SNAPSHOT

FDA pushes forward the first new motion sickness drug since 1979

The FDA has approved Vanda Pharmaceuticals’ Nereus (tradipitant), the first new pharmacologic treatment for motion sickness since 1979.

Why it matters: Motion sickness affects up to 78 million U.S. adults, with few modern treatment options. Nereus offers a new, targeted therapy based on current neuropharmacology.

Backstory: Motion sickness arises from conflicting sensory signals, causing nausea largely via the chemical substance P, a small protein present in the brain. Until now, the scopolamine patch, approved in 1979, has dominated prescription treatment. A nasal scopolamine gel by Defender Pharma was rejected in 2024.

Zoom in: Nereus, taken orally, blocks NK-1 receptors targeted by substance P. FDA approval followed three pivotal trials, among which two were real-world Phase III studies on boats, where Nereus significantly reduced vomiting versus placebo.

Big picture: This approval marks a key step in updating care for a long-underserved condition and may pave the way for more modern therapies in related areas.

What's next: Vanda plans to launch Nereus in the coming months. It is also pursuing regulatory approval of tradipitant for gastroparesis and GLP-1RA-induced nausea.

SNIPPETS

What’s happening in biotech today?

🚪Eczema exit: Johnson & Johnson has halted development of JNJ-95475939, an IL-4 and IL-31 inhibitor for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, after interim phase 2b results failed to meet the company's high efficacy standards. The trial, launched in February 2025, was terminated early despite the drug being well tolerated. Acquired from Numab Therapeutics in 2024 for $1.25 billion, the therapy had initially shown promise, but the outcome now casts doubt on the investment. J&J remains committed to its broader dermatology pipeline, including icotrokinra, which recently outperformed BMS’s Sotyktu in Phase 3 trials for plaque psoriasis.

 🐎 DLL3 derby: AbbVie has secured an option to license alveltamig (ZG006), a trispecific T-cell binder targeting DLL3, from Zejing Biopharmaceutical for use outside China, with a $100 million upfront payment and an additional $60 million due if the option is exercised. The therapy is in late-stage trials for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other DLL3-expressing tumors, with potential milestone payments reaching $1.07 billion. DLL3 is found in over 70% of SCLCs, and AbbVie’s move positions it alongside companies like Amgen, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck & Co., and Roche, all pursuing DLL3-targeting treatments in this competitive oncology space.

 💸 Polθ payday: Gilead has agreed to pay Repare Therapeutics $25 million upfront, with an additional $5 million contingent on technology transfer, for rights to RP-3467, a Polθ ATPase inhibitor targeting BRCA-related cancers. The Canadian Biotech firm currently has RP-3467 in phase 1 trials, both alone and with Lynparza (olaparib), for several tumor types. Repare, recently acquired by nonprofit XenoTherapeutics, sees this as its most significant 2025 portfolio deal. This was the third deal of the year following other asset divestments of the PKMYT1 inhibitor program to Debiopharm and its discovery platforms to DCx Biotherapeutics.

🚧 End of the road: Nido Biosciences is shutting down after its lead candidate, NIDO-361, failed to show efficacy in a phase 2 trial for Kennedy’s disease (spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy), a rare neuromuscular disorder. Founded in 2020 by 5AM Ventures and publicly launched in 2023 with $109 million in backing from firms including Eli Lilly and Bioluminescence Ventures, the Massachusetts-based biotech aimed to correct transcriptional dysregulation using a small molecule approach. The company will fully close in early 2026, with only a few employees affected. Nido also had an early-stage program targeting broader neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases using its functional genomics platform.

🦴 Fracture flop: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is planning significant cost reductions after its antibody therapy setrusumab failed to meet primary endpoints in two phase 3 trials for osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare brittle bone disease. Despite improvements in bone mineral density, the therapy did not significantly reduce fracture rates compared to placebo or bisphosphonates in the Orbit and Cosmic studies. Analysts expressed surprise and concern over the unexpectedly low placebo fracture rate and lack of detailed data, including patient-reported outcomes. The biotech's stock fell sharply, and partner Mereo BioPharma, which holds European rights, also announced cost controls as both companies assess the future of the program.

SNAP AGAIN

Genmab focuses on top pipeline products by dropping lung cancer drug

Genmab has ended development of its Phase III lung cancer candidate acasunlimab, citing strategic pipeline reprioritization and stronger late-stage opportunities.

Why it matters: The move underscores Genmab’s commitment to streamlining investments toward high-potential assets like Epkinly, petosemtamab, and Rina‑S, drugs analysts estimate could generate up to $8B in peak sales. The decision won’t impact Genmab’s 2025 financial guidance.

Backstory: Acasunlimab, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-L1 and 4-1BB, was in trials for NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer), melanoma, and other solid tumors, in combination with Keytruda. Genmab took full ownership in 2024 after BioNTech exited the partnership.

Zoom in: While Phase II data in NSCLC showed a 17.5-month median overall survival, longer-term follow-up revealed a decline in efficacy, contributing to the program’s termination despite initial promise.

Big picture: Biopharma firms are increasingly realigning pipelines to focus on fewer, more commercially viable assets as competition intensifies and clinical data matures.

What's next: Genmab is pushing forward with pivotal trials for Epkinly, Rina‑S, and newly acquired petosemtamab following its $8B Merus acquisition in September 2025. Analysts view the shift as smart prioritization that enhances the company’s biotech growth potential heading into 2026.

SPEED READ

More news

• The FDA issued surprise rejections to Sanofi’s tolebrutinib for non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and Corcept’s relacorilant for Cushing’s syndrome, citing unresolved concerns despite prior encouraging signals.

• Biohaven’s BHV-7000 failed to outperform placebo in a phase 2 depression trial, prompting the company to exit psychiatric studies and heightening doubts ahead of epilepsy data.

TOUR OPERATOR

Upcoming events

• 🇩🇪 Heidelberg, 4 February 2026- Life, the biomedical convention

• 🇦🇪 Dubai, 9-12 February 2026, WHX Dubai

• 🇩🇪 Göttingen, 19 February 2026 - Life Science Start-up Day

• 🇬🇧 London, 24-25 February 2026 - World ADC London 2026

• 🇳🇱 Amsterdam, 3-4 March 2026 - BioCapital

• 🇪🇸 Barcelona, 10-12 March 2026 - Bioprocessing Summit Europe

• 🇳🇱 Utrecht, 26 March 2026 - Innovation for Health

• 🇦🇹 Vienna, 27-30 March 2026 - BioProcess International

• 🇩🇪 Munich, 17-21 April - ESCMID Global

• 🇺🇸 San Diego, 17-22 April 2026 - AACR Annual Meeting