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Big Pharma companies trimming pipelines in 2023

By Brian Buntz | February 1, 2023

Research and developement concept background scientist or reseacher using microscope in biotechnology laboratory overlay with DNA strand and molecules.

[Image courtesy of Adobe Stock]

Several companies, including GSK, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer, have announced that they are cutting their pipelines as they release their full-year 2022 financial results. The following are the drugs removed from these companies’ pipelines.

Bristol Myers Squibb

Anti-CTLA-4 NF: The oncology monoclonal antibody candidate directed against the human T-cell receptor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) known as BMS-986218 was in Phase 2.

Anti-CTLA-4 Probody therapeutic: The CTLA-4-targeting oncology antibody was in Phase 2. Known as BMS-986249, BMS had developed the antibody in collaboration with CytomX Therapeutics.

Anti-SIRPα in solid tumors: The anti-signal regulatory protein-alpha candidate known as CC-95251 was in Phase 1.

Branebrutinib: The small-molecule covalent inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase  was in Phase 2. It is also known as BMS-986195.

Cendakimab: Bristol Myers said it would no longer develop its atopic dermatitis antibody cendakimab, which had completed a Phase 2 study. Although the study met its primary endpoint, the treatment landscape for atopic dermatitis is crowded, and cendakimab does not offer a significant advantage over these existing options, according to the company’s chief medical officer, Samit Hirawat.

IL-12 Fc: Known as DF6002 and BMS-986415 is monovalent IL-12 immunoglobulin Fc fusion protein oncology drug candidate that was in Phase 1.

MK2 inhibitor in ankylosing spondylitis: The immunology drug candidate known as CC-99677 was in Phase 2. It was profiled in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

New molecular entity: The undisclosed fibrosis drug candidate was in Phase 1.

ROR1 CAR-T: The hematology drug candidate acquired from Juno Therapeutics was in Phase 1. It was also known as JCAR-024.

STING agonist: The agonist of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) protein was in Phase 1. The oncology drug candidate was also known as BMS-986301.

GSK

GSK3915393: GSK said in a quarterly earnings call that it had pulled the plug on GSK3915393, an inhibitor of transglutaminase 2 (TG2). The company had believed GSK3915393 held potential for celiac disease. The drug’s safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics were studied in a Phase 1.

Belantamab and GSK3878858A: The company has also pulled several other drug candidates from its pipeline, including the anti-BCMA antibody belantamab mafodotin (GSK2857916) for third-line multiple myeloma. It is also giving up GSK3878858A, a recombinant protein vaccine against S. aureus that was in a Phase 2 study.

GSK4362620A: GSK is also pulling the plug on GSK4362620A, a COVID-19 plant-derived virus-like particles vaccine known as Covifenz. GSK had been jointly developing the vaccine with Medicago but cited “major manufacturing issues” in preventing the use of the vaccine.

Janssen

JNJ-6358 and JNJ-8902: The company has decided to deprioritize the oncology bispecific JNJ-6358 and the prostate cancer candidate JNJ-8902. Neither shows up on the company’s latest overview of its pipeline. Trials for the two drug candidates, however, remain ongoing.

JNJ-6358 binds to CD3 on T-cells and human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) on cancer cells, while JNJ-8902 is CD3 x TMEFF2 bispecific.

Merck & Co.

Chikungunya vaccine: The company has given up on a vaccine for chikungunya, a mosquito-transmitted viral infection. Merck acquired the vaccine candidate from its 2020 acquisition of Themis Bioscience. The vaccine was studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial. Emergent Biosolutions continues to have a chikungunya vaccine candidate in development.

Lenvima glioblastoma indication: Merck also is pulling the plug on targeting glioblastoma with Lenvima (lenvatinib), which it had been testing in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as part of its LEAP program. Eisai is a collaborator in the LEAP program, which also focuses on triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, biliary tract cancers and pancreatic cancer.

Novartis

Cosentyx: Novartis said it had abandoned a Phase 3 study of Cosentyx (secukinumab), an IL-17A antibody in active peripheral spondyloarthritis. A note on clinicaltrials.gov said the trial was “terminated due to strategic decision of senior management.”

Branaplam: The company also stated in an interim 2022 earnings report that it would cull its branaplam program after reviewing the potential benefit-risk from the Phase 2 VIBRANT-HD study in adults with Huntington’s Disease. In August, Novartis hit pause on a Phase 2b study of branaplam after identifying a potential association between the drug candidate and peripheral neuropathy.

The company was also testing the drug candidate in a Phase 2 study involving patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Pfizer

Recifercept/additional Paxlovid indications: The Big Pharma has announced it will discontinue eight programs, including recifercept for achondroplasia (dwarfism) and two indications for COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid.

Other programs: Pfizer is also dropping a drug for autoimmune disorders that won an orphan designation for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and a biologic for solid tumors. Finally, it is also pulling the plug on kinase inhibitors for melanoma and metastatic breast cancer.


Filed Under: clinical trials, Drug Discovery, Drug Discovery and Development
Tagged With: Big Pharma, pipelines
 

About The Author

Brian Buntz

As the pharma and biotech editor at WTWH Media, Brian has almost two decades of experience in B2B media, with a focus on healthcare and technology. While he has long maintained a keen interest in AI, more recently Brian has made making data analysis a central focus, and is exploring tools ranging from NLP and clustering to predictive analytics.

Throughout his 18-year tenure, Brian has covered an array of life science topics, including clinical trials, medical devices, and drug discovery and development. Prior to WTWH, he held the title of content director at Informa, where he focused on topics such as connected devices, cybersecurity, AI and Industry 4.0. A dedicated decade at UBM saw Brian providing in-depth coverage of the medical device sector. Engage with Brian on LinkedIn or drop him an email at bbuntz@wtwhmedia.com.

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