Funding & Financings
Dren Bio raises $350M
Juvia Group and Lightspeed co-led an oversubscribed round to take dibotatug, a CD94 antibody for two rare blood cancers, through a filing and towards launch.
Read the full story →Setara spins out of Jazz's Actio deal with $90M
Jazz kept the epilepsy lead; Setara takes the rest, led by a TRPV4 inhibitor with Orphan, Rare Pediatric and Fast Track status heading into a CMT2C study in 2027.
Read the full story →Regulatory & Clinical
FDA drafts a one-licence route for personalised gene editing
New patient-specific variants could be added to an approved BLA without new trials, if they sit inside pre-agreed limits. CMS is also widening its cell and gene therapy access model.
Read the full story →Artiva drops AlloNK and cuts 94% of staff
After two patient deaths and responses that did not last, the NK cell therapy for autoimmune disease is stopped, the Phase 3 is off and a strategic review is under way.
Read the full story →Leadership Moves
Opus Genetics hires Andrew Murphy as CSO
The inherited retinal disease gene therapy company brings in Kriya's former head of research and early development, who has supported seven programmes through IND or CTA.
Read the full story →Cynthia Pussinen becomes CEO and chair of Estrella Immunopharma
The former Sernova CEO and Spark Therapeutics CTO takes over as the T-cell therapy company's lead candidate moves into dose expansion. Previous CEO Cheng Liu becomes CSO.
Read the full story →Talent Insight
The next hire is the one that gets you to a filing
- Going from a Phase 1/2 study to a filing means hiring regulatory, medical affairs and market access leaders that research-led biotechs often don't have yet.
- If the FDA's gene editing approach sticks, analytical and CMC leaders with editing experience become as important as clinical ones.
- Worth watching: Restructures like Artiva's put experienced cell therapy people back on the market at once. Companies hiring nearby should be visible now.
Building a team in Biotech, R&D & Clinical?
Jordan Griffiths specialises in Biotech, R&D & Clinical hiring at QP Group. Talk to Jordan about the market, salaries or a search.
