> Celyad ($CYAD) received a U.S. patent covering engineered allogeneic human primary T Cells. The news restored some luster to a stock that has dropped significantly since its June IPO on Nasdaq, sending shares up 17% to top $40 a pop for the first time in weeks. "To our knowledge, this is the very first patent covering TCR-deficient CAR T-Cells," Celyad CEO Christian Homsy said in a statement. "The Company intends to maximize the significant therapeutic potential of our allogeneic CAR-T technology platform, either on our own or potentially through one or more strategic collaborations." Release
> NeuroVive Pharmaceutical (STO:NVP) committed to pushing ahead with development of OCB-030 despite its partner abandoning the program. OnCore BioPharma, which is now known as Arbutus Biopharma ($ABUS) following its merger with Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, licensed OCB-030 for use against hepatitis B program in a $150 million deal in September 2014. However, Arbutus has decided to drop the program, 10 months after NeuroVive's interim CEO Jan Nilsson said he had a "very positive view of the merger." This week, Nilsson said in a statement that he was "very surprised" by Arbutus' decision and committed to "finding a suitable way to continue ... development." Release
> The Financial Times put a positive spin on the recent stuttering of the market for biopharma IPOs in London. In an article titled "U.K. remains fertile ground for biotech fundraisings" the paper shared the opinions of analysts who think the postponement of IPOs that aimed to raise £260 million ($400 million) is not a sign that the window for listings has closed. "Investors are being more discriminating but there is still interest in the right story on the right terms," N+1 Singer Analyst Jens Lindqvist said. The implication, which the FT reports was communicated by multiple analysts, is that Acacia Pharma and Shield Therapeutics either had the wrong story or wrong terms. FT (sub. req.)
> HSBC committed $25 million (€23 million) to the Francis Crick Institute. Cancer Research UK will use the cash, which will be drip fed at the rate of $5 million a year, to support the work of 150 PhD students, who the nonprofit will recruit from around the world. "In working with the team at Cancer Research UK, it became clear that the Crick would be an environment where the best and brightest talent from all over the world would come together in new fields of research," HSBC Chairman Douglas Flint said in a statement. Release
> Aprea posted preliminary data from a Phase Ib/II trial of its ovarian cancer drug. The Karolinska Development (STO:KDEV) portfolio company revealed all the people treated with APR-246 in combination with chemotherapy have stable disease or better. "Early efficacy data from the evaluable patients indicate that the combination regimen with APR-246 has activity in ovarian cancer patients that are either partially or platinum sensitive," Aprea CMO Mikael von Euler said in a statement. Release
> Yeliva came through a Phase I trial. The drug, which is being developed by RedHill Biopharma ($RDHL), was given to 21 patients with advanced solid tumors. With grade one to two fatigue and nausea being the most common side effects, the drug met its primary safety endpoint. And the drop in levels of sphingosine 1-phosphate following administration of the drug suggest the pharmacodynamics of Yeliva are working as RedHill would like. A pair of Phase I/II trials are next up for the candidate. Release