Entries by Uta Mommert

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.

UK boosts AMR defenses with £30m PACE initiative

In an effort to address the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Innovate UK, LifeArc, and Medicines Discovery Catapult have jointly launched the PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy) initiative. With £30m (around €34,5m) in funding, PACE aims to support early-stage innovations aimed at countering AMR.

Radiotherapy R&D partnership

Orano Med SAS and Orbit Discovery Ltd announced a collaboration to develop Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapies for cancer cells and develop novel radiopharmaceuticals.

BioInnovation Institute Boosts Six Life Science Companies

Non-profit foundation BioInnovation Institute (BII) has unveiled its latest commitment to driving innovation and growth within the life science sector. Six promising companies will receive crucial financial support through BII’s Venture House programme.

UK invests in biopharma manufacturers

The UK is making €15m investment in its biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry via its national innovation agency Innovate UK. It is part of the country’s larger push to support the domestic Life Sciences.

Oxford Biomedica expands agreement with Cabaletta Bio

British CDMO Oxford Biomedica plc announces the expansion of its License and Supply Agreement with cell therapy specialist Cabaletta Bio, Inc. The new agreements adds CD19 as a new target – it originally covered Cabaletta Bio’s lead product, DSG3-CAART.