> UniQure ($QURE) extended its collaboration with Synpromics, an Edinburgh, U.K.-based developer of synthetic promoters. The extension, which comes 18 months after the companies began working together, sees uniQure contract Synpromics to create ultrasmall synthetic promoters. “With the agreed extension announced today we can further apply our technology to make shorter promoters and so increase the efficacy of gene therapy,” Synpromics CEO David Venables said in a statement. Release
> Cellectis ($CLLS) treated the first patient in its Phase I trial of UCART19. The trial is giving the CAR-T to patients with pediatric acute B lymphoblastic leukemia at UCL, the London, U.K.-based university that was involved in the treatment of a child with UCART19 under a specials license last year. Cellectis’ partner Servier is sponsoring the trial. The third party in the relationship, Pfizer ($PFE), is also involved. Cellectis received a payment from Servier in relation to the milestone. Release
> Poxel (EPA:POXEL) posted data from the single ascending dose stage of an ongoing Phase I trial of PXL770, a direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator the firm is developing as a treatment for Type II diabetes. The first part of the study looked at six single ascending doses of PXL770 in 64 healthy men. Poxel reported the data show a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no serious adverse events. Statement
> TxCell (EPA:TXCL) signed a worldwide license to develop and commercialize genetically engineered T regulatory cells (CAR-Tregs) in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The licensing deal follows on from an earlier agreement with the tech transfer arm of Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, in which TxCell picked up an option to bag the rights to the CAR-Tregs technology if it secured patent protection in Europe. Statement
> Innate Pharma (EPA:IPH) and Sanofi ($SNY) contracted MI-mAbs to evaluate bispecific antibodies they are developing. The agreement puts Marseille, France-based MI-mAbs in charge of assessing the safety and efficacy of the antibodies, a process that will generate data to inform the selection of assets to advance into the clinic. Release
> The U.S. FDA accepted an IND for Morphochem’s intravenous treatment for Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs). The regulatory green light clears Germany’s Morphochem to run a proof-of-concept Phase II trial of its intravenous antibacterial. “Since many patients with severe CDI cannot be treated orally we are facing a high unmet medical need,” Morphochem CEO Dr. Thomas Kapsner said in a statement. Release