Amgen’s Imlygic was approved last year – a move that finally added oncolytic viruses (OVs) to the healthcare toolkit. Although the treatment’s scope of application as a stand-alone therapy is limited, many are viewing the event as Ground Zero for an explosive new age in medicine. Evidence is mounting that the full potential of virotherapies can only be realised in combination with other immunotherapies, chemotherapies or small-molecule therapies. A number of other European drug developers have now jumped on Amgen’s bandwagon.
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Founder relief
AppointmentsUS-Dutch medical device company EndoStim, developer of neurostimulation therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease, has named Rohan Hoare as president and CEO. He succeeds founder Bevil Hogg, who will continue to serve the company as a consultant.
Medivation opens books to Sanofi
Latest NewsCalifornian biopharma Medivation has agreed to confidential negotiations with its suitors, in particular the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which aggressively has buffeted the cancer therapy specialist for months.
Kymab: Old into new
AppointmentsAntibody veteran David Chiswell, Interim CEO and Chair of Cambridge-based antibody developer Kymab, is taking over at the company’s helm for good. Kymab’s new old CEO is stepping down from his role as Chairman, however.
Next chapter in Dx IP dispute
Latest NewsThe European Commission started an investigation into Illumina’s and Sequenom’s 2014 patent agreement, UK-competitor Premaitha Health said. The two US companies had agreed to pool their Noninvasive Prenatal Testing IP.
Veterinary Mandate
AppointmentsThe EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) has unanimously appointed David Murphy from Ireland as its new Chair for the next three years. Murphy, a qualified veterinarian, is the Veterinary Assessment Manager at the Health Products Regulatory Authority in Ireland.
Cinfa shows biosimilar equivalence
Latest NewsCinfa Biotech is shuffling for position on the lucrative biosimilar market. The Spanish-German company has published positive results in a study for a pegfilgrastim copycat with 172 healthy volunteers in Germany.
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Oncolytic viruses: Natural Born Killers
BackgroundAmgen’s Imlygic was approved last year – a move that finally added oncolytic viruses (OVs) to the healthcare toolkit. Although the treatment’s scope of application as a stand-alone therapy is limited, many are viewing the event as Ground Zero for an explosive new age in medicine. Evidence is mounting that the full potential of virotherapies can only be realised in combination with other immunotherapies, chemotherapies or small-molecule therapies. A number of other European drug developers have now jumped on Amgen’s bandwagon.
Leading commercialisation
AppointmentsTorsten Hombeck will take charge of the commercial activities and the general strategy of Promethera Biosciences. The Belgian cell therapy specialist appointed Hombeck as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer.