Commercial – Life Sciences Voice

Gilead Secures Arenavirus Vaccine Programs from Hookipa for $10 Million

Editorial Team — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:17:05 +0000

Gilead Sciences has acquired exclusive ownership of two arenavirus-based immunotherapy programs for hepatitis B (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from Hookipa Pharma. The transaction is the result of a long-standing collaboration between the two companies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead will pay a total of $10 million to take full control of the HB-400 and HB-500 programs. Of that amount, $3 million is due at the close of the deal, with the remaining $7 million to be paid in three stages as the transfer is completed. The deal was signed on May 21, as disclosed in a May 22 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The HB-400 candidate, a therapeutic vaccine for chronic HBV, entered a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial in 2023. The HB-500 candidate, designed for HIV, is currently in an early-stage trial. As part of the new agreement, Hookipa will be responsible for winding down the HB-500 study. This trial had aimed to enroll approximately 30 participants and was previously scheduled to conclude in November 2025, according to ClinicalTrials.gov.

Both HB-400 and HB-500 utilize arenaviral backbones—specifically, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and pichinde virus—to deliver antigens targeting HBV and HIV, respectively.
The programs stem from a 2022 agreement between Gilead and Hookipa. At that time, Gilead made an upfront payment of $15 million and invested an additional $5 million in Hookipa equity. The 2022 pact included provisions for a $10 million program completion fee, up to $162.5 million in development milestones, and as much as $65 million in commercialization payments.
Gilead’s collaboration with Hookipa began in 2018 when it first licensed arenaviral immunization technologies from the biotech for use against HBV and HIV. In 2021, Gilead initially chose not to take an HIV candidate into the clinic. The company later revised its position, leading to the 2022 agreement that produced the HB-400 and HB-500 programs.
In addition to its development-stage assets, Gilead currently markets the antiretroviral drugs Biktarvy and Descovy, which together contributed to a combined $19.6 billion in HIV-related sales last year. The company also markets Vemlidy for HBV.
The HB-400 candidate represents a potential new offering in HBV, following recent announcements by other companies in the space. Vir Biotechnology and GSK have both discontinued efforts to develop “functional cures” for HBV this year, although GSK continues to work on an alternative candidate.

Hookipa Pharma, based in New York, has experienced recent business setbacks. These include the cancellation of a proposed merger with Poolbeg Pharma in February and workforce reductions following the termination of a collaboration with Roche on its HB-700 program for KRAS-mutated cancers.
Gilead’s acquisition of the HB-400 and HB-500 programs concludes its arenavirus collaboration with Hookipa and grants it full rights to the two therapeutic vaccine candidates.

Sanofi Acquires Vigil Neuroscience for $470M to Boost Alzheimer’s Drug Pipeline

Editorial Team — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:13:01 +0000

Sanofi is acquiring Vigil Neuroscience for $470 million to expand its Alzheimer’s drug portfolio, focusing on TREM2-targeting therapies like VG-3927. Learn how this acquisition strengthens Sanofi’s neurology and immunology strategy.
Sanofi is acquiring biotechnology company Vigil Neuroscience in a $470 million deal to strengthen its presence in Alzheimer’s disease treatment. The deal includes VG-3927, Vigil’s most advanced experimental drug, which targets the TREM2 protein associated with Alzheimer’s.
Sanofi had previously invested $40 million in Vigil, which gives the pharmaceutical giant a strategic edge if Vigil’s TREM2-amplifying drugs move toward licensing. VG-3927 recently completed early-phase trials in both healthy volunteers and Alzheimer’s patients. Vigil’s CEO, Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch, noted that the buyout will help accelerate development of this potentially transformative treatment.
TREM2 is considered a promising target in Alzheimer’s research because it activates immune responses in the brain when harmful amyloid-beta plaques are present. Malfunctioning TREM2 can lead to inflammation, nerve damage, and cell death—key factors in Alzheimer’s progression. Sanofi’s head of R&D, Houman Ashrafian, emphasized that TREM2 connects immune system dysfunction to neurological diseases, aligning with Sanofi’s expertise in immunology.

Although Sanofi will not acquire VGL101—another compound from the Vigil platform—those rights will revert to its original licensee, Amgen.
Sanofi has traditionally focused on immunology, oncology, and rare diseases, with neurology playing a relatively minor role. Its only marketed neurology drug, Aubagio for multiple sclerosis, accounted for less than 1% of biopharma sales last year. However, the company is actively expanding in this area. Several advanced-stage candidates—including frexalimab for MS, lupus, and type 1 diabetes, riliprubart for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and tolebrutinib for MS—are in the pipeline. Tolebrutinib, acquired through a $3.7 billion deal with Principia Biopharma in 2020, is currently under FDA review with a decision expected by September.
The acquisition of Vigil supports Sanofi’s long-term strategy to address critical unmet needs in neurology through immunology-based therapies. Provided a majority of Vigil shareholders approve, the deal is expected to close between July and September. Key investors, including Atlas Venture and Bruce Booth—who collectively own 16.2% of Vigil shares—have already agreed to support the transaction.
In addition to the $8 per share offer, Vigil shareholders will receive a contingent value right worth $2 per share if VG-3927 achieves its first commercial sale. While Vigil’s stock opened at $14 when it went public in January 2022, its value has since dropped, making this acquisition a compelling exit. Analyst Myles Minter described the outcome as favorable for shareholders, given current market conditions and drug development progress.

This move reinforces Sanofi’s commitment to building a stronger foothold in Alzheimer’s research and broadening its neuroscience portfolio with immune-focused treatments.

CellCentric Secures $120M Series C Funding to Advance Myeloma Drug Inobrodib

Editorial Team — Thu, 22 May 2025 20:11:03 +0000

CellCentric, a UK-based biotechnology company backed by Pfizer, has raised $120 million in Series C funding to accelerate the development of its first-in-class multiple myeloma treatment, inobrodib. The funding will support pivotal clinical trials and advance the company’s drug development pipeline for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial, inobrodib—an oral p300/CBP inhibitor—is being evaluated in combination with dexamethasone and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Imnovid (pomalidomide). The latest readout from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2024 Annual Meeting showed a promising 75% overall response rate at the highest treatment level.

Funding to Support Accelerated FDA Pathway

The newly raised funds will enable a Phase 2/3 trial targeting patients with heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma, with the goal of generating data for a potential accelerated approval application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

CellCentric also plans to use part of the funding to:

Launch a Phase 3 clinical program in mid-2026
Initiate new studies of inobrodib in maintenance therapy settings, including combinations with bispecific antibodies

Strategic Investors Fueling Growth

The Series C round was co-led by RA Capital Management and Forbion, with additional participation from:

Pfizer
BrightEdge, the venture capital arm of the American Cancer Society
Avego Bioscience Capital

This latest raise builds on earlier investments, including a $25 million strategic investment from Pfizer in 2023 and $35 million from RA Capital in 2022.

Inobrodib works by targeting p300/CBP, key regulators of gene expression, to reduce the activity of oncogenic drivers MYC and IRF4—both known to fuel cancer progression in multiple myeloma and other malignancies.

CellCentric, originally spun out of research led by Dr. Azim Surani at the University of Cambridge, is actively expanding its U.S. presence. In April, the company opened a new office in Burlington, near Boston, to enhance its drug development capabilities and strengthen collaboration with North American partners.

Pathos AI Secures $365 Million in Series D Funding to Accelerate AI-Powered Cancer Drug Development

Editorial Team — Tue, 20 May 2025 22:47:06 +0000

Pathos AI, a clinical-stage biotech company leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize cancer treatment, has announced the successful close of a $365 million Series D funding round. The funding will support the development of AI-driven oncology therapeutics, including solid tumor drug candidates from Novo Nordisk and Prelude Therapeutics.

The latest investment round values Pathos at an estimated $1.6 billion, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company’s proprietary PathOS Platform, which integrates multimodal data—including molecular, clinical, and imaging datasets—to optimize oncology drug development.

Focus on Clinical-Stage Pipeline: Pocenbrodib and P-500

A key focus of the Series D funding will be the continued advancement of pocenbrodib, a CBP/p300 inhibitor licensed from Novo Nordisk in 2023. Originally developed by Forma Therapeutics, pocenbrodib is currently undergoing Phase 1b/2a clinical trials for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The trials are evaluating the drug both as a monotherapy and in combination with Zytiga, Lynparza, and Pluvicto.

Pathos believes pocenbrodib holds promise beyond prostate cancer, with potential applications across a broad range of solid tumor types.

In addition, Pathos plans to initiate clinical development of P-500, a brain-penetrant PRMT5 inhibitor licensed from Prelude Therapeutics, later in 2024. Prelude previously evaluated P-500 in a Phase 1 trial involving patients with uveal melanoma and high-grade gliomas.

Leveraging AI to Revolutionize Oncology

Pathos’ AI-powered PathOS Platform is at the core of its strategy, enabling the identification of predictive biomarkers and the design of precision-targeted clinical trials. The company aims to use the new capital to accelerate platform enhancements, improve patient stratification, and increase the speed and success rate of oncology drug development.

“Our mission at Pathos is to transform oncology drug development by harnessing the full potential of multimodal data and artificial intelligence,” said Iker Huerga, the newly appointed CEO of Pathos AI. Huerga previously served as Chief Data Scientist for Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca.

Continued Growth and Strategic Acquisitions

The Series D round included participation from both existing backers and new investors. This follows a $62 million Series C round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) just seven months ago.

In a strategic move last December, Pathos acquired Rain Oncology, adding the Phase 3-stage MDM2 inhibitor milademetan to its pipeline. However, the company has yet to comment on future plans for the asset, which previously failed in liposarcoma trials.

