EuroBiotech:​​​ ​​​More​​​ ​​​Articles​​​ ​​​of​​​ ​​​Note

> Eternygen raised €8 million ($8.4 million) in a Series A round. The investment, which was led by Epidarex Capital with support from Evotec and others, will equip Eternygen to advance its sodium coupled citrate transporter (NaCT) inhibitor program toward the selection of a lead candidate. Eternygen sees the small molecule inhibitors as potential treatments for dietary-related metabolic diseases such as NASH. Release

> Macrophage Pharma raised £9 million ($10.9 million) and bought an immuno-oncology platform. The startup, which was founded by CRT Pioneer Fund and received investment from Novo Seeds and Aglaia Biomedical Ventures, bought the platform and discovery-stage assets from Chroma Therapeutics. Macrophage plans to move a novel macrophage-targeting p38 MAPK inhibitor into the clinic next year. Release

> Celyad claimed victory in its patent spat with CAR-T rival Cellectis. The companies' CEOs sparred last year over the validity of U.S. Patent No. 9,181,527. Cellectis CEO André Choulika said the patent was invalidated, only for Celyad CEO Christian Homsy to fire off a press release calling the statement “false and misleading.” Celyad has now said the patent, specifically the disputed claim 1, has been upheld and the decision is not open to appeal. Release

> Silence Therapeutics bought an 8.4% stake in rival RNA player Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals. Unusually, Silence acquired the shares without first discussing its intentions with Arrowhead. Silence said it “acquired the equity position in order to facilitate future discussions regarding a possible transaction with Arrowhead, which could include, but is not limited to, product licensing, R&D collaboration, technology sharing or a potential corporate transaction.” The move prompted a statement from Arrowhead saying there have been no discussions with Silence and its plans are unchanged. Release I Response

> Shield Therapeutics again delayed the date it expects data from a phase 3 trial of Feraccru. The trial, which is comparing Feraccru to intravenous iron product Ferinject, was originally due to post data in the second half of last year. Shield revealed it would miss that target in June, citing slower than expected study startup, and has now pushed back the readout further still. Data are now due in the second half of 2017, a setback Shield attributed to slow enrollment. Release

> Kymab secured a $9 million (€8.6 million) grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The British biotech will use the money to expand its infectious disease R&D program. Early research suggests Kymab’s platform can discover and test potential therapeutics and vaccines against HIV and other infectious diseases. Release