Johnson & Johnson submits FDA application for Vyvgart competitor: The pharma company is seeking approval of nipocalimab in the autoimmune disease generalized myasthenia gravis, where argenx’s Vyvgart and UCB’s Rystiggo are already approved. J&J said that this is the first FDA submission for nipocalimab, which is part of a class of therapies designed to lower levels of certain disease-causing antibodies.
J&J is also developing nipocalimab for a host of other immune diseases, including Sjögren’s disease and a rare but serious condition called HDFN, where immune cells during pregnancy attack the baby’s blood cells. Others like Biohaven and Immunovant are also developing competing drugs. — Lei Lei Wu
LOTTE sets up venture fund: The Tokyo-based conglomerate, which entered the CDMO field two years ago, has formed a corporate venture capital arm for healthcare and biopharma. LOTTE did not disclose the size of the CVC. The move comes a few weeks after LOTTE Biologics broke ground on a multi-billion dollar facility in South Korea. — Kyle LaHucik