Start-Ups & SMEs
CEO Alex Zhavoronkov talks about the firm’s progress in AI-driven R&D, hitting the right level of drug novelty, partnering with Eli Lilly and its goal of outperforming China’s biopharma engine.
Restructuring Edition: Gossamer Bio, Bicycle Therapeutics and Evotec described plans to sharpen their focus and shrink their workforces. Also, Inovio, Vistagen and Amgen’s Horizon revealed job cuts, while BiomX and CNS Pharmaceuticals disclosed strategic shifts.
The biotech believes its Treg, QEL-005, can surpass existing therapies by modulating a range of pro-inflammatory mechanisms in complex immune conditions.
Private Company Edition: A Lilly Gateway Labs location for biotech start-ups is set to open on Samsung Biologics’ Bio Campus II in South Korea in 2027. Atavistik Bio and Vima Therapeutics each add $40m to their last financings, bringing the totals to $160m and $100m, respectively.
Co-founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci will depart BioNTech to work on a new mRNA spin-out company, but the announcement has left investors uncertain about the German firm’s future
South Korea's government is expanding initiatives to attract clinical trials, foreign pharma investment and partnerships as it looks to support domestic firms' R&D and international expansion ambitions.
AnaptysBio says it is on track to split into two companies. A spinout will look to partner Phase IIb rosnilimab and focus on earlier-stage candidates, while the other entity will focus on royalty income.
At BIO’s Investor and Growth Summit, investors acknowledged the tough funding environment for early stage neuroscience, but said there are signs of increasing interest in the space.
A new wave of commercial-stage biopharmas are interested in launching drugs in Europe but weighing risks related to US drug pricing policies
At BIO’s Investor and Growth Summit, panelists said biopharma companies that in the past would have out-licensed ex-US rights to their drugs are scrapping those plans due to most favored nation pricing in the US.
Panelists at BIO’s Investor and Growth Summit described a tough funding environment for early-stage companies, but identified some emerging opportunities for start-ups.
The spinout from Avidity hopes to pioneer precision therapy for genetic cardiomyopathy with siRNA delivery directly into heart muscle. Two lead candidates are nearing the clinic.
Private Company Edition: VC investors at Biocom’s annual conference said US start-ups should focus on cost efficiency and keep drug targets a secret for longer, like their peers in China. Also, Slate launched with $130m and Alveus grew its series A round to $197m.
Cytokinetics, BridgeBio, Ionis and Apellis updated investors on the commercial trajectories of new drug launhces, while Alkermes announced CEO Richard Pops will retire.
Emerging from stealth mode, Slate has revealed an in licensed anti PACAP migraine program, entering a field that includes efforts from Lundbeck.
With Phase IIb initiation planned in the second quarter, Altesa is advancing an antiviral candidate in COPD that aims to address viral triggers rather than underlying inflammation alone.
The San Diego-based biotech could be among the first rivals to Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly with VK2735, and an oral version also now moving into a pivotal study.
The Irish firm has raised a total of $60m to develop its antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate platform.
After more than a decade developing its nanoparticle radioenhancer technology, Nanobiotix and partner Johnson & Johnson believe it could soon begin to revolutionize frontline oncology treatment.
The CHMP has delivered a negative trend vote on the US firm's filing for Daybue.