Novo builds heart failure case for semaglutide; Ventyx CFO departs

Today, a brief rundown of news from Novo Nordisk and Ventyx Biosciences, as well as updates from Novartis and Pfizer that you may have missed.

A pooled analysis of data from four trials of Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug semaglutide found treatment reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure by 31% compared to placebo. The results, which were published in The Lancet on Friday, could help Novo expand use of the drug into heart failure. The company had previously applied to the Food and Drug Administration for such an approval, but recently withdrew it in order to submit “additional relevant data.” The Lancet analysis, which focused on 3,700 participants across the four trials who had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, was post-hoc. — Ned Pagliarulo

Martin Auster, chief financial officer of Ventyx Biosciences, has departed the inflammatory disease drug developer, the company announced Friday. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Roy Gonzales, who will serve as interim principal financial officer for “SEC reporting purposes.” Ventyx, which has hit setbacks in developing a so-called TYK2 inhibitor, said it will search for a permanent replacement. — Ned Pagliarulo

Emergent BioSolutions on Thursday said the Food and Drug Administration granted extended an approval of its smallpox vaccine so it can also be used to prevent mpox in people at high risk for infection. The single-dose vaccine, called ACAM2000, was initially cleared for smallpox back in 2007. Thursday’s approval was based on a previous human trial and animal testing, which showed the vaccine to be effective in protecting against mpox, according to Emergent. Mpox was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization on Aug. 14 after outbreaks in parts of Africa. Jynneos, from Bavarian Nordic, is the only other available vaccine for mpox in the U.S. — Delilah Alvarado

Cancer drugmaker Repare Therapeutics plans to lay off 25% of its workforce as part of a strategic reprioritization disclosed Wednesday. The company will focus on its more advanced, clinical-stage programs and scale back preclinical research. The layoffs are expected to mainly affect staff in its preclinical group. The company said the reorganization will generate annual savings of approximately $15 million, pushing out its cash runway into the second half of 2026. — Delilah Alvarado

Flagship Pioneering’s ongoing research alliance with Pfizer has yielded more leads for the pharmaceutical giant, the companies said Wednesday. The company creation firm will work with its portfolio company Quotient Therapeutics on two research programs to support development of drugs for heart and kidney diseases. In June, Flagship announced it would tap ProFound Therapeutics to look for promising obesity drugs Pfizer can choose to advance. — Gwendolyn Wu

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