Category Archives: Topics

Zafgen Q4 ’18 Earnings Update; ZGN-1258 Discontinued in PWS

Yesterday, Zafgen hosted its Q4 ’18 earnings call and discussed its pathway to have FDA remove the clinical hold on ZGN-1061, its novel MetAP2 inhibitor for the treatment of T2DM. Additionally, Zafgen disclosed it has discontinued development of ZGN-1258 for the development of Prader-Willi Syndrome due to unforeseen findings in rat toxicity studies. Below are highlights and insights from the call.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

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New Head of AZ CVRM

In AstraZeneca’s press release regarding presentations at ACC 2019, Joris Silon was listed as the company’s new SVP of the CV, renal, and metabolism (CVRM) group. Recall, in October 2018, Novo announced that Ludovic Helfgott, previous head of AZ’s CVRM business, would be joining Novo as of April 3, 2019. According to Silon’s LinkedIn profile, he took the new position as of December 2018. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on Silon’s appointment to head AZ’s CVRM group as well as the headwinds and tailwinds that he faces.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

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Purchase Blast$599.00

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Thoughts on Potential Livongo IPO

Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Livongo is preparing for an IPO in 2019. According to the story, Livongo has already approached Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan to underwrite the IPO with a company valuation >$1B. Recall, in March 2017, Livongo raised $52.2M in a growth round, and in April 2018, it raised an additional $105M with a total of $240M in private financing (previous FENIX insight). Below, FENIX provides additional thoughts on the Livongo IPO.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

You can read the article’s full content online after purchase.

Dexcom Loses Appeals Court Bid For AgaMatrix Lawsuit

Dexcom has reportedly lost its appeals court bid to reinitiate its patent dispute vs. AgaMatrix. Previously, Dexcom alleged that Agamatrix’s CGM technology infringed on Dexcom’s patents for improving sensor accuracy. Recall, AgaMatrix (and its subsidiary WaveForm) acquired CGM IP from iSense and Bayer in early 2016. Below, FENIX provides a brief overview of the litigation history between AgaMatrix and Dexcom as well as thoughts on potential resolutions.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

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Zealand and Xeris Q4 ’18 Earnings Updates

Zealand and Xeris both released their respective Q4 ’18 earnings. Of note, Xeris did not have an associated call for investors. Recall, Xeris’s Gvoke glucagon rescue product PDUFA date is on June 10, 2019, and Zealand remains on track to file an NDA for its dasiglucagon HypoPal by YE ’19. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the respective earnings releases.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

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Tandem Control-IQ Pivotal Trial Problem

Tandem Diabetes Care announced that it is using the Tandem Device Updater to “resolve a Control-IQ technology software anomaly identified during the ongoing DCLP3 phase of the International Diabetes Closed Loop (IDCL) clinical trial.” According to the press release, Tandem is in discussion with the IDCL study investigators to evaluate any impact on the clinical or regulatory strategy. Recall, Tandem had been planning to launch Control-IQ as early as Summer 2019. Below, FENIX provides insight on the potential impact to the initial Control-IQ regulatory approval as well as thoughts on how Tandem has already started to spin the news as a positive indicator.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

You can read the article’s full content online after purchase.

Thoughts on Biocon Form 483 Observations and Impact to Semglee US Launch

Biocon has reportedly received six Form 483 observations during FDA’s pre-approval inspection of its insulin drug substance manufacturing facility in Bengaluru (Bangalore); however, this Form 483 is not yet listed in FDA’s public database. Interestingly, the Biocon press release states the FDA inspection was “triggered by a New Drug Application submitted by our insulin API customer” which is assumed to be referencing the bs-glargine filing by Mylan. Below, FENIX provides insight on the impact to the Semglee (glargine U100) US commercial launch and thoughts on how a delayed tentative approval could potentially lead to a royalty agreement between Sanofi and Mylan.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

You can read the article’s full content online after purchase.

Former Medtronic CMO Joins Senseonics

Senseonics announced the appointment of Francine Kaufman as Chief Medical Officer (pictured below). Kaufman is a pediatric endocrinologist and most recently worked at Medtronic as the CMO and VP of Global Clinical, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on how Kaufman immediately provides significant credibility to Senseonics during the critical Eversense implantable CGM launch phase.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

You can read the article’s full content online after purchase.

Pfizer Licenses T1DM Immunotherapy From AnTolRx

AnTolRx, a privately held biotech company, announced Pfizer has exercised its option to license AnTolRx’s antigen-specific immunotherapy for T1DM. According to the press release, AnTolRx will receive an up-front payment and is eligible for milestone and royalty payments. The specific financial terms were not disclosed. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on the AnTolRx opportunity in the context of other T1DM immunotherapies in development.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

You can read the article’s full content online after purchase.

New Glooko Business Model; Glooko Mobile App to be Given Away for Free

Glooko announced it is removing the subscription fee for its data management platform. Previously, users who did not have coverage through their insurance or employers were required to pay a fee to access the platform. Additionally, the Glooko/Senseonics data integration appears to be complete. Now, users can directly sync Eversense data to the Glooko platform via the Senseonics Cloud. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on Glooko’s new business model as well as insight into how the integration with Eversense likely benefits Senseonics more than Glooko.

About The Author

Matthew Maryniak

|
President of Fenix Group International

Matthew has been a thought leader in the high-growth therapeutic areas of diabetes and cardiovascular medicine since 2006, making regular attendance at large and small CV/met scientific meetings and an architect of novel methods for assessing market opportunities. He has over a decade of experience in leading CV/met consulting engagements, is a published author in PM360 and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and has been quoted in The Pink Sheet on anti-thrombotics.

If you receive our email blasts, you already have an account.

Purchase Blast$599.00

You can read the article’s full content online after purchase.