Roche Makes Preclinical IBD Play in $420M+ OMass Pact

 

The OMass partnership will boost Roche’s strategy in inflammatory bowel diseases, currently led by afimkibart, an anti-TL1A therapy the pharma obtained from its $7.1 billion acquisition of Telavant in 2023.

Roche’s subsidiary Genentech is fronting $20 million to partner with England-based biotech OMass Therapeutics and advance the British company’s preclinical small-molecule program for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Genentech is also pledging more than $400 million in preclinical, development, commercial and net sales milestone payments. OMasswill also be eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales, as per Tuesday’s release. The biotech will continue to lead preclinical development of the IBD program and see it through to candidate selection, after which Genentech will assume leadership and be responsible for clinical studies, regulatory activities and commercialization.

In exchange for its investment, Genentech will have the exclusive right over the program developed using OMass’ proprietary OdyssION drug discovery platform.

The companies did not disclose in their announcement on Tuesday what specific targets they plan to go after, nor did they provide a timeline for when they expect clinical development to start.

Roche’s IBD efforts are anchored by the anti-TL1A antibody RVT-3101, which the pharma obtained in October 2023 when it acquired the Roivant subsidiary Telavant for $7.1 billion. The pharma has since renamed the molecule afimkibart and has taken it into Phase III development for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Roche anticipates a regulatory filing for ulcerative colitis in 2027 and for Crohn’s disease around 2028, as per its second-quarter earnings report in July.

For Roche, the OMass deal follows other partnerships that it has inked this year, including a $5.3 billion agreement with Zealand Pharma in March for the biotech’s obesity candidate petrelinitide. In May, the pharma put more than $2 billion on the line in a molecular glue deal with Orionis Biosciences, while in July, Tokyo-based Chugai Pharmaceuticals—which is majority owned by Roche—partnered with AI-focused Gero for over $1 billion to target age-related diseases.

Other industry heavy-hitters are also working on IBD, including Merck, which in April 2023 dropped $10.8 billion to buy Prometheus Biosciences,gaining ownership of PRA023, an anti-TL1A monoclonal antibody. The molecule is now called tulisokibart and is in late-stage development for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Joining Roche and Merck is Sanofi, which in October 2023 bet $1.5 billion to partner with Teva and advance their own TL1A program for IBD.

https://www.biospace.com/business/roche-makes-preclinical-ibd-play-in-420m-omass-pact

Data Scientist Fourth Fastest-Growing U.S. Job, Says BLS

 

Data scientist employment is expected to grow 33.5% from 2024 to 2034 due in part to a growing demand for data analysis, according to new U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics findings. Biopharma hotspots were among the top 10 states for employment and pay for this role in 2024.

Employment for data scientists—who’ve become increasingly important at biopharmas—is expected to increase 33.5% from 2024 to 2034, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported. The projected jump from 245,900 to 328,300 employees makes this role the economy’s fourth fastest-growing occupation, according to the agency.

In its Aug. 28 announcement, BLS noted that the growing demand to build artificial intelligence (AI) models, conduct data analysis and integrate applications into business practices is behind the expected increase. It also shared in its related occupational outlook handbook that about 23,400 openings are projected for each year, on average, from 2024 to 2034. The agency noted that many of those positions will be available due to employers’ need to replace workers who move into different occupations or exit the labor force for reasons such as retirement.

Data scientists’ value to the economy over the next several years is further underscored by findings from Coherent Market Insights, a global market intelligence and consulting organization. Coherent estimates that the global data science platform market will grow from $13.6 billion in 2025 to $57.1 billion by 2032. It attributes that increase to widespread adoption of data-driven decision making across various industries.

Highest Employment, Salaries Found in Biopharma Hotspots

Several of the top 10 states BLS identified for the highest data scientist employment in 2024 have a strong, established biopharma presence. Those states include the two biggest biopharma locations: California, which ranked first (36,850), and Massachusetts, which ranked sixth (9,990).

Several of the states with the highest pay also have a strong, established biopharma presence, with California ($136,800) and Massachusetts ($132,250) landing third and fourth, respectively.

The annual median wage for all U.S. data scientists in 2024 was $112,590, according to BLS. It was slightly higher—$120,090—for those working in scientific research and development services.

What Employers Want in Data Scientists

For those looking to move into data science, the BLS occupational outlook handbook noted that people entering this occupation typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in math, statistics, computer science or a related field. However, the agency added, some employers require or prefer that applicants have a master’s or doctoral degree.

BLS identified analytical, computer, communication, logical-thinking, math and problem-solving skills as important qualities for data scientists to perform their duties.

For a look at what biopharma employers, specifically, want in data scientists, job seekers can visit the data scientist job listings on the BioSpace website. Companies that recently posted openings include Amgen, Eli Lilly, Formation Bio, InVitro Cell Research, Takeda and Terray. Eli Lilly, for example, has multiple positions available, including data scientist (R4-R6) and genomics data scientist.

https://www.biospace.com/job-trends/data-scientist-fourth-fastest-growing-u-s-job-says-bls

Google won't be forced to sell Chrome as judge rules divestment 'poor fit' in landmark antitrust case

 Google (GOOG, GOOGL) won't be forced to sell Chrome after a federal district judge ruled divestment a "poor fit" in a landmark antitrust case, but it will have to share data that helped it hold on to its search monopoly.

