Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week in France, where OSE Immunotherapeutics regained the rights to an autoimmune candidate from Johnson & Johnson. Over in Germany, BioNTech was forging, not breaking, transatlantic connections by teaming up with the University of Pennsylvania to develop mRNA vaccines against infectious diseases. Elsewhere, Bone Therapeutics stopped a phase 3 cell therapy trial early for futility. Omeicos raised €17 million to take an atrial fibrillation asset into phase 2. MedCity set up an advanced therapies initiative. And more. — Nick Taylor
1. Johnson & Johnson drops OSE’s rheumatoid arthritis drug
Johnson & Johnson has dumped OSE Immunotherapeutics’ autoimmune candidate FR104. J&J picked up the rights to the CD28 antagonist for €10 million ($11 million) upfront in 2016, but clinical progress stalled following the deal.
2. BioNTech taps Drew Weissmann’s UPenn lab to expand into infectious diseases
BioNTech has teamed up with the University of Pennsylvania to develop nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines. The pact tasks Drew Weissmann’s UPenn lab with taking vaccines against up to 10 infectious diseases through to the completion of IND-enabling studies.
3. Bone Therapeutics halts phase 3 for futility, sinking stock
Bone Therapeutics has stopped a phase 3 trial of its autologous cell therapy early for futility. The data committee ruled Preob is unlikely to improve outcomes in patients with osteonecrosis, wiping 25% off Bone Therapeutics’ stock price.
4. Omeicos raises €17M to run phase 2 atrial fibrillation trial
Omeicos Therapeutics has raised €17 million ($19 million) to develop an atrial fibrillation candidate. The Forbion-led series C round sets Omeicos up to run a phase 2 trial of its small molecule analogue of a natural omega-3 fatty acid metabolite.
5. MedCity moves to foster U.K. advanced therapy collaborations
MedCity has created an advanced therapies network to connect industry to academia. The initiative is seeking to build on the progress of British cell and gene therapy university spinouts such as Autolus and Orchard Therapeutics.