Head – Innovation Accelerator Data Science

Lupus Foundation of America announces Genentech as national presenting sponsor of Walk to End Lupus Now(R). Mar 25, 2026, 10:00 ET This national partnership strengthens efforts to fund lupus research, education, and support programs nationwide. WASHINGTON, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - The Lupus Foundation of America proudly announced that Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, will serve as this year's presenting sponsor of the Walk to End Lupus Now(R), the nation's largest lupus awareness and fundraising program taking place in 30 communities across the United States. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide, including 1.5 million in the U.S. Symptoms can range from severe fatigue and brain fog to life-threatening complications and organ damage. While lupus can affect anyone, nine out of ten people with lupus are women, and it disproportionately impacts Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and Asian/Pacific Islander populations. Walk to End Lupus Now(R) brings people living with lupus and their caregivers, families, and supporters together to raise critical funds for lupus research, education, advocacy, and support programs. Through this partnership, Genentech will help the Lupus Foundation of America further drive progress in lupus care, expand essential resources, and bring us closer to a world without lupus. "We are incredibly grateful to Genentech for stepping forward as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Walk to End Lupus Now initiative," said Louise Vetter, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. "Genentech's commitment to the lupus community reflects a shared dedication to improving the lives of the millions of people affected by this complex and unpredictable disease. Together, we are advancing the quality of care for lupus families and ensuring that future generations have access to safe and effective treatments for this debilitating, chronic disease." "Genentech has spent the last three decades pursuing scientific breakthroughs for patients living with lupus," said Girish Mulye, Vice President and Head of Genentech Immunology. "Serving as presenting sponsor for the Lupus Foundation of America's Walk to End Lupus Now affirms our commitment to partnering with the lupus community in the fight for improved care. We walk for awareness and to turn scientific potential into impact for every person affected by this disease." Everyone can join the Walk to End Lupus Now program by rallying friends and family, organizing a team, engaging their social networks, raising critical funds, and fostering awareness to advance the Lupus Foundation of America's mission to end lupus. About the Lupus Foundation of America The Lupus Foundation of America is the premier patient advocacy organization devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, a devastating autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks organs throughout the body, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org. About Lupus Lupus is an unpredictable and complex autoimmune disease that can affect multiple parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, challenging to treat, and often misunderstood. Lupus can cause symptoms ranging from skin rashes to organ damage and can be life-threatening. Despite its devastating impact, research on lupus remains underfunded relative to the disease's scope. SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

Genentech shreds RIPK1 inhibitor from pipeline after early ph. 2 failure. Genentech has elected to stop a phase 2 trial of a RIPK1 inhibitor early and dump the asset after an analysis revealed the candidate was unlikely to meet the study's primary endpoint. Flizasertib, also known as GDC-8264, was removed from Genentech's pipeline in the first quarter of this year, a company spokesperson confirmed to Fierce Biotech, after interim data "indicated that the study was unlikely to demonstrate a significant clinical benefit." The Roche subsidiary was testing flizasertib's ability to treat acute kidney injury after heart surgery, a common complication that can follow procedures like coronary artery bypass, valve replacements and aortic surgeries due to reduced blood flow to the filtering organs. The terminated study was a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial that began in January 2025 and enrolled 67 patients, according to the federal clinical trials database. The primary efficacy endpoint, which flizasertib was not set to deliver on, was the percentage of patients who develop persistent complications in the 90 days following a surgery-induced kidney injury. Genentech announced the discovery of GDC-8264 last fall in a paper (PDF) published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. At the time, the biotech's scientists described the small molecule as having "excellent target selectivity and druglike attributes for once-daily oral dosing." Flizasertib's descent is another blow for the RIPK1 inhibitor field, which has struggled to produce an approved medicine despite numerous biotechs and Big Pharmas pursuing the target. RIPK stands for receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase, with RIPK1 part of a family of enzymes that help regulate inflammation and cell death. GSK had the first-ever RIPK1 inhibitor okayed for clinical research back in 2014, but later kicked it back to the research stage; that asset, GSK2982772, is no longer listed in GSK's pipeline. The British pharma also dropped a different candidate in the class for the development of prostate cancer in 2019. French drugmaker Sanofi bought into the modality in 2018 through a pact with Denali Therapeutics, but has steadily pulled back due to a string of phase 2 failures. Sanofi scrapped its last remaining Denali RIPK1 inhibitor at the end of January. Eli Lilly, too, has had a rethink of RIPK1. After signing a deal worth as much as $960 million with Rigel Pharmaceuticals back in 2021, Lilly reneged on the central nervous system-focused portion of the partnership. The star of that deal, though, Rigel's ocadusertib (now coded LY3871801), is still being tested in a phase 2 trial for rheumatoid arthritis. Meanwhile, there may be potential for an already approved drug to be repurposed as a RIPK1 inhibitor. Last summer, a team of Korean scientists discovered that phensuximide, which was once used to treat epilepsy, can restrain RIPK1's inflammatory activity. Let Google know we are your trusted source. Add our editorial as a preferred source in your search results.

