The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) reported the opening of a series of regional offices that focus on both administrative and research assignments, a development that may bolster cures and treatments for tough-to-treat conditions. However, the U.S. House and Senate have different ideas about how much money the agency will receive in 2024, casting a cloud of uncertainty over how many projects the agency will be able to finance in the twelve months that will start on Oct. 1, 2023.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) reported the opening of a series of regional offices that focus on both administrative and research assignments, a development that may bolster cures and treatments for tough-to-treat conditions. However, the U.S. House and Senate have different ideas about how much money the agency will receive in 2024, casting a cloud of uncertainty over how many projects the agency will be able to finance in the twelve months that will start on Oct. 1, 2023.
Evotec SE and Novo Nordisk A/S have announced the launch of Lab En2, a translational drug discovery accelerator that aims to advance early research from academic institutions into novel therapeutics.
Day Zero Diagnostics Inc. added more of the right kind of zeros to its coffers as it closed a $16 million financing round supported by existing investors. Venture capital investment in the diagnostics company to date totals $49 million, with more than $18 million in additional non-dilutive funding. The company is developing a diagnostic that provides same-day identification of an infectious pathogen and its antimicrobial susceptibility profile.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded Evotec SE’s subsidiary Just-Evotec Biologics Inc. a contract valued up to US$74 million for the rapid development of monoclonal antibody (MAb)-based drug product prototypes targeting orthopoxviruses.
Selux Diagnostics Inc. received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for its next generation phenotyping (NGP) system, a rapid antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) platform that determines a bacteria’s susceptibility to 14 specific antimicrobial agents in less than six hours. Prompt identification of the narrowest effective antimicrobial for an infection is critical to the battle to preserve the efficacy of critical antibiotics and slow the development of ‘superbug’ infections.
A second death in the study of davoceticept (ALPN-202) has prompted Alpine Immune Sciences Inc. to stop enrolling participants in two phase I studies of the CD28 co-stimulator and dual checkpoint inhibitor, throwing the program’s future into doubt.
Another company has entered the fray in the eternal battle between humans and bacteria. Day Zero Diagnostics Inc. aims to produce whole genome sequencing-based diagnostic technologies that quickly identify the species and antibiotic resistance profile of bacterial pathogens from a blood sample. In a vote of confidence that the company is on the right track, the global non-profit Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) awarded Day Zero another $8.2 million. The latest funding pushes Day Zero’s awards from CARB-X over $16 million.
Biomérieux SA is stepping up investments in the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) space through a new new €40 million ($40.75 million) joint venture with Evotec SE and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH. The companies are teaming up to launch a new company, Aurobac Therapeutics SAS which will develop AMR diagnostic tests and antimicrobial therapies.
