EuroBiotech: More Articles of Note

> GenSight Biologics named former Biogen VP Mohamed Genead, M.D. as its CMO. Genead worked as VP and global therapeutic area head for ophthalmology/retina gene therapy at Biogen, giving him a background that is a good fit for his new role. Novartis-backed GenSight is developing gene therapies to treat neurodegenerative retinal diseases. Statement

> Shares in Abivax jumped by more than 100% after it posted phase 2a data on its HIV candidate. Half of the 14 evaluable patients in the treatment arms experienced a reduction in viral load. No patients in the placebo arm experienced such a reduction. The data suggest ABX464 may be able to play a role in reducing the viral reservoirs present in patients with HIV. Release

> Lundbeck and Otsuka posted mixed, messy data from phase 3 trials of brexpiprazole in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The two phase 3 trials set out to show the drug could lessen the agitation of Alzheimer’s patients but only one study hit its primary endpoint. And the partners spotted country-to-country variability in the data, with the drug performing worse in patients enrolled at trial sites in Russia. Lundbeck and Otsuka plan to discuss the data with FDA. Statement

> GammaDelta appointed former GSK Oncology president Paolo Paoletti, M.D. as its CEO. Paoletti will lead a recently-established management team at the British immunotherapy startup. Ex-Pfizer researcher Natalie Mount, Ph.D. has joined as CSO. Dayle Hogg has also come on board as chief operating office. Release

> Z Factor raised £7 million ($9 million) to take a drug to treat alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency into the clinic in 2019. Medicxi led the round, adding to the seed funding it previously put into Z Factor. The Series A continues a busy period in the relationship between Medicxi and the University of Cambridge’s Jim Huntington. In February, Medicxi led investments in two other Huntington startups, ApcinteX and SuperX. Statement

> TxCell teamed up with Inserm to develop CAR-Tregs for use in transplants and multiple sclerosis patients. The agreement positions the organizations to collaborate on the development of engineered CD8+ Treg cells to prevent transplant rejections and treat autoimmune diseases. TxCell’s internal research efforts have focused on engineered CD4+ Treg cells. Release