DUBLIN – Shares in Innate Pharma SA slumped by 40 percent Thursday on news that a combination of its first-in-class antibody, lirilumab (IPH-2102/BMS-986015), which targets three inhibitory killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), and the PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) failed to demonstrate efficacy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
DUBLIN – Step Pharma SAS added €8.6 million (US$10.1 million) in a second closing of its series A round to take the total to €14.5 million. The Paris-based startup will use the cash to bring a class of small-molecule immunosuppressive drugs into clinical trials in autoimmune disease.
DUBLIN – U.K. start-up Critical Pressure Ltd. raised £10 million (US$13.2 million) in a series A round to move a selective inhibitor of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) into clinical development in intensive care patients with severe sepsis.
DUBLIN – Aicuris Anti-infective Cures GmbH is banking a €105 million (US$122 million) milestone from Merck & Co. Inc. on the back of an FDA approval of letermovir for preventing cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in seropositive adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). There could be cause for a double celebration shortly, as the drug is also up for decision at the EMA's Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP).
BERLIN – Omega-3 fatty acids have long been considered to have cardioprotective effects, but Berlin-based Omeicos Therapeutics GmbH has zeroed in on a short-lived metabolite which actually mediates the effect in an effort to develop a drug that can tackle chronic atrial fibrillation, a condition that affects millions of people.
BERLIN – Outsourcing has been one of the megatrends that has swept over the pharmaceutical industry in recent decades. Manufacturing, research and commercialization have become virtualized to varying degrees as companies seek to minimize capital expenditure and maximize the return on their pipeline assets.
BERLIN – The biotech industry is still cooling down from the high temperatures it reached in 2014 and 2015. R&D-stage acquisition deals and R&D-stage out-licensing deals are both well off their recent peaks, David Thomas, senior director, industry research and analysis at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) told delegates at his customary state-of-the-industry presentation at the kick-off morning plenary session at BIO-Europe.
BERLIN – Nouscom AG announced its presence on the opening day of the BIO-Europe Fall meeting with news of a €42 million (US$48.8 million) series B round that will enable it to move its distinctive viral vaccine approach to cancer immunotherapy into clinical trials.
DUBLIN – Advicenne SA set out its stall this week with plans to raise up to €35 million (US$41 million) in an IPO on the Euronext in Paris, in order to continue clinical development of its lead therapy, ADV-7103, and to initiate the commercial rollout of the product in Europe.
DUBLIN – Continuing its strong funding run of late, Europe's biopharmaceutical sector closed out October with another clutch of new share issues, from both listed firms and those aiming to join their ranks.
