Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week with Roche and AC Immune, which were rocked by the failure of a phase 3 Alzheimer's disease program. Roche stopped two phase 3 trials of the anti-Abeta antibody following an interim futility analysis. Over in the U.K., the European Medicines Agency lowered flags outside its London offices as it prepares to leave the city. And the government called for the international community to collectively incentivize antibiotic R&D. Elsewhere, Merck KGaA granted Vertex limited rights to two DNA-dependent protein kinase inhibitors. A phase 3 trial of Sylentis' siRNA dry eye drug missed its primary endpoints. And more. — Nick Taylor
1. Roche halts phase 3 anti-Abeta Alzheimer’s test as AD flops rack up
Roche has stopped a pair of phase 3 Alzheimer’s disease trials after an interim analysis found they were unlikely to hit their primary endpoint. The setback wipes out near-term hopes of getting the AC Immune-partnered anti-Abeta antibody crenezumab to market.
2. EMA staff lower flags at London office as Amsterdam move nears
Staff at the European Medicines Agency have lowered the flags outside their London offices as they prepare to move to Amsterdam. The flag lowering took place as the EMA “symbolically said goodbye” to the city it has called home since its creation in 1995.
3. U.K. calls for globally organized incentives for antibiotic R&D
The U.K. wants the international community to come up with a coordinated system for incentivizing the development of antimicrobials. Government officials floated the idea in a report setting out how the U.K. plans to tackle the threat posed by drug-resistant bacteria over the next five years.
4. Vertex strikes deal with Merck KGaA to grow CRISPR/Cas9 toolkit
Vertex has regained limited rights to two DNA-dependent protein kinase inhibitors from Merck KGaA. Merck licensed the drugs and other assets for $230 million upfront two years ago but has now granted Vertex the right to use them in certain gene-editing applications.
5. Sylentis’ dry eye drug misses primary goals in phase 3
A phase 3 trial of Sylentis’ dry eye disease candidate tivanisiran has missed its primary endpoints. The PharmaMar subsidiary failed to link the siRNA eye drops to improved scores on scales of ocular pain and corneal staining compared to artificial tears.
And more articles of note>>