The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) juggernaut powers on, with Japan’s Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. set to acquire Araris Biotech AG for up to $1.14 billion. Of that, $400 million will be up front, with the remainder tied to milestones with a maximum value of $740 million, around the progress of three ADCs for treating solid and hematological cancers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) drug developer Insilico Medicine raised $110 million in a series E round led by an Asian private equity fund, Value Partners Group, that will see Insilico advance its pipeline and AI platform developments.
Leading pharma companies have pitched into Sofinnova Partners’ new accelerator fund, which has exceeded the target and closed at €165 million (US$180 million). In what is said to be the largest pan-European biotech accelerator fund, Amgen Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Ventures will get an inside track on startups formed around academic research, as the nascent companies are shaped up for formal investment rounds.
Miracure Biotechnology Ltd. has divulged Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and/or TLR8 agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, infections, respiratory disorders and immunological disorders.
Genentech Inc. has disclosed molecular glue compounds with the ability to induce cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)/protein cereblon (CRBN) interaction for CDK2 degradation reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
A team at Baylor College of Medicine conducted research to identify novel cell-surface cancer/germline antigens (CGAs) expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that could serve as targets for development of CAR T therapies against this disease.
In recently published work from Air Force Medical University, analysis of tumor tissues isolated from different patient-derived xenografts revealed significantly increased expression of FXYD5 in the metastatic tumors compared to the primary tumors, and analysis of patient database confirmed significantly elevated expression of FXYD5 in gastric cancer tissues compared to normal gastric tissues.
Pancreatic cancer is still among the most lethal cancers, with >45% of patients presenting distant metastasis at diagnosis, and with a 5-year survival rate of 13%. Known for its role in appetite and energy homeostasis, neuropeptide Y (NPY) is the most common neuropeptide in the central and peripheral nervous system, acting through its receptor NPY1R, among others.
Alteogen Inc. signed its first billion-dollar partnership this year for ALT-B4 technology through two separate contracts with Astrazeneca plc’s U.K.- and U.S.-based Medimmune subsidiaries worth up to $1.35 billion combined.
Artificial intelligence (AI) drug developer Insilico Medicine raised $110 million in a series E round led by an Asian private equity fund, Value Partners Group, that will see Insilico advance its pipeline and AI platform developments.