Despite mostly positive data from the ongoing phase III study of Talaris Therapeutics Inc.’s lead asset, FCR-001, an allogeneic cell therapy for treating living donor kidney transplant patients, investors are stepping away. The Boston and Louisville, Ky.-based company’s stock took a hit June 20 as shares (NASDAQ:TALS) fell 36.7% to $4.51 each.
Galapagos NV is making a decisive shift away from its small-molecule roots, sealing the simultaneous acquisition of CAR T-cell therapy specialist Cellpoint BV and fully-human antibody company Aboundbio Inc. The Cellpoint deal is by far the largest, with Galapagos paying €125 million (US$132 million) cash up front, with a further €100 million to come in milestones. The price for Aboundbio of Pittsburgh, is $14 million.
Shares of Athersys Inc. fell sharply May 20 after its partner and top investor Healios K.K. reported that Multistem (invimestrocel), the experimental cell therapy they've co-developed since 2016, missed the primary endpoint of a Japanese phase II/III ischemic stroke study called Treasure. Many Athersys investors appeared to read the results as bad news for Athersys' ongoing pivotal phase III stroke study, Masters-2.
Shares of Athersys Inc. fell sharply May 20 after its partner and top investor Healios K.K. reported that Multistem (invimestrocel), the experimental cell therapy they've co-developed since 2016, missed the primary endpoint of a Japanese phase II/III ischemic stroke study called Treasure.
Inceptor Bio LLC, a company developing cell therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers, has closed a $37 million series A financing led by Kineticos Ventures, the second fund founded by Inceptor CEO Shailesh Maingi. Altogether, about 40 investors have supported the company's efforts, he told BioWorld. Proceeds from the round, which follows a $26 million seed financing in 2021, will support moving Inceptor's lead CAR T program into phase I testing, a move targeted for the second half of 2023, and continued development of rare CAR-macrophage and CAR-natural killer cell programs.
Bone Therapeutics SA has entered an exclusive three-month discussion period with Medsenic SAS, which could culminate in a reverse merger. The potential transaction represents a lifeline for the troubled Belgian cell therapy developer, which is running out of cash and which has been more or less abandoned by its shareholders.
Aspen Neuroscience Inc. has closed a series B financing of $147.5 million. The funds will help get its autologous neuron replacement candidate into a phase I/IIa study for Parkinson’s disease. Privately held Aspen has been talking about initiating the phase I/IIa clinical trial since at least 2019. But in April 2022, it came a lot closer to reality. That’s when the company launched its first patient screening studies at several sites in the U.S. Now, the trial-ready cohort study is designed to screen potential participants for the study.
Aurion Biotech Inc. pulled down a $120 million financing to advance efforts with its lead candidate, a cell therapy for the treatment of corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction (CESED).
Aurion Biotech Inc. pulled down a $120 million financing to advance efforts with its lead candidate, a cell therapy for the treatment of corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction (CESED).
Versant Ventures is committing $50 million in series A funding to Cimeio Therapeutics Inc., which aims to bring new possibilities in terms of disease targeting and safety to bear on a wide range of cell therapy applications, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and adoptive cell transfer.
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