Switzerland’s Roche has discontinued RG6540, an experimental off-the-shelf CAR-T therapy targeting the CD19 and CD20 proteins, less than two years after agreeing to acquire its developer, Poseida Therapeutics, for up to $1.5 billion (€1.3 billion). Roche has not explained the reasons for the decision, but CEO Thomas Schinecker told reporters that the acquisition had yielded other CD19/CD20 candidates he considers superior.
Sensorion names CMO; Orano Med adds CSO; CRISPR Therapeutics changes CFO
Latest NewsEvery Friday, The Leadership Edit follows people taking new roles across European biotech and what their moves may tell us about the companies they join. This week: a hearing-loss specialist adds clinical leadership, a radiopharmaceutical developer strengthens drug discovery and a gene-editing company changes finance chief.
Roche scraps off-the-shelf CAR-T from Poseida deal worth up to $1.5B
Latest NewsSwitzerland’s Roche has discontinued RG6540, an experimental off-the-shelf CAR-T therapy targeting the CD19 and CD20 proteins, less than two years after agreeing to acquire its developer, Poseida Therapeutics, for up to $1.5 billion (€1.3 billion). Roche has not explained the reasons for the decision, but CEO Thomas Schinecker told reporters that the acquisition had yielded other CD19/CD20 candidates he considers superior.
Menarini adds Georgiamune’s oral immunotherapy candidate to its solid-tumor portfolio for $45M upfront
Latest NewsItaly’s Menarini Group will pay Maryland biotech Georgiamune $45 million (€40 million) in upfront and near-term payments, in a deal worth up to $1.1 billion (€1.0 billion) plus royalties, for worldwide rights to an oral cancer immunotherapy that has yet to enter human trials.
Qiagen agrees to go private with €10.8B takeover by EQT
Latest NewsSwedish private equity firm EQT wants to acquire diagnostics specialist Qiagen for €10.8 billion, or €46.50 per share. The company’s leadership unanimously supports the sale. Completion is planned for mid-2027 if more than 50% of shareholders agree.
Muna’s oral Alzheimer’s candidate shifts age-associated markers in Phase 1
Latest NewsAn experimental oral drug for early Alzheimer’s disease has produced positive Phase 1 results, including shifts in spinal-fluid markers of brain immune activity and neuronal stress in older volunteers toward levels seen in younger people, Danish biotech Muna Therapeutics reported. The drug, MNA-001, was also well tolerated, with no serious adverse events or adverse-event-related discontinuations reported.
Arctic Therapeutics raises $21.5M to take autoimmune programs to clinic
Latest NewsIcelandic biotech Arctic Therapeutics has raised $21.5 million (€19.1 million) in an oversubscribed round to take two drug candidates for autoimmune disease toward the clinic.
Closing AI medicine’s manufacturing gap
slider, Sponsored PublicationsAt the IZB in Martinsried, Invitris is developing a cell-free platform to turn digital sequences into proteins, antibodies and phages within hours. CEO Patrick Grossmann explains why AI is shifting the bottleneck from drug design to manufacturing, how Phactory™ addresses phage production and why microgravity could open new possibilities.
Evaxion reports durable responses; Novartis halts kidney trial; AstraZeneca signs AI deal
Latest NewsBeyond the main headlines, European biotech kept moving this week. This edition of Meanwhile in Biotech covers cancer vaccine follow-up, changes to kidney and obesity trials, and two developments in AI-enabled drug discovery. Here are six updates worth catching up on.
Ambrose expands rare disease pipeline with €161M AM-Pharma acquisition
Latest NewsBritish rare disease specialist Ambrose Healthcare has acquired Dutch biotech AM-Pharma for up to €161 million, adding an enzyme replacement therapy to its pipeline and a development base in Utrecht.
$15 billion deal: Roche bets on China — and questions Germany’s future
Latest NewsThe Swiss pharmaceutical group has agreed to another, deeper ADC partnership with China’s Hansoh Pharma, with potential milestone payments exceeding $15 billion. The deal comes amid mixed developments: While China wants to do more to protect its biotech technologies from flowing abroad, Roche’s new investment decisions in Germany are on hold for now.