’s CEO is a star, but even a blockbuster deal can’t escape biotech’s black hole
Roivant Sciences’ Matt Gline might be this year’s best biopharma CEO, and other thoughts about…
STAT+: It’s time for the FDA to halt Cassava Sciences’ Alzheimer’s clinical trials
The Food and Drug Administration should halt Cassava Sciences’ ongoing clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease….
STAT+: Bristol ‘take-under’ of Mirati is not so great for biotech, but company’s new cancer target has potential
Some day-after thoughts on Bristol Myers Squibb acquiring Mirati Therapeutics: A take-under deal feels meh…
STAT+: The Apellis eye drug rebound accelerates. This time, it’s a competitor falling behind
Apellis Pharmaceuticals has been slowly rebounding from an unjustified safety scare related to its approved…
STAT+: What’s behind the recent surge in Apellis’ stock price? Growing confidence in the safety of its eye treatment
Shares of Apellis Pharmaceuticals are rebounding, driven by a growing belief among some investors that…
STAT+: Anavex, maker of rare disease drug, keeps shifting the goalposts in its clinical trials
Anavex Life Sciences is in a tough spot. The serial dissembler of clinical trial results…
STAT+: A conflict of interest behind the warning on Apellis’s eye drug? The optics are not good
The eye disease physician in charge of a committee that flagged a rare but severe…
STAT+: Moonlake’s less-than-transparent data disclosures produced a cash windfall. Risks remain
For two days starting on Sunday, Moonlake Immunotherapeutics happily crunched numbers and shared results from…
STAT+: Instead of credible data, PDS Biotech delivers ‘results might get better, later’ promises
Tumor response rate is a common way to assess the efficacy of a cancer drug….
STAT+: Annexon’s trial of an eye disease drug missed by a mile. The company saw a bull’s eye
Annexon Biosciences said Wednesday that its experimental treatment for an eye disease called geographic atrophy…
STAT+: Amylyx’s ALS drug launch starts strong. That could be trouble for the FDA
Behind the stellar commercial launch of Amylyx Pharmaceuticals’ treatment for ALS lies an uncomfortable question:…
STAT+: New results show Cassava’s Alzheimer’s drug has placebo-like efficacy
Cassava Sciences had long claimed that its experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s disease was capable of…
CytoDyn’s former CEO indicted for securities fraud. His misleading statements hurt patients even more than investors
Beginning in 2018 and through 2021, CytoDyn and its former CEO Nadir Pourhassan told investors…
STAT+: An Anavex study spin job sullies an otherwise spectacular Alzheimer’s conference
Anavex Life Sciences said Thursday that its experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s disease slowed the rate…
STAT+: With Pfizer deal, Global Blood CEO sees opportunity to reach sickle cell patients globally
The $5.4 billion acquisition of Global Blood Therapeutics by Pfizer was sealed with a phone…
STAT+: Not-so-happy midyear! Biotech CEOS, best and worst, and a hopeful sign of a turnaround
A few things on my mind: A very strange — and painful — year in…
STAT+: A cautionary tale: How one biotech stock trader lost a small fortune, but emerged wiser
Too many of my Twitter interactions with biotech-loving retail investors are unpleasant. If I write…
STAT+: Amylyx’s case for approval of its ALS drug isn’t ironclad. Here’s why I think it will still happen
The odds that Amylyx Pharmaceuticals wins approval from the Food and Drug Administration for Albrioza,…
STAT+: A dose of transparency by Cel-Sci does nothing to burnish its failed cancer immunotherapy
CHICAGO — I met Cel-Sci CEO Geert Kersten for the first time on Monday at…
STAT+: It took years, but the failure of Northwest Bio’s brain cancer vaccine is now in the open
After years of delays and excuses, Northwest Biotherapeutics finally disclosed on Tuesday the final results…
STAT+: A company developing a human blood substitute attempts a comeback, but IPO plans look dicey
Biopure, the disgraced developer of a failed human blood substitute, is attempting a comeback. It’s…
STAT+: What Regeneron’s purchase of Checkmate Pharma says about the state of biotech
There are a few angles through which to view Tuesday’s acquisition of Checkmate Pharmaceuticals by…
STAT+: Cel-Sci’s CEO used private call to tip off select investors about cancer drug update
Geert Kersten, the CEO of drugmaker Cel-Sci, stopped communicating publicly soon after the company’s cancer…