Genome editing specialist Cellectis has kicked off clinical tests in the US for the very first of-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy in acute myeloid leukaemia.
European venture capitalist Seventure Partners and Johnson & Johnson have invested US$12m in Israel-based DayTwo. Based on HbA1c, lifestyle factors and genetic analysis of the individual microbiome, the company’s app analyses the individual microbiome to predict blood sugar responses to thousands of different foods.
Venture Capitalist Biogeneration Ventures has exceeded the target size of its life sciences fund BGV III through investments from the European Investment Bank’s InnovFin Equity Facility and the Dutch Venture Initiative II.
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended two antivirals, one biosimilar and two cancer meds for approval at its June meeting.
A publication in Science Translational Medicine shows that Roche has a rising star in the 15 million patient market of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In a Phase II trial, US and German researchers showed efficacy in geographic atrophy, an advanced stage of AMD, which has currently no treatment.
German oncologists have unveiled that market-approved inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DMNTi) and histone deacetylases (HDACi) act through expression of cancer neoantigens. They already have a biomarker test to identify responders.
Following shrinking sales for its wet AMD drug Lucentis, Novartis is back with convincing Phase III results of its anti-VEGF-A singe chain antibody fragment brolucizumab. In two pivotal studies the drug proved to be non-inferior to Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea (aflibercept).
Evotec and co-investors support Dutch Facio Therapies BV with €4.8m to push development of Dux4 inhibitors to treat facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy.
Belgian Asit Biotech S.A. (formerly Biotech Tools) has announced that its grass pollen allergic rhinitis immunotherapy gp-ASIT+ did reach the primary efficacy endpoint in a Phase III trial but needs confirmation through an additional Phase III study. Market access is receding into the distance.
After today’s completion of the acquisition of Actelion Ltd by J&J for US$30bn in cash, equivalent to US$280 per share, through the US company’s Swiss subsidiary, Janssen Holding GmbH, Actelion will become part of Janssen Pharmaceuticals.