Actelion creates €30M vax startup, Immunocore expands Lilly deal, Cell Therapy seeks PhIII ally

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. Actelion (SIX:ATLN) bet €30 million ($33 million) on the potential of synthetic carbohydrate vaccines. The arrangement sees Actelion become the majority shareholder in a biotech created to develop assets discovered at the Max Planck Society, giving it exposure to the vaccine field without interfering with its core business. Immunocore signed up to have its lead T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapy trialled in another combination study. The latest deal gives Eli Lilly ($LLY) the right to test the TCR therapy in combination with a pair of its small molecules. Our next two stories both involve biotechs with Phase III-ready assets and a need for cash. Welsh biotech Cell Therapy prepared to step up partnership talks after its regenerative medicine showed promise in a Phase II trial. And Israel's Pharma Two B began assessing whether an IPO or partnership would give it the best chance of advancing its Parkinson's disease combination drug toward approval. Shares in Adocia (EPA:ADOC) rose 10% after its Lilly-partnered fast-acting insulin reconfirmed its potential to outperform Humalog. And more. Nick Taylor (email | Twitter)

1. Actelion creates vaccine startup with €30M investment and Max Planck assets

Actelion has got into startup creation. The Swiss biotech has committed €30 million ($33 million) to set up Vaxxilon, a synthetic carbohydrate vaccine-focused startup with a mission to push a program licensed from the Max Planck Society into the clinic within the next three years.

2. Immunocore lands immuno-oncology combination trial deal with Lilly

Immunocore has added another string to its collaboration with Eli Lilly. The deal is intended to show whether there is value in combining Immunocore's lead T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapy with galunisertib and merestinib in patients with metastatic cutaneous and uveal melanomas.

3. Cell Therapy weighs up partnership options after regenerative medicine aces PhII

Cell Therapy has posted positive data from a Phase II trial of its topical regenerative medicine to repair severe tendon injury. And with mid-stage data in the bag and a sizable potential market awaiting commercialization of the product, the regenerative medicine specialist is now assessing its partnership options.

4. Pharma Two B mulls IPO after posting PhIIb Parkinson's data

Pharma Two B has stepped up its hunt for financing after its Parkinson's disease combination drug came through a Phase IIb trial. The data have given Pharma Two B the confidence to start talking up a possible IPO or partnership deal as it moves toward gathering the cash needed for a pivotal study.

5. Adocia climbs 10% after Lilly-partnered insulin clears PhIb

Shares in Adocia rose 10% after its Eli Lilly-partnered fast-acting insulin impressed in a small early-phase study. The data position Adocia to push ahead with development of a product that could surpass Lilly's blockbuster fast-acting insulin Humalog in terms of speed and effectiveness.

And more articles of note >>