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What’s in Today’s Brief? (February 6th Preview)
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Bayer’s asundexian cuts recurrent stroke risk: Phase 3 shows 26% reduction
Bayer reported Phase 3 results showing its Factor XIa inhibitor asundexian reduced the risk of secondary ischemic stroke by 26% without increasing major bleeding. The data, presented by Bayer and discussed at conferences and in subsequent reporting, position asundexian as a leading oral alternative within a new class of anticoagulants. Rival programs from Regeneron, Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson are now benchmarked against these outcomes. The trial enrolled patients with prior ischemic stroke and preserved a favourable safety profile, a critical factor for anticoagulant adoption. Bayer emphasized the once-daily oral dosing and the drug’s potential to address unmet needs in secondary prevention. Regulators and payors will evaluate both efficacy and bleeding trade-offs as companies in this class prepare for filings and commercial planning. Clinicians will watch for full publications and subgroup analyses that could affect label claims and guideline uptake; large pragmatic adoption will hinge on comparative effectiveness versus established therapies and on reimbursement discussions.
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UniQure halts higher-dose Fabry gene arm after liver toxicity; Aro posts Pompe data
UniQure paused mid- and high-dose cohorts in its Fabry gene therapy trial after two patients at 4x10^13 gc/kg experienced grade 3 liver enzyme elevations, the company said in a safety update. The halt affects dose-escalation plans and will prompt protocol amendments and safety monitoring changes while investigators investigate causality and management procedures. Separately, Aro Biotherapeutics presented data in Pompe disease that the market is parsing for durability and safety signals. The UniQure pause underscores persistent challenges for systemic AAV dosing, liver tolerability and vector-host interactions that regulators have highlighted in recent guidance. Companies developing in vivo gene therapies are likely to re-evaluate dose selection, hepatic monitoring strategies, and risk mitigation plans as a consequence.
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Adaptive Biotechnologies pins 2026 growth on MRD testing: ClonoSeq adoption driving revenue
Adaptive Biotechnologies projected at least 20% year-over-year MRD revenue growth for 2026, driven by increased adoption of its ClonoSeq minimal residual disease assay across oncology settings and growing clinical endorsement of MRD as an endpoint. The Seattle-based firm reported Q4 revenue up 54% year over year and outlined plans to scale EMR integrations, expand community penetration and raise average selling price via payor renegotiations. CEO Chad Robins and CFO Kyle Piskel highlighted expectations for 30% test volume growth and incremental milestone revenue. Adaptive also flagged a strategic push to grow MRD services supporting registrational trials across multiple hematologic malignancies, positioning the diagnostics business as a durable revenue engine as the company commercializes expanded clinical utility.
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Illumina steadies: clinical consumables climb while overall revenue flat in 2025
Illumina reported flat full‑year 2025 revenue but a meaningful uptick in clinical sequencing consumables, which management said rose on increased uptake of sequencing‑based diagnostics including comprehensive genomic profiling. The company booked strong NovaSeq X placements late in the year and disclosed a $50 million acquisition of short‑read sequencing‑by‑binding IP from Pacific Biosciences to expand portfolio optionality. CEO Jacob Thaysen credited sequencing‑intense clinical applications for driving consumables demand and instrument placements. Investors will parse whether Illumina can convert consumables momentum into sustained growth amid competitive and macro pressures; the company signalled confidence in clinical sequencing adoption even as China revenue lagged.
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Eikon’s $381M IPO revives biotech listings — proceeds to fund oncology trials
Eikon Therapeutics priced an upsized IPO at $381 million, the largest biotech float since 2024, and said proceeds will prioritize development of EIK‑1001 and other oncology candidates. The company, backed by former Merck executives, will use funds to advance a TLR7/8 co‑agonist in Phase 2/3 combinations and PARP inhibitors in early trials, while continuing discovery programs based on super‑resolution microscopy technology. The offering follows a busy week for drug developer IPOs and underscores renewed public market receptivity to seasoned, capital‑intensive biotech stories. Market watchers will track how Eikon deploys proceeds across translational and clinical workstreams and whether the stock sustains valuation as clinical milestones arrive.
...and 5 more selected Biotech stories in today’s full edition — or archive.
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