Passage Bio Reports Promising Data in Trial for Frontotemporal Dementia Treatment

  Passage Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: PASG) has shared updated findings from its ongoing Phase 1/2 upliFT-D clinical trial, which evaluates PBFT02 as a potential treatment for frontotemporal dementia (FTD) caused by granulin (GRN) mutations. The company also announced strategic changes aimed at advancing its PBFT02 program while optimizing operations and extending its financial runway into early 2027.

Key trial data indicates that Dose 1 of PBFT02 consistently increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) progranulin (PGRN) levels from baseline levels below 3 ng/mL to 22-34 ng/mL over 12 months in treated patients. Elevated PGRN levels have remained stable for up to 18 months in some patients. Additionally, the trial demonstrated a reduction in plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker linked to disease progression, providing potential early evidence of PBFT02’s therapeutic effect.

Safety findings remain encouraging, with most treatment-related adverse events reported as mild to moderate. Adjustments to the immunosuppression regimen have further improved safety outcomes, mitigating risks such as asymptomatic venous sinus thrombosis observed in early participants.

Looking ahead, Passage Bio is evaluating a lower dose level, Dose 2, to determine optimal dosing for future regulatory discussions. The company plans to report 12-month data for Dose 1 and interim safety results for Dose 2 in the second half of 2025. Regulatory feedback on pivotal trial design is anticipated in early 2026.

Passage Bio is also advancing its manufacturing capabilities with the completion of a high-productivity suspension-based process for PBFT02, which is expected to reduce production costs and support late-stage trials. To preserve resources, the company will transition to outsourced analytical testing and reduce workforce expenses, supporting its ability to meet critical development milestones.

The upliFT-D trial, designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PBFT02 for both FTD-GRN and FTD-C9orf72, is actively enrolling patients and includes plans to expand into FTD-C9orf72 populations by mid-2025.

These developments represent significant progress toward addressing the unmet needs in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly for FTD, for which no cure currently exists.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/diseases-and-conditions/passage-bio-reports-promising-data-in-trial-for-frontotemporal-dementia-treatment/ar-BB1riAeh

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OS Therapies provides first half 2026 corporate outlook

 

• Company finalizing preparations for end of January 2026 U.S. FDA Biologics License Application (BLA) submission for OST-HER2 program in the prevention or delay of recurrent, fully resected, pulmonary metastatic osteosarcoma (Metastatic Osteosarcoma Program) under Accelerated Approval Program

• Biomarker data from Phase 2b Metastatic Osteosarcoma Program human clinical trial expected to be released during week of J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2026

• UK and EU Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) submissions for conditional approval expected by end of February 2026 and March 2026, respectively

• Company expects to participate in multiple H1 2026 meetings with U.S. FDA, U.K. MHRA and Europe's EMA as part of processes to gain regulatory approvals

• OS Animal Health 'go-public' transaction SEC filing expected in early January 2026

• Delayed data from OST-504 Phase 1 trial in castration resistant prostate cancer expected in Q1 2026 after prioritizing biomarker lab partner resources for osteosarcoma data analysis, with End of Phase 1 FDA meeting expected in Q2 2026

• Company plans to request End of Phase 2 meeting with FDA to review OST-503 non-small cell lung cancer frontline trial results in combination with Keytruda®

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/os-therapies-provides-first-half-124000575.html

GoodRX, Weight Watchers, LifeMD Offering Novo Nordisk's New Weight-Loss Pill

 GoodRX, Weight Watchers and LifeMD all said they will offer Novo Nordisk's new weight-loss pill, Wegovy, on their respective platforms.

U.S. regulators approved the new pill last month. At that time, Novo Nordisk said it planned to start selling the pill in the U.S. in early January, with a cash price of $149 a month for the starting dose.

Drug companies and analysts have said the pills will tap in to demand from people who don't want an injection or would prefer the cadence of a daily dose. Pills also offer the prospect of lower prices and better health-insurance coverage than injections, because pills cost less to make, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.

GoodRX, Weight Watchers and LifeMD all expanded their partnerships with Novo Nordisk to offer the new weight-loss pill through their respective platforms, a push to further expand access to popular GLP-1 treatments.

https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/202601053604/goodrx-weight-watchers-lifemd-offering-novo-nordisks-new-weight-loss-pill

Gas prices in Europe dip over 5% on oversupply

 European natural gas prices were down at least 5% at the start of the week as abundant global supply continued to weigh on the market. Earlier, the International Energy Agency stated that Europe imported a record 142 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas in 2025, marking a 28% increase from the previous year.

Furthermore, due to pressure from projections indicating warmer temperatures, natural gas prices in the US dropped by more than 6% on Monday to $3.4470 per million British thermal units.

For February contracts, UK natural gas futures fell 5.7% to go for 70.92 pence per therm at 2:22 pm CET. For the same month's deliveries, Dutch TTF natural gas declined 5.62% to €27.37 per megawatt hour.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Gas-prices-in-Europe-dip-over-5-on-oversupply/65424931

Pentagon takes administrative action against Sen. Kelly

 United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that the Pentagon was taking "administrative action" against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly (pictured) over "seditious statements," adding his retired rank would be reduced.

"Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline," Hegseth wrote on X. The loss of Kelly's retired grade will result in "a corresponding reduction in retired pay," the secretary explained.

Kelly, a retired US Navy Captain and former astronaut, issued a statement along with his Democratic colleagues, calling on the military to refuse "unlawful orders." In response, US President Donald Trump demanded that the "traitors" who urged the army to "disobey" his orders be jailed.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Pentagon-takes-administrative-action-against-Sen.-Kelly/65425695