Automation, partnerships driving advances in NC pharma manufacturing. With roughly 35,000 people employed in life sciences manufacturing, North Carolina has emerged as one of the leading destinations for biopharma companies building or expanding their operations. It's no surprise, then, that the state's biopharma manufacturers are investing heavily in technology, partnerships and people to maintain their competitive edge. That focus was front and center during the recent collaboration with INTERPHEX, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and FUJIFILM Biotechnologies. "I'm excited about the impact we're having in North Carolina and what we're doing here to establish ourselves as the area to compete with in the U.S.," said Laurie Braxton, senior vice president and site leader of North Carolina operations for FUJIFILM Biotechnologies. "We're not just giving people jobs for a few days or a few years. We're creating career paths that are going to allow people to excel in something that they're passionate about." Braxton was speaking at a recent daylong event on North Carolina life sciences manufacturing called "INTERPHEX On the Ground - North Carolina: The Inaugural Immersive Experience for Pharma and Biotech Professionals." The experience was organized by INTERPHEX, a pharma and biotech event held annually in New York City (April 21-23, 2026). INTERPHEX On the Ground was co-hosted by FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization and NCBiotech. The day included panel discussions and networking opportunities at NCBiotech's Research Triangle Park conference center and a panel and facility tour at FUJIFILM Biotechnologies' new cell culture manufacturing facility in Holly Springs. Technology assisting, not replacing people. Life sciences leaders provided insights into the ways their companies are building smarter, more advanced manufacturing capabilities. Advances in automation and artificial intelligence are helping manufacturers speed production of medicines while reducing error rates and downtime. While AI plays a key role, it doesn't work without people and processes, Matt Foster, Research Triangle Park site head at Eli Lilly, said during a panel discussion on the role of automation in therapeutic innovation. "I think AI is in combination with HI - human intelligence - in a partnership, not just an outsource," he said. "You have got to understand principles first to trust the AI tool or application that's going to benefit you and make you better." One application of AI that's improving drug manufacturing is the use of digital twins to simulate production processes and facilities. Joash Mudalige, vice president and site head for Genentech's 700,000-square-foot manufacturing facility under construction in Holly Springs, said the company is using digital twins to design facilities with a high degree of precision. "We have the entire model of the plant built on a digital twin, down to the varying temperature in the warehouse," he said. "What you can do through a tool like a digital twin, going into the design phase now, is just incredible." Collaboration over competition. The role of partnerships in biopharma manufacturing also took center stage during the day. Developing relationships across the industry is especially critical for contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) such as FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, which provides drug development and manufacturing services to pharmaceutical companies. FUJIFILM Biotechnologies' Braxton said the growing presence of manufacturing facilities in North Carolina is contributing to an environment marked more by collaboration than competition. "What we've had a lot of conversations about is, how do we not compete against each other, but how do we actually learn from each other, and how do we spread and share the wealth?" she said. One way to foster collaboration, several speakers said, is to join forces in support of education and training programs through the state's universities, community colleges and corporate training centers. Mevluet Yilmaz, director of sales for Optima Pharma, a German-owned company with a pharmaceutical filling and packaging operation in Knightdale, said workforce training is an area requiring significant investment on the part of pharma manufacturers. "Having trained operators that can operate the equipment is really key," he said. "Having a solid training program can really help them to understand and feel comfortable touching the equipment." Kyle Marshall, NCBiotech Writer Tue, 03/10/2026 Related life sciences news. March 17, 2026 The tenth edition of Triad BioNight, a celebration of bioscience growth and recognition of industry leaders in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad region, is expected to attract over 400 attendees in May. This long-standing, iconic event, hosted by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and its Piedmont Triad Regional Advisory Committee, is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. March 12, 2026 Coriolis Pharma, a global contract research and development organization, celebrated the grand opening of its new North America headquarters and laboratory, marking the start of operations at the Alexandria Center for Advanced Technologies (ACAT) in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park (RTP). March 9, 2026 As North Carolina's life sciences sector continues to grow, women are playing a central role in shaping its future. Across startups, pharmaceutical companies and economic development organizations, women launch companies, lead the manufacturing of new medicines and attract new companies to North Carolina - shaping North Carolina's life sciences ecosystem at every level.