EuroBiotech Report—EMA-Brexit, AstraZeneca, Juvenescence round, Verona fail and Orchard

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. Our top stories this week come from the U.K., where drug developers unveiled a mixed bag of news against the backdrop of ongoing political turmoil. Firstly, to the European Medicines Agency, which now expects to retain 75% of its staff as it escapes the turmoil and moves to Amsterdam, emboldening it to predict that its core drug evaluation activities will be unaffected by the relocation. Elsewhere, AstraZeneca lost another employee to Immunocore. Juvenescence raised $46 million to fund anti-aging R&D. Verona Pharma’s ensifentrine missed the primary endpoint in a phase 2 COPD trial. Orchard Therapeutics set out its plans for 2019. And more. — Nick Taylor
 
1. As Brexit nears, EMA improves staff retention forecast

The European Medicines Agency has increased its forecast of the proportion of staff that will relocate with it to Amsterdam. Buoyed by the improved outlook, the agency has predicted its core drug evaluation activities will be unaffected by the Brexit-enforced move. 

2. Another AstraZeneca executive hits the exit, joins alumnus at Immunocore

Immunocore has named David Berman as its head of research and development. Berman spent the past decade overseeing the rise of immuno-oncology drugs at AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
 
3. Anti-aging startup Juvenescence bags $46M for pipeline push
 
Juvenescence has raised the first $46 million (€40 million) tranche of series B financing en route to an anticipated $100 million round. The investment, which values Juvenescence at $400 million, tees the anti-aging startup to advance the multiasset pipeline it has built over the past 18 months toward readouts.

4. Verona tanks after COPD drug misses phase 2 endpoint

A phase 2 trial of Verona Pharma’s ensifentrine has missed its primary endpoint. The dual PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor failed to beat placebo on a measure of lung function, wiping more than 30% off Verona’s share price. 
 
5. Orchard Therapeutics' 2019: Pipeline progress

Orchard Therapeutics started 2018 with two clinical-stage assets and a preclinical pipeline that was, in CEO Mark Rothera’s words, “not that large.” Now, after picking up GlaxoSmithKline’s rare disease gene therapy unit and becoming a commercial-stage company, Orchard is looking to bring its treatment for “bubble boy syndrome” to the U.S. and ramp up its clinical work.

 
And more articles of note>>