EuroBiotech Report—Novartis’ CAR-T data; Bioblast seeks help; Merck KGaA, F-Star partner; Novo and Innate in I-O pact

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We started the week with two big deals for European biopharmas as German Merck and the U.K.’s F-Star penned a new bispecific R&D deal, while Innate gained exclusive rights to Novo’s first-in-class clinical-stage anti-C5aR antibody, as Novo boosted its stake in the French biotech. And then, after ASCO, we saw Novartis reveal its long-awaited Juliet CAR-T data while Israel’s Bioblast has sought out life sciences advisory firm JSB-Partners to help it find either a partner or merger deal. Ben Adams. 

  1. As Novartis preps for first CAR-T FDA AdComm, Juliet data revealed

It’s been a big week for CAR-T: Novartis, Juno, Kite, Bluebird Bio and Nanjing Legend Biotech all posted positive data for the cutting-edge experimental cancer class at ASCO, and now Novartis has revealed the long-awaited interim Juliet data for its CAR-T candidate at a Swiss conference. As it goes head-to-head with rival Kite Pharma.

  1. Israel's troubled Bioblast seeks partners, merger

Several months after abandoning plans for a securities offering, Israel’s Bioblast Pharma has asked JSB-Partners to help it seek out a partner or a merger to help lift it out of its troubles.

  1. Merck KGaA, F-Star in bispecific biobucks bonanza deal

The two countries’ governments may not be getting along right now as a long divorce plays out, but it’s a marriage of science for Germany’s Merck and Cambridge, U.K.-based F-Star as the two pair up for a new bispecific research deal.

  1. Innate Pharma and Novo Nordisk pen early I-O cancer drug deal

French biotech Innate Pharma has inked a new deal with Danish diabetes specialist Novo Nordisk that sees the latter boost its stake in the firm while Innate get its hands on a new I-O candidate.

And more articles of note >>