Entries by Georg Kääb

Japan’s Asahi Kasei buys antiviral specialist Aicuris in €780 million deal

Takeover in Wuppertal: Aicuris Anti-Infective Cures AG, which specializes in active ingredients for infectious diseases, is being acquired by Japanese pharmaceutical company Asahi Kasei for almost €800 million (around US$920 million). The company, founded by former Bayer employees Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff and Holger Zimmermann using substances from Bayer, had obtained its own approval and is currently in late-stage clinical development with active ingredients that are currently being presented with positive data at scientific conferences.

Early BioNTech mRNA breast cancer trial delivers surprise in longtime disease control

A 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.

Boehringer drops inhaled gene therapy for cystic fibrosis

Setback for Boehringer Ingelheim: the company has halted development of its inhaled gene therapy BI 3720931 for cystic fibrosis after a phase 1/2 trial failed to deliver efficacy data supporting further progress. While the safety profile met expectations, the programme has now been shelved.

US settlement: Has Bayer untied the Monsanto knot?

Years of uncertainty surrounding the numerous pending lawsuits against Bayer’s Monsanto unit could now be brought to an end through a costly but capped court settlement. Under the proposed agreement, Bayer would pay up to roughly 7 billion US dollars over around 20 years to resolve claims for damages.

Immunic secured US$400 million to conclude phase 3 MS program and prepare for launch

A late-week surprise from Munich-based Immunic, Inc. (listed on Nasdaq as IMUX): the company has launched a follow-on private placement of up to US$400 million and expects to close the financing later this month. At the same time, the biotech is pressing ahead with its transformation in preparation for the potential commercialisation of its lead asset. Current CEO Daniel Vitt will step back once a successor with proven market-launch expertise has been appointed.

Swiss-Japanese ADC player Araris expands Chugai pact with $780m licensing agreement

Zurich-based oncology biotech Araris Biotech AG has entered into a research collaboration with an option to license with Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Roche. The aim of the partnership is to develop next-generation antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). While Araris itself is now Japanese-owned – a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical, part of the Otsuka Group – its research activities remain firmly rooted in Zurich. That presence was highlighted last year when the Strüngmann brothers, German billionaire twins, awarded a prize to the company’s founders.

This Memo sticks: CSL bites in Switzerland for antibody collaboration

The Australian–Swiss plasma specialist CSL is relying on technology from Switzerland for recombinant polyclonal immunoglobulins (IgG). With Memo Therapeutics, the company has entered into a collaboration and option agreement with a total potential value of up to CHF 265 million. This is good news for Memo, while CSL, following substantial job cuts including in Marburg, could also use some different headlines for a change.