Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Fighting AMR efficiently

Major European stakeholders have released statements on how to fight antimicrobial resistance more effectively. Regulatory agencies such as EFSA and EMA call for locally adapted combination strategies while biotech companies advocate for more support in antibiotics R&D.

uniQure gets FDA breakthrough status for AMT-060

Dutch gene therapy specialist uniQure Biopharma BV will be able to rapidly develop its haemophilia B gene therapy AMT-060. Based on data of a Phase I/II safety study, the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation for the new way to substitute the heritable lack of blood clotting factor IX. 

IBAM completes US$690m deal

Belgian-headquartered IBA Molecular has completed the acquisition of British Mallinckrodt’s nuclear imaging business summing up to approximately US$690m.

€500m to push gene therapy

German Christian democrats have started the election year underpinning their intention to pump money into life science research and into its translation into products.

Johnson & Johnson to buy Actelion for US$30bn

Following a month-long take-over poker, J&J’s and Actelion’s boards have agreed to support an all-cash tender offer from J&J in which shareholders are set to receive US$280.08 per share and one share of NewCo, an R&D spin out to be led by Actelion CEO Paul Clozel. J&J will acquire at least 67% of Actelion’s shares and will hold 16% of NewCo with an option to further 16%.

HCC: resminostat boosts overall survival

German 4SC AG’s epigenetic cancer drug resminostat is back. What seemed to be a flop after Phase II failure has being transformed into a success story of personalised medicine. By accurate data analysis 4SC’s partner Yakult Honsha identified a subgroup in which the drug significantly improved outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

GM mosquitoes to be released in India

Oxford-based Intrexion-subsidiary Oxitec plans to release male GM mosquitoes that produce nonviable offspring in India, in order to limit the spread of dengue and chikungunya fevers transmitted by Aedes aegyptii.

Biotech CEOs advise EU on breakthrough innovations

Two biotech CEOs have been selected by the European Commission for the High Level Group. The EU think tank will provide strategic input to Horizon 2020 and a €2.5bn fund to support innovation by 2020 in order to boost disruptive technologies and to address gaps in in the current innovation support landscape. 

Affimed is seeking funds

While German Nasdaq company Affimed (AFMD) had an accumulated loss of over €100m, an annual development cost of about €38m for its Tandab pipeline, and an income of only about €8m from collaborations at the end of 2015, the company is trying to bulk up its funds through a public offering of common stock.