EuroBiotech Report—Cancer biotechs raise cash, NLS touts ADHD data and Sanofi retools ImmunoGen collaboration

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week with funding rounds at two European cancer biotechs. Bicycle Therapeutics secured the biggest boost to its finances, pulling in £40 million ($51 million) to take its lead drug into the clinic. Inthera Bioscience, like Bicycle, is going after solid tumors but is one step behind in development. The Swiss biotech tapped Merck Ventures, Novo Seeds and others for $10.8 million to advance its lead program to the cusp of phase 1. Fellow Swiss firm NLS Pharma was also in the news this week. The company posted clinical data that support the advance of its ADHD candidate into late-stage tests. Sanofi retooled its cancer collaboration with ImmunoGen. And more. Nick Taylor

1. Bicycle raises £40M to take cancer drugs into the clinic

Bicycle Therapeutics has returned to its big name backers for £40 million ($51 million) to fund the advance of cancer candidates into the clinic. The round equips Bicycle to find out how its targeted, tumor-penetrating delivery vehicles fare when administered to patients with solid tumors.

2. Merck Ventures leads $11M round in solid tumor startup

Merck Ventures has led a $10.8 million (€9.6 million) investment in Inthera Bioscience. The series A sets the Swiss biotech up to wrap up preclinical development of a lead candidate against cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV).

3. Swiss biotech NLS touts positive ADHD data, plots late-stage tests

NLS Pharma has posted some positive data for its ADHD candidate mazindol CR, which it hopes will have better luck than in did for obesity and narcolepsy after it was pulled off the market. 

4. ImmunoGen gets $30M amid Sanofi ADC deal shake-up

The pair have a deal that stretches all the way back to 2003, but today ImmunoGen and French Big Pharma Sanofi are retooling their cancer collaboration.

And more articles of note >>