Sweden’s Spago Nanomedical will ask shareholders on Nov. 19 to approve delisting from Nasdaq First North, arguing that its listing obstructs financing on acceptable terms for Phase 2a development of its Tumorad radiopharmaceutical in head and neck cancer.
Inspired by technology and insights gleaned from cancer research, Europe is leading the quest for a new generation of therapies in immunology and inflammation. Immunotherapy has revolutionised cancer therapy and become standard of care in many areas of oncology but it has also begun to change outcomes in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Denmark’s Genmab has reported that its antibody-drug conjugate rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S) reduced the risk of progression or death by 71% and the risk of death by 57%, compared with conventional chemotherapy in a 584-patient Phase 3 trial of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. It has also released updated colorectal cancer data for its bispecific antibody petosemtamab.
Swiss big pharma Roche has agreed to license ZW209, an experimental cancer immunotherapy from Vancouver-based Zymeworks, for $55 million upfront and up to $758 million more in conditional payments, plus royalties on future sales. The agreement returns Roche to DLL3, a lung cancer target it previously pursued with a different antibody.
Every Friday, The Leadership Edit follows people taking new roles across European biotech and what their moves may tell us about the companies they join. This week: a hearing-loss specialist adds clinical leadership, a radiopharmaceutical developer strengthens drug discovery and a gene-editing company changes finance chief.
Switzerland’s Roche has discontinued RG6540, an experimental off-the-shelf CAR-T therapy targeting the CD19 and CD20 proteins, less than two years after agreeing to acquire its developer, Poseida Therapeutics, for up to $1.5 billion (€1.3 billion). Roche has not explained the reasons for the decision, but CEO Thomas Schinecker told reporters that the acquisition had yielded other CD19/CD20 candidates he considers superior.
Italy’s Menarini Group will pay Maryland biotech Georgiamune $45 million (€40 million) in upfront and near-term payments, in a deal worth up to $1.1 billion (€1.0 billion) plus royalties, for worldwide rights to an oral cancer immunotherapy that has yet to enter human trials.
Swedish private equity firm EQT wants to acquire diagnostics specialist Qiagen for €10.8 billion, or €46.50 per share. The company’s leadership unanimously supports the sale. Completion is planned for mid-2027 if more than 50% of shareholders agree.
An experimental oral drug for early Alzheimer’s disease has produced positive Phase 1 results, including shifts in spinal-fluid markers of brain immune activity and neuronal stress in older volunteers toward levels seen in younger people, Danish biotech Muna Therapeutics reported. The drug, MNA-001, was also well tolerated, with no serious adverse events or adverse-event-related discontinuations reported.
Icelandic biotech Arctic Therapeutics has raised $21.5 million (€19.1 million) in an oversubscribed round to take two drug candidates for autoimmune disease toward the clinic.