Entries by Georg Kääb

Novartis’ $12B Avidity bet suffers Phase 3 blow

Novartis has suffered another pipeline setback after del-desiran, an antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate acquired with Avidity Biosciences, failed to significantly improve hand function over placebo in the Phase 3 HARBOR study in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Germany’s NRW state bets €200M on AI-powered cancer research

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a state located in the North-West of Germany, is investing €200 million to connect university hospitals in Aachen, Bochum, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Essen, Cologne and Münster, as well as the Technical University Dortmund in an AI network for cancer medicine.

Novartis commits $3.2B to subcutaneous delivery

Novartis could pay up to $3.223 billion (€2.8 billion) for access to Alteogen’s technology for turning intravenous biologics into subcutaneous drugs. Behind the eye-catching figure is more than patient convenience: Drug delivery is becoming an increasingly important tool for lifecycle management and emerging drug classes.

NovaGo raises $30M to advance regenerative spinal cord therapy

Swiss biotech NovaGo Therapeutics has raised CHF 24 million ($30 million/€25.5 million) in a Series B round to advance its lead anti-Nogo-A antibody into a randomized proof-of-concept study in patients with acute spinal cord injury. The financing was co-led by Neurimmune and Pureos, with participation from existing and new investors. The round is complemented by non-dilutive funding from the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation and Wings for Life.

Novartis: Three deaths put CAR-T expansion into autoimmune diseases on hold

Novartis has paused eight clinical trials of its CD19 CAR-T therapy rap-cel after three patients died from a severe immune reaction. The studies are evaluating the therapy in autoimmune and neurological diseases including lupus, systemic sclerosis, myositis and multiple sclerosis. The move highlights the safety challenges of taking CAR-T beyond oncology into chronic immune-mediated diseases.

Heidelberg Pharma deepens ADC alliance with Huadong

German biotech Heidelberg Pharma and China-based Huadong Medicine are drawing ever closer: What began as a licensing partnership has developed into an alliance spanning capital investment, joint ADC development and clinical research. Now, up to six new targets are being added, making the partnership increasingly strategic.

Berlin-developed Ebola vaccine heads toward African trial

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is providing Egyptian biopharmaceutical company Minapharm with up to $16.5 million (€14 million) to advance another vaccine candidate against Bundibugyo Ebola virus into clinical development. The candidate was developed by Minapharm’s Berlin-based subsidiary ProBioGen using its proprietary MVA-CR19 platform. A Phase I trial is planned in Africa, with the broader aim of helping the continent build the capacity to respond rapidly to emerging outbreaks.

Samanta Cimitan to (re)join Lonza from Celonic

Samanta Cimitan will join Lonza as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Senior Vice President and a member of the Extended Executive Committee on 1 January 2027. In the newly created role, she will lead Strategic Enterprise Account Management, Global Marketing and Commercial Excellence. She´s been with Lonza before her CEO role at Celonic for the last three years.

Moderna gives mRNA oncology a shot in the arm

A Phase III win for Moderna and Merck’s personalized mRNA cancer vaccine has reignited investor enthusiasm for mRNA — and put BioNTech back in the spotlight. But the data are more important than the stock rally: for the first time, a personalized mRNA cancer therapy has produced positive Phase III data in a major indication.