> Evotec (FRA:EVT) struck a deal with Scotland’s ex scientia to discover bispecific small molecule immuno-oncology therapies. The deal pairs ex scientia’s algorithmic design platform to the medicinal chemistry capabilities Evotec gained when it took over Sanofi’s ($SNY) former site in Toulouse, France. Initially, the collaborators are going after cancer-related adenosine targets, an approach they think can lead to more effective, broadly applicable therapeutics. Statement
> Stallergenes Greer (EPA:STAGR) reported data from a Phase II trial of the treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by Japanese cedar pollen it is developing with Shionogi. The study met its primary efficacy measure, which assessed the performance of the immunotherapy as compared to a placebo against the Average Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score. Stallergenes Greer and Shionogi are now looking to generate additional data in a Phase III study. Release
> Adocia (EPA:ADOC) reported data from another of its clutch of Phase Ib studies. The trial assessed the effect of the Eli Lilly ($LLY)-partnered short-acting insulin BioChaperone Lispro in patients with Type 2 diabetes. When compared to Lilly’s Humalog, BioChaperone Lispro was associated with an 83% increase in exposure to insulin lispro in the 30 minutes following injection. “We are encouraged by the results of this trial,” Lilly’s Dr. Thomas Hardy said in a statement. “In addition, we are pleased with the expeditious progress of our joint program with Adocia.” Release
> The U.S. FDA granted fast-track status to AM-Pharma’s treatment of acute kidney injury, recAP. The status puts AM-Pharma in a position to speed the development and review of a candidate that has just come through an interim analysis of the first stage of a Phase II trial. Having completed the analysis, AM-Pharma now knows which dose it will use in the second stage of its study, a 170-person, placebo-controlled trial. Release
> Strekin began a Phase II trial of a drug designed to preserve the residual hearing of patients who undergo cochlear implantation surgery. The Basel, Switzerland-based biotech, which is managed by a team of former Novartis ($NVS) and Roche ($RHHBY) employees, is looking to generate data to show its STR001 thermogel can preserve hearing in the 6 weeks following surgery. Strekin, which has kept a low profile to date, has enough money to complete the Phase II trial. Statement
> The FDA cleared Summit Therapeutics’ ($SMMT) IND application, setting the company up to expand its Phase II Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) trial to sites in the U.S. Having received the clearance, Summit expects to start enrolling U.S. DMD patients in the third quarter of 2016. The trial, which is also recruiting participants in the U.K., is looking to show that Summit’s DMD drug can have a positive effect on magnetic resonance imaging parameters tied to fat infiltration. Release