In order to prepare for the start of Phase III trials with its lead drug candidate Nefecon, Pharmalink AB has made several new appointments. Among them Kari Sandvold, who will take over as Vice President Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing.

While competitor Eli Lilly has abandoned commercialisation of its Alzheimer’s therapy solanezumab due to lack of efficacy in a pivotal Phase III study, Genentech has tabled data supporting further development of its Phase III drug crenezumab. The anti-Abeta antibody is highly homologous to solanezumab.

Copenhagen-based Symphogen is losing its long-time CEO Kirsten Drejer, who co-founded the Danish antibody specialist in 2000. In her place, erstwhile CFO Martin Olin is taking over the helm.

French immunotherapy company TxCell has teamed up with Inserm Transfert, the tech transfer subsidiary of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research Inserm, to develop immuno-suppressive regulatory T cells.

UK researchers have identified a highly conserved target structure that can be directed to rush dividing cancer cells into premature division and cell death.

Merck KGaA has expanded its portfolio of blood-based RAS diagnostics for use in patient stratification. After kicking off testing with Sysmex Inostics’ CE-marked OncoBEAM RAS CRC liquid biopsy assay last year, the German drug maker welcomed the launch of a second blood-based test to detect KRAS mutations in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC): Biocartis’  Idylla ctKRAS Mutation Assay.

Euronext Brussels-noted adipose stem cell player TiGenix NV wants to offer 2.75 million American Depositary Shares (ADS) in an IPO at Nasdaq Global Market representing 55 million of its ordinary shares which had went up from  €0.91 yesterday to €0.96 (10.a.m.).

Roche’s US subsidiary Genentech has acquired an exclusive option to commercialise Novimmune’s TLR4 antibody NI-0101, the very first personalised approach to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The compound has already proved safety and drugability in a Phase I dose escalation trail.

Epidarex Capital-backed respiratory disease start-up Enterprise Therapeutics has named biotech entrepreneur John Ford as its new CEO. Ford previously co-founded Xention, Ario Pharma, and Metrion Biosciences.

Viennese Apeptico Forschung und Entwicklung GmbH and Milan-based Mediolanum Farmaceutici S.p.A. have signed a research & development cooperation and license agreement for Apeptico’s compound solnatide.