What's the alternative? Is there even one on the horizon?For now... for now!
What's the alternative? Is there even one on the horizon?For now... for now!
There are alternatives that are maturing... China is leading the pack. But still nowhere near enough to cover global energy needs.What's the alternative? Is there even one on the horizon?
I've been inactive and trying to get used to my tinnitus. Stupidly went to fireworks... Did plug my ears but my tinnitus has since spiked. Though it could be due to a peptide I'm taking... Sooo I'm back.What's the alternative? Is there even one on the horizon?
They said they saw good results from their last trial, no real details. They are going to run by a podium like Sonic the Hedgehog in September and say something about it into the microphone and then presumably start phase 2.I've been inactive and trying to get used to my tinnitus. Stupidly went to fireworks... Did plug my ears but my tinnitus has since spiked. Though it could be due to a peptide I'm taking... Sooo I'm back.
What's the news with Frequency Therapeutics?
Nice! Seems good news as an "efficacy indicator".View attachment 31010
Astellas Obtains the Exclusive Rights to Develop and Commercialize FX-322 in Ex-U.S. Markets; Frequency Retains U.S. Rights
Frequency will Receive $80 Million Upfront from Astellas with the Potential of up to $545 Million in Future Milestone Payments as well as Double-Digit Royalties
TOKYO and WOBURN, Mass., July 17, 2019 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas" ) and Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that they have entered into an exclusive license agreement to develop and commercialize Frequency's regenerative therapeutic candidate, FX-322, for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type of hearing loss. At present, there are no approved therapeutic options for sensorineural hearing loss.
Under the terms of the agreement, Astellas will be responsible for the development and commercialization of FX-322 outside of the U.S. and Frequency will be responsible for U.S. development and commercialization. The companies will be jointly responsible for conducting global clinical studies and coordinating commercial launch activities. Frequency will receive an upfront payment of $80 million and may also receive up to an additional $545 million based on development and commercial milestones, as well as royalties on any future product sales in the licensed territory.
Frequency recently completed a Phase 1/2 clinical study in the U.S. in which FX-322 was observed to be well-tolerated following a single intratympanic injection, with no serious adverse events. Improvements in hearing function were observed in multiple FX-322 treated patients. Frequency plans to initiate a Phase 2a study in the fourth quarter of 2019.
So Astellas has global rights for development and commercialisation except for the US for which Frequency Therapeutics is responsible. I hope it will be truly global effort and not just Japan. But very good news and a strong validation for the technology by a large pharma that has seen all the data to date.View attachment 31010
Astellas Obtains the Exclusive Rights to Develop and Commercialize FX-322 in Ex-U.S. Markets; Frequency Retains U.S. Rights
Frequency will Receive $80 Million Upfront from Astellas with the Potential of up to $545 Million in Future Milestone Payments as well as Double-Digit Royalties
TOKYO and WOBURN, Mass., July 17, 2019 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas" ) and Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that they have entered into an exclusive license agreement to develop and commercialize Frequency's regenerative therapeutic candidate, FX-322, for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type of hearing loss. At present, there are no approved therapeutic options for sensorineural hearing loss.
Under the terms of the agreement, Astellas will be responsible for the development and commercialization of FX-322 outside of the U.S. and Frequency will be responsible for U.S. development and commercialization. The companies will be jointly responsible for conducting global clinical studies and coordinating commercial launch activities. Frequency will receive an upfront payment of $80 million and may also receive up to an additional $545 million based on development and commercial milestones, as well as royalties on any future product sales in the licensed territory.
Frequency recently completed a Phase 1/2 clinical study in the U.S. in which FX-322 was observed to be well-tolerated following a single intratympanic injection, with no serious adverse events. Improvements in hearing function were observed in multiple FX-322 treated patients. Frequency plans to initiate a Phase 2a study in the fourth quarter of 2019.
They have facilities in the Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe.So Astellas has global rights for development and commercialisation except for the US for which Frequency Therapeutics is responsible. I hope it will be truly global effort and not just Japan. But very good news and a strong validation for the technology by a large pharma that has seen all the data to date.
View attachment 31010
Astellas Obtains the Exclusive Rights to Develop and Commercialize FX-322 in Ex-U.S. Markets; Frequency Retains U.S. Rights
Frequency will Receive $80 Million Upfront from Astellas with the Potential of up to $545 Million in Future Milestone Payments as well as Double-Digit Royalties
TOKYO and WOBURN, Mass., July 17, 2019 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas" ) and Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that they have entered
I was wondering this as well? Let's say the benchmark is 100 million+ in funding injection and a partnership with a major pharma distributor on the basis of hair cell regeneration? Anyone know of this?Has any other candidate in the past arrived so far like this? Is this really a unique moment in the history of hearing? I hope so.
My thought as well - I have 30 dB hearing loss so I should fall with a foot in the camp whichever way it wings for, high or low, rights XD.How much hearing loss does one need to have to be a candidate for the treatment though? I know I'm getting ahead of myself...
I will fly to Japan if I have to!!!So Astellas has global rights for development and commercialisation except for the US for which Frequency Therapeutics is responsible. I hope it will be truly global effort and not just Japan.
Why go to Japan when you will be able to get it in the US?I will fly to Japan if I have to!!!
US will probably take longer.Why go to Japan when you will be able to get it in the US?
Understatement...Seems very promising if they got bought out by such a large pharma company.
The testing and research is outsourced and operates under their guidance. So there could be hundreds of scientists employed by them, working in third party labs.I hope that this new licensing deal, $80M USD new capital and Astellas' contribution adds sufficient resources for the development of FX-322. Maybe they can speed up trials by adding Japanese and European facilities and patients. Somebody sent a link earlier stating Frequency Therapeutics has 14 employees. That has to be a major bottleneck in development. If you are convinced you have a billion dollar business you surely have more than 14 employees.
Statistically only about 30% of drugs that enter phase 2 make it to phase 3 so it's still better to be cautious. However, Astellas would not pay $80M USD for a drug candidate that is only safe. Instead, Astellas has been presented with strong data supporting efficacy of FX-322.
I am surprised that none of the tier 1 large pharmas like Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, Glaxo, etc made the deal. If it works, it is the biggest medical breakthrough in decades and someone will get a Nobel prize. And the market is so vast that it will be a blockbuster with sales in excess of 1 billion USD. Maybe the reason is that Astellas provided better conditions, valuation and royalty rates or that Frequency Therapeutics retaining US rights was not accepted by some.
This isn't an orphan drug though. The market is huge and to tap a real portion of that market they will need to compete with hearing aids...Since big pharma just got involved I can only assume that the treatment for this will be very expensive.
Have we got any evidence that restoring hearing will reduce tinnitus? Why then hearing aids don't help?