The ruling from District of Columbia judge Amit Mehta sent Google's stock gaining by almost 6% in premarket trading on Wednesday.

As part of the decision, Mehta ruled that Google can continue to make payments to "distribution partners for preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, or GenAI products." That allows for Google to continue to make its $20 billion per year payments to Apple in exchange for the iPhone maker using Google Search as the default search engine in its Safari browser and Siri.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/google-wont-be-forced-to-sell-chrome-after-judge-rules-divestment-a-poor-fit-in-landmark-antitrust-case-210218257.html

Trump to Review Approval of Massachusetts Offshore Wind Farm

 

The Trump administration plans to reconsider a permit issued to a large wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts, the latest move in its targeted campaign against the clean energy resource.

The US Interior Department intends to review the project’s approval issued in the waning days of the Biden administration, according to a filing by the Justice Department on Friday. The agency asked a federal court to pause the city of Nantucket’s challenge of the SouthCoast Wind development since the Trump administration intends to ask that the matter be sent back to the Interior Department for further action later this month.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-02/trump-to-review-approval-of-wind-farm-off-massachusetts-coast

Appeals court overturns ruling halting EPA clawback of climate funds

 A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court’s ruling that prevented the Trump administration from clawing back billions of dollars in climate spending.

The 2-1 decision from a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., vacated a lower court ruling that would have prevented the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from recouping billions issued for climate-friendly projects under the Biden administration.

The decision, from President Trump appointees Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, is expected to enable the administration to rescind unspent funding from the $20 billion program.

The funds in question are part of a $20 billion “Green Bank” program that passed as part of the Democrats’ 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Last year, under that law, the Biden administration doled out money to eight organizations, which were tasked with sub-awarding it to projects that reduce planet-warming emissions and/or air pollution, including renewable energy endeavors.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5481883-appeals-court-trump-epa-climate-funds/

Trump seeks Supreme Court 'emergency' hearing, rules out India tariff cuts

 President Trump on Tuesday said his administration would seek an immediate hearing from the Supreme Court in hopes of overturning an appeals court's ruling deeming most of his tariffs illegal.

Trump said the administration would appeal to the high court on Wednesday.

"It's an economic emergency," he said on CNN commentator Scott Jennings' radio show, adding, "If we don’t win that decision, you’ll see a reverberation like maybe you’ve never seen before."

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that most of Trump's global tariffs were illegal, reaffirming an earlier ruling by the Court of International Trade and saying he exceeded his authority in using emergency powers to impose them. The judges, however, allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the case moves through the appeals process.

Trump claimed that stocks fell broadly on Monday because of the uncertainty around the tariffs' legality.

"The stock market's down because the stock market needs the tariffs. They want the tariffs," he said in the Oval Office.

Other members of the administration are making backup plans, however. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he is confident the Supreme Court will back Trump's use of a 1977 emergency law to impose broad tariffs, but said the administration is working on a Plan B in case it does not.

Meanwhile, Trump said he is not considering lowering tariffs on India, a week after the the US doubled duties on its imports to 50% in response to India's purchase of Russian oil.

Asked by a reporter if he might roll back some of the tariffs, Trump replied: 'No'.

In any case, the "reciprocal" tariffs Trump unveiled on dozens of US trade partners (which you can see in the graphic below) now face a fresh bout of legal limbo.

Trump has amped up criticism of the trade relationship between the US and India, saying it has been heavily one-sided for decades.

"It has been a totally one sided disaster!" he posted.

Trump's comments came as India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on bids to strengthen ties with China and Russia as relations with the US have deteriorated. On Tuesday, Trump suggested he wasn't considering lowering tariffs on India.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/trump-tariffs-live-updates-trump-seeks-supreme-court-emergency-hearing-rules-out-india-tariff-cuts-200619517.html

Wainwright assumes coverage on Inflarx stock with Buy rating

 H.C. Wainwright has assumed coverage on Inflarx NV (NASDAQ:IFRX) with a Buy rating and a $6.00 price target, according to a research note released Tuesday.

The firm highlighted Inflarx’s lead assets vilobelimab and INF904. Vilobelimab is an intravenously administered anti-C5a monoclonal antibody, while INF904 is an oral small molecule inhibitor of C5aR. 

Vilobelimab, marketed as GOHIBIC, has received approval in the European Union under exceptional circumstances for treating SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS patients on systemic corticosteroids and invasive mechanical ventilation with or without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

In the United States, GOHIBIC has not received full approval but has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA for COVID-19 treatment in hospitalized adults when started within 48 hours of receiving invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO.

INF904 has completed Phase 1 single ascending dose/multiple ascending dose studies and is currently in a Phase 2a basket study evaluating its efficacy in chronic spontaneous urticaria and hidradenitis suppurativa.

In other recent news, InflaRx N.V. has announced that it received a written notice from Nasdaq regarding its share price. The notice indicates that the company’s share price has fallen below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement necessary for continued listing. This development is based on the company’s common shares closing below this threshold for the last 30 consecutive business days. The notice was dated July 11, highlighting a violation of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1). While the company has not provided further details on its response to this notice, the announcement underscores a significant regulatory requirement that InflaRx needs to address. Investors are likely to monitor how the company plans to comply with Nasdaq’s listing standards. This situation is part of the ongoing developments surrounding InflaRx’s market performance.

https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/hc-wainwright-assumes-coverage-on-inflarx-stock-with-buy-rating-93CH-4219084