Cambridge, UK-based Syndex Bio has announced on Monday the introduction of its proprietary mcPCR™ (methyl-copying PCR) platform at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) meeting in Orlando, Florida, alongside the close of an oversubscribed $15.5 million seed financing round led by ARCH Venture Partners, with participation from +ND Capital, OMX Ventures and Meltwind Advisory LLP.
Novo Nordisk partners with MIT spinout Vivtex in deal worth up to $2.1bn to advance oral biologics for obesity
Latest NewsDenmark’s Novo Nordisk has signed a collaboration with Boston-based Vivtex Corporation to develop next-generation oral biologic medicines for obesity, diabetes and associated metabolic diseases. Vivtex is eligible to receive upfront payments, research funding and milestone payments totalling up to $2.1 billion (approximately €1.78bn), as well as tiered royalties on net sales of any resulting products.
GSK buys 35Pharma for $950m, targeting next-generation pulmonary hypertension therapy and the TGF-β superfamily
Latest NewsGSK will pay $950m for Montreal-based 35Pharma to secure HS235, an investigational activin signalling inhibitor that has completed Phase I trials in healthy volunteers and is set to begin studies in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF).
Skin in the AI game: Beiersdorf Ventures invests in AI biology platform Turbine
Latest NewsAs a co-investor in the USD 25 million Series B round, Beiersdorf AG is signalling that artificial intelligence is becoming strategically important for skin research. The Hamburg-based group is participating through its venture unit in the AI biotech Turbine, founded in Budapest and now also headquartered in London.
Brainomix extends Series C to £18.8m as Oxford AI imaging spinout pushes into the US
Latest NewsOxford-based Brainomix has added £4.8 million (approximately $6.5m/€5.5m) to its Series C financing, bringing the total round to £18.8 million ($25.4m/€21.5m) and providing fresh capital to accelerate the US rollout of its AI-powered imaging platforms for stroke and lung fibrosis.
Early BioNTech mRNA breast cancer trial delivers surprise in longtime disease control
Latest NewsA study recently published in Nature on the use of mRNA “vaccines” targeting cancer neoantigens in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has generated considerable attention in scientific circles. However, with only 14 patients treated in this Phase I trial, it is far too early to declare a breakthrough. Still, the highly encouraging data breathe new life into a cancer vaccine approach that in recent years had fallen behind antibodies, ADCs and checkpoint inhibitors.
Angelini partners with Quiver on AI-driven discovery in genetic epilepsies
Latest NewsItaly’s Angelini Pharma has signed a multi-year research collaboration and licensing agreement with Massachusetts-based Quiver Bioscience to discover new treatments for genetic epilepsies, including developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). Under the agreement, Quiver could receive up to $120 million in milestone payments plus royalties if Angelini advances drug targets emerging from the collaboration. Financial terms for the upfront payment were not disclosed. Angelini will also receive exclusive access to data generated during the research term.
Europe accelerates next-generation flu vaccines with €225m innovation procurement push
Latest NewsA group of vaccine developers, biotech firms and public health institutes, including Bavarian Nordic and Sanofi, has secured framework contracts under a €225 million EU initiative to accelerate the development of next-generation influenza vaccines.
MoonLake’s sonelokimab shows strong Phase II efficacy in axSpA, challenging UCB’s Bimzelx
Latest NewsMost inflammatory arthritis patients on MoonLake Immunotherapeutics’ sonelokimab met the response criteria, furthering the Swiss biotech’s attempt to challenge UCB for a blockbuster market.
Syndex Bio raises $15.5M seed and unveils mcPCR platform for DNA methylation analysis
Latest NewsCambridge, UK-based Syndex Bio has announced on Monday the introduction of its proprietary mcPCR™ (methyl-copying PCR) platform at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) meeting in Orlando, Florida, alongside the close of an oversubscribed $15.5 million seed financing round led by ARCH Venture Partners, with participation from +ND Capital, OMX Ventures and Meltwind Advisory LLP.
Lario Therapeutics wins $2.4m grants to advance calcium channel drugs for Parkinson’s and PTSD
Latest NewsEdinburgh-based Lario Therapeutics has received $2.4 million (approximately €2m) in grant funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Wellcome to expand its drug discovery platform targeting voltage-gated neuronal calcium channels implicated in several central nervous system disorders. The approach is rooted in genetics that the company believes could open new fronts in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).