Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week with AstraZeneca, which teamed up with Transgene to add five oncolytic viruses to its pipeline. AstraZeneca plans to combine the drugs with its cancer assets. Elsewhere, one of AstraZeneca's partners, Bicycle Therapeutics, filed to raise $86 million (€77 million) in a Nasdaq IPO. Alentis Therapeutics raised a CHF 12.5 million series A round and named an ex-Ablynx executive as CEO. ReNeuron posted updated data on its vision loss cell therapy. Campaigners found top European universities are failing to comply with trial data reporting requirements. And more. — Nick Taylor
1. AstraZeneca ups oncolytic virus activity with Transgene deal
AstraZeneca has teamed up with Transgene to develop oncolytic virus candidates. The Big Pharma is paying $10 million (€9 million) upfront to get Transgene to apply its oncolytic virus expertise and technologies to the development of five assets.
2. Bicycle files for $86M IPO to fund trials of novel drug conjugates
Bicycle Therapeutics has filed to raise up to $86 million in a Nasdaq IPO. The British biotech wants the money to prepare for phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of its lead anticancer candidate, BT1718.
3. Alentis raises series A round to advance drug against novel liver disease target
Alentis Therapeutics has raised CHF 12.5 million ($12.2 million) to take an advanced liver disease drug toward clinical development. The series A tees a team led by ex-Ablynx CBO Markus Ewert up to advance a lead antibody against a previously undiscovered liver target.
4. ReNeuron climbs on updated vision loss cell therapy data
ReNeuron has reported further improvements in the vision of patients treated with its cell therapy. The mean increase in visual acuity across the three retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients now stands at 23 letters, well above the level deemed clinically meaningful by the FDA.
5. European universities fail to report results for 83% of trials
The vast majority of universities are failing to comply with EU rules on the reporting of clinical trial results, according to a registry analysis.
And more articles of note>>