Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week at AstraZeneca, which used its quarterly results to clear out its failed Imfinzi-tremelimumab combination trials and a clutch of other clinical-phase cancer programs. Elsewhere, uniQure's revised hemophilia B gene therapy cleared another clinical hurdle, adding to the impression that it can compete with Pfizer and Spark Therapeutics. In the U.K., Grey Wolf Therapeutics raised £10 million ($13 million) and Pathios Therapeutics, another of Tom McCarthy's biotechs, penned an agreement with Sygnature Discovery. CureVac dropped Arcturus Therapeutics' mRNA ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency treatment. And more. — Nick Taylor
1. Eagle and Mystic lead AstraZeneca’s cancer clear out
AstraZeneca has cleared a clutch of cancer programs from its clinical pipeline. The PD-L1 combination trials Eagle and Mystic led the clear-out and the immuno-oncology drugs tested in those studies feature heavily in the earlier-phase cull.
2. UniQure’s hemophilia B gene therapy clears another clinical test
UniQure has posted 12-week data on its hemophilia B gene therapy. The update suggests FIX activity increases seen at six weeks are sustainable, giving uniQure a boost as it races Spark Therapeutics to market.
3. Grey Wolf bags cash to advance small molecule I-O program
Grey Wolf Therapeutics has raised £10 million ($14 million) to advance small molecules that help the immune system recognize tumors. The series A, which was backed by Andera Partners and Canaan, will fund preclinical work on drugs that may render more tumors vulnerable to checkpoint inhibitors.
4. Sygnature backs Pathios in hunt for GPR65 modulators
Pathios Therapeutics has enlisted CRO Sygnature Discovery to support its hunt for novel modulators of GPR65. The deal sees Sygnature take a stake in Pathios in part payment for its involvement in the Oxford-based biotech’s hit-to-lead program.
5. CureVac drops Arcturus’ mRNA drug ahead of IND filing
CureVac has dropped mRNA ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency treatment ARCT-810. The action returns full rights to the candidate to Arcturus Therapeutics, which plans to file an IND by the end of the year.