As the December break approaches, we have a final newsletter to close out 2024! Although we have had disappointing news for amyloid-based drugs these few weeks, there is enough good news to go around as Noema Pharma and Xaira Therapeutics announce new leadership appointments, BioArctic & BMS, and Sangamo Therapeutics & Astellas announce partnerships, SiteOne and Noema Pharma raise funds, and Kariya Pharmaceuticals and AbbVie announce positive clinical trial news.
-
Noema Pharma
appoints Dr
Volker Knappertz
as EVP of R&D. Dr Knappertz brings a fantastic career in the CNS development space, spanning over 25 years in drug development and bringing expertise in IND filings and product approvals. Prior to this, Dr Knappertz served as EVP of R&D at
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
leading multiple programs targeting autoimmune diseases. He also spent time at GW Pharmaceuticals (now Jazz), Teva Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, and Bayer. He joins the clinical-stage Swiss CNS biotech at a time where the organization aims to progress its four programs currently in active Phase II clinical trials, evaluating seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, pain in Trigeminal Neuralgia, Tourette syndrome and vasomotor symptoms plus CNS-mediated symptoms of menopause with readouts expected in 2025.
-
Xaira Therapeutics
appoints Dr
Paulo Fontoura
as Chief Medical Officer and Dr Hetu Kamisetty as Chief Technology Officer. Dr Fontoura brings a wealth of knowledge in the clinical development space, spending the last 16 years at
罗氏公司
. Here he served as Global Head and SVP and focused on translational medicine and clinical development, recently overseeing Neuroscience, Immunology, Ophthalmology, Infectious, and Rare Diseases. Dr Kamisetty is co-founder of Xaira Therapeutics and has helped scale the biotech since its inception in 2023 with his almost two decades experience in AI and ML. Prior to Xaira, he spent a decade at Meta spearheading some of the company's early efforts in Generative AI.
-
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
CEO
Bruce Cozadd
announces plans to retire upon appointment of his successor, expected in 2025. Mr. Cozadd co-founded Jazz in 2003, serving as Executive Chairman through 2009 before being appointed Chairperson and CEO in April 2009.
-
BioArctic
announces global license agreement with
百时美施贵宝
for BioArctic’s PyroGlutamate-amyloid-beta (PyroGlu-Aβ) antibody program. BioArctic will offer its BrainTransporterTM?technology and receive a USD 100 million upfront payment and up to USD 1.25 billion in milestone payments.
百时美施贵宝
will become solely responsible for the development and commercialization of BAN1503 and BAN2803 whilst
BioArctic
will retain an option to co-commercialise in the Nordic region.
- In more news for
Noema Pharma
, the biotech extends its Series B financing round, closing at CHF 130 million with investment from
EQT Life Sciences
, following previous investment from
Forbion
,
JEITO
,
Sofinnova Partners
,
Gilde Healthcare
,
Polaris Partners
,
Invus
, and
UPMC Enterprises
. The biotech will use the funding to advance its four active Phase II trials with key redouts anticipated in 2025.
-
SiteOne Therapeutics, Inc.
announces a $100 million Series C. This round was led by
Novo Holdings
, with participation from
OrbiMed
,
Wellington Management
,
Mission BioCapital
,
BSQUARED Capital
and existing investors. This financing will support the development of the biotech's portfolio of selective, small molecule ion channel modulators for the treatment of sensory hyperexcitability disorders through human clinical proof of concept.
-
Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.
and
Astellas Pharma
announce capsid license agreement for genomic medicines targeting neurological diseases. Astellas will gain access to Sangamo's novel proprietary neurotropic AAV capsid, STAC-BBB. The agreement grants Astellas a worldwide exclusive license to use the capsid for one target, and up to four additional targets after paying additional licensed target fees. Sangamo will receive a USD 20 million upfront license fee and is eligible to earn up to USD 1.3 billion in additional licensed target fees and milestone payments.
-
Kariya Pharmaceuticals
successfully completes Phase I single ascending dose study of KP405, targeting Parkinson's disease. The novel brain-penetrant dual incretin (GLP-1/GIP) receptor agonist was shown to have a favourable safety profile and to behave in a manner consistent with other incretin analogues.
-
AbbVie
announces positive topline results for Cerevel asset, Tavapadon. The Phase III TEMPO-2 trial is evaluating the drug as a monotherapy for Parkinson's Disease. The asset met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS Parts II and III combined score at week 26. The Chicago-based pharma is on track to submit an NDA for tavapadon to the FDA in 2025.
