Entries by Uta Mommert

Novo Nordisk signs deal for monthly GLP-1 agonist

Novo Nordisk is putting down up to US$362m to tap into Ascendis’ TransCon technology for treatments in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The pharma powerhouse has its sights set on developing a once-monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Purespring bags £80m to transform kidney disease treatment

Purespring Therapeutics, a pioneering gene therapy company focused on transforming kidney disease treatment, has raised £80 (€96m) in an oversubscribed Series B round. Led by Sofinnova Partners, this funding also drew support from Gilde Healthcare, Forbion, British Patient Capital, and Syncona Limited.

Vicore secures funding to accelerate drug development

Swedish clinical-stage pharmaceutical company Vicore Pharma has secured SEK100m, supported by existing and new investors. The injection of capital will allow the company to scale the clinical development of its portfolio of therapies in respiratory and fibrotic diseases.

€20m loan for pandemic preparedness

Fab’entech, a French biopharma company, has secured a loan worth €20m from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under the HERA Invest programme, aimed at bolstering Europe’s preparedness against biological threats.

AMR Accelerator urges long-term funding

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a huge threat to the prevention and treatment of a growing number of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. A public-private partnership involving nine European projects and 98 organisations is now calling for long-term investment to maintain Europe’s ability to research and develop new antibiotics.

Funding for green insecticides

Agri-biotech SOLASTA Bio Ltd. has raised US$14m in a Series A funding round led by Forbion. With the money, the UK company will advance its first-of-a kind peptide-based bioinsecticide.

AZ’s lung cancer drug disappoints

A Phase III trial evaluating AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s potential “blockbuster” lung cancer drug Dato-DXd showed no significant improvement over standard chemotherapy. Investors reacted quickly: AstraZeneca’s share price dropped 5% following the announcement.

PulseSight to disrupt AMD space

PulseSight Therapeutics SAS was launched on Wednesday, backed by seed financing from Pureos Bioventures and ND Capital. The company introduces a disruptive delivery platform in ophthalmology biotech, focusing on the development of non-viral gene therapies coupled with minimally-invasive delivery technology.

Innate immunity merger raises €75m

Forbion has spearheaded a €75m Series A financing in Norwegian biotech Calluna Pharma. The clinical-stage company resulted from the merger of Oxitope Pharma and Arxx Therapeutics.

Roche jumps ship on AC Immune

Genentech, Roche’s US subsidiary, is ending its decades-long collaboration with AC Immune SA after disappointing study results. It has handed the global rights to Crenezumab and Semorinemab back to the Lausanne-based biotech.