Strong media coverage for radiopharmaceutical company Ariceum Therapeutics after early success in NHS brain tumour trial

Remarkable results from the start of a trial testing Ariceum Therapeutics ’ experimental radiopharmaceutical drug ATT001 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma brain cancer generated strong coverage in the UK’s national media this week.

Meanwhile Ariceum’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Mullen, PhD, FRSC featured in an Optimum TV episode, where he explained the highly targeted radiopharmaceutical approach, called Auger therapy, in more detail. Watch the episode here .

Medicxi-backed cancer therapy company Ottimo Pharma emerges from stealth

Private cancer therapeutics biotech company Ottimo Pharma , co-founded by VC firm Medicxi , has emerged from stealth – with former Seagen CEO David Epstein at the helm. Ottimo is developing Jankistomig, a PD1-VEGFR2 bi-functional antibody.

Co-founded by Medicxi and cancer scientist Jonny Finlay in 2020, Ottimo has been running full pre-clinical characterisation of the molecule. It anticipates filing an IND in late 2025.

Adcendo to Participate in Expert ADC Panel Debate at BIO-Europe 2024

Adcendo , a Copenhagen-based biotech company focused on the development of first-in-class antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancers with a high unmet medical need, announced that its CEO Michael Pehl will join fellow ADC industry leaders and experts on a panel discussion at the 30th annual BIO-Europe conference, being held in Stockholm, Sweden, from Monday to Wednesday next week (4-6 November).

Kling Biotherapeutics to Present Key Applications for its Primary B-Cell Immortalization, Screening and Antibody Optimization Platform Technologies at PEGS Europe

Amsterdam-based Kling Biotherapeutics , which is developing antibody-based drugs for cancer and infectious diseases, is to present findings on its proprietary primary B-cell selection and evolution platform technologies , Kling-Select and Kling-Evolve, at the Annual Protein & Antibody Engineering Summit (PEGS) Europe. The Summit takes place in Barcelona, Spain, next Tuesday to Thursday (5-7 November).

Optimum TV

Radiopharmaceuticals have hit the news recently thanks to their success in treating prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours. Watch Ariceum’s COO Greg Mullen, PhD, FRSC explain Auger therapy and what they hope to show with their trial, in the latest edition of Optimum TV.

Check out this week’s Optimum Hot Topic articles – on the contrasting issues of Alzheimer’s drugs and collapsing birth rates

After England and Wales’s drugs rationer NICE ruled that two new Alzheimer’s drugs were too expensive for the NHS, Optimum looked at why Pharma companies will have to play the long game if they are to win access to such treatments for large numbers of patients. Read more here .

And with birth rates in freefall worldwide, should governments consider greater state support for IVF – even if it is expensive? Read more here .

Coming to BIO-Europe in Stockholm next week? There’s still time to register for Optimum’s evening drinks reception – featuring a fireside chat with Calliditas’s CEO

On Monday evening (November 4), Calliditas Therapeutics ’ award-winning CEO Renee Aguiar-Lucander will be the star guest of a special drinks reception in Stockholm co-hosted by Optimum, Cord Communications and WG Partners LLP .

In a fireside chat with Optimum’s Mary Clark and Cord’s Mikael Widell , Renée will explore how she turned a 10-person Swedish biotech into a billion-dollar company in the space of seven years.

If you are going to BIO-Europe and haven’t already registered to join us, there’s still time to reserve your place by emailing [email protected]

Sector Moves

Check out the latest moves in the life sciences sector with our?monthly round-up ?of new funds and the biggest job changes, including analysts, bankers, and healthcare journalists.?

And finally! It might be autumn - but save the date for spring’s Anglonordic conference in London

Yes, we are slap-bang in the middle of autumn conference season. But planning is everything, so cast your eyes ahead to the 21st Anglonordic Life Science Conference , being held in London on Thursday 3 April 2025.

Featuring more than 350 delegates – from leading life science companies and investment firms – this friendly conference offers high quality pitch presentations, fascinating panel discussions and first-class networking opportunities. Pre-scheduled one-to-one partnering will also be available, so book early.

Once again, Optimum is the event programmer and proud sponsor of the event, which will take place in County Hall, across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament. A lively reception at the prestigious London Institute for Healthcare Engineering will be held the evening before (Wednesday 2 April).

Anglonordic Life Science Conference is accepting pitch applications from small and medium-sized R&D companies in Biotechnology (drug discovery and delivery companies in all therapeutic areas) and Technology (meaning medical devices, diagnostics, platform technologies, and healthcare-related product development). The cut-off date for pitch presentation applications is Monday 20 December.

Contact us for Optimum’s 20% discount code.

Register here , both to attend and to pitch.

That’s all folks! We hope you are enjoying Optimum’s weekly round-ups; subscribe on Linkedin today so you never miss an edition.