Entries by Georg Kääb

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WuXi AppTec bets on expansion in Europe

Global science, local innovation: In an interview with European Biotech Magazine, WuXi AppTec Co-CEO Steve Yang explains why Europe remains a key source of scientific innovation, why the company continues to expand its Munich site despite geopolitical tensions, and why trust, quality, and international collaboration are essential for the future of drug discovery.

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Targeted Protein Degradation: Designed to destroy

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has moved from a highly experimental concept to one of the most closely watched modalities in biopharma. What began with first-generation PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) has evolved into a broader “induced proximity” field that now includes molecular glue degraders, degrader-antibody conjugates (DACs), lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs), RNA degraders and other proximity-based therapeutics.

Funding: HMNC and the Long Road to Precision Psychiatry

With a first $50 million tranche of its Series B financing and a commercial partnership with MEDICE, HMNC Brain Health has secured fresh capital for its depression programmes. The deal marks an important milestone for the Munich-based company – nearly a decade after it first set out to transform psychiatry through precision medicine.

Heidelberg-based Veraxa ventures onto Nasdaq in turbulent market environment

Veraxa Biotech, an oncology company spun out of research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), has completed its merger with SPAC company Voyager Acquisition Corp. and will be trading as of today on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol VRXA. For the company, which has roots in the Heidelberg region, the move marks its transition from a research-driven company to a publicly listed biotech developer.

A fresh start for Molecular Health: technology core becomes start-up Lucera

A restart from within: Molecular Health is becoming Lucera. After years of shifting corporate fortunes, a substantial part of Heidelberg-based Molecular Health is continuing in a new form. An investor consortium has acquired the company’s pharma technology business and relaunched it as Lucera GmbH. Dr Friedrich von Bohlen remains at the helm, while Dr Stephan Brock, the mind behind the Dataome data engine, also stays on board as CTO.

T-CURX buys Pantherna as the race for in vivo CAR-T gathers pace

T-CURX acquires Pantherna: does this mark the start of a new race for the next generation of CAR-T therapies? The Würzburg- and Munich-based CAR-T company T-CURX is acquiring the Berlin-based mRNA and LNP company Pantherna Therapeutics. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Pantherna is to continue operating in Hennigsdorf as a wholly owned subsidiary.

Extra boost for Nuclidium: financing round reaches €115 million

Basel-based Nuclidium AG has secured an additional tranche for its ongoing Series B financing round, bringing the total to approximately €115 million. The theranostics company is developing copper-based radiopharmaceuticals that are used both for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications.

Three in One Go: LimmaTech, Curevo, Vaccine Company

Shopping spree at Eli Lilly? The US pharma giant is acquiring no fewer than three companies, all active in infectious diseases. Among them is Swiss biotech LimmaTech Biologics AG, led by former CureVac CEO Franz-Werner Haas. Yet Lilly’s ambitions extend well beyond classical infectious disease markets, targeting areas ranging from autoimmune disorders and antimicrobial resistance to chronic immune dysfunction and even cancer.