About Pathos AI

Pathos AI is a Boston-based biotechnology company applying advanced artificial intelligence and multimodal data analytics to accelerate the discovery and development of next-generation oncology therapeutics. Through its proprietary PathOS Platform, the company is redefining how cancer treatments are identified, developed, and delivered.

Eli Lilly Invests $250 Million to Strengthen Ties with Purdue University

Editorial Team — Tue, 13 May 2025 23:50:00 +0000

Eli Lilly is deepening its investment in Indiana by committing up to $250 million over the next eight years to expand its existing collaboration with Purdue University.
According to a press release, the enhanced agreement with the Boilermakers will focus on artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery, accelerating clinical trial processes, expediting regulatory approval and manufacturing, and strengthening Indiana’s life sciences workforce.
As part of the partnership, Purdue researchers will be given workspace on the university’s West Lafayette campus, while also collaborating with Lilly scientists at the company’s facilities in Indianapolis and Lebanon, Indiana.
The primary goal of the collaboration is to deliver medicines to patients more quickly, integrate emerging science into clinical trials, build a more resilient pharmaceutical supply chain, and boost Indiana’s local economy, according to both partners.

Lilly CEO David Ricks stated in the release: “Accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines requires an exceptional talent force and innovation at every step—from discovery through process development and manufacturing. This expanded work with Purdue is exciting, as we aim to leverage both secure advanced technologies and cutting-edge science to lead in the development of next-generation medicines that improve human health.”
Ricks, who earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Purdue in 1990, has served on the university’s board of trustees since January 2025.
Lilly and Purdue first launched a $52 million, five-year research and development agreement in 2017, which was extended in 2022 with an additional $50 million. That partnership will now be extended through 2032, along with other ongoing joint efforts such as the Lilly Scholars program at Purdue and the Lilly and Purdue Research Alliance Center.

In January, the long-time collaborators also launched the Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium, which aims to pioneer new drug production techniques using advanced technologies such as autonomous systems and artificial intelligence.

Eli Lilly Secures Rights to Alchemab’s Early-Stage ALS Drug in $415M Deal

Editorial Team — Fri, 09 May 2025 04:21:30 +0000

Just four months after announcing a research collaboration, Eli Lilly is licensing its first drug candidate from British biotech Alchemab. The agreement, valued at up to $415M, includes a combination of upfront payments, development milestones, and royalties. The deal centers on ATLX-1282, a first-in-class preclinical therapy being developed for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Under the agreement, Cambridge-based Alchemab will oversee the early phase 1 clinical trials for ATLX-1282, after which Eli Lilly will assume responsibility for the drug’s further development and eventual commercialization. Alchemab utilizes cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning in its drug discovery efforts, supported by Nvidia’s high-powered supercomputing capabilities in Cambridge.

ATLX-1282 is the first candidate to be licensed under the companies’ January 2025 partnership, which was formed to develop up to five novel antibody-based treatments for ALS. The licensing of this preclinical therapy marks a significant step forward for the collaboration, indicating early promise in the pursuit of treatments for a condition with few therapeutic options.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a severe and fatal condition that leads to the gradual degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. While historically neglected in terms of drug development, recent years have seen growing momentum in ALS research. One notable success is Biogen and Ionis’ Qalsody, which received FDA approval in 2023 for patients with mutations in the SOD1 gene.
Yet, ALS drug development remains a difficult landscape. Amylyx Pharmaceuticals’ Relyvrio was pulled from the market after disappointing results in a follow-up trial. More recently, experimental treatments from AbbVie-Calico and Denali failed to show benefits in advanced clinical studies. Corcept Therapeutics also saw its mid stage trial for a cortisol modulator fall short.
Even with these setbacks, the Lilly-Alchemab collaboration signals a strong, ongoing commitment to finding effective ALS therapies. With ATLX-1282 now moving toward clinical development, it represents a potential breakthrough in addressing a disease with an urgent need for innovative treatment options.

Biolinq Secures $100 Million to Advance Glucose Biosensor and Expand Commercialization Plans

Editorial Team — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:02:03 +0000

Biolinq has announced the successful closure of a $100 million venture capital investment round aimed at finalizing the development of its wearable glucose biosensor. According to the company, the funding will support the launch of commercial operations while it prepares for regulatory submissions in the United States.
The compact biosensor, designed to be worn on the forearm, has the capability to monitor not only glucose levels but also sleep patterns and physical activity. This additional data can offer more comprehensive insight into an individual’s metabolic profile. The device utilizes a series of electrochemical sensors that can detect various biomarkers beneath the skin, including lactate and ketones, without the need to pierce the skin or access subcutaneous tissue through traditional methods.

A distinctive feature of the system is its real-time visual indicator, which changes color to reflect blood glucose status. This immediate feedback mechanism is intended to simplify how users interpret their metabolic data.
The company’s chairman, Dan Bradbury, described the platform as a significant advancement in biosensing technology. He noted that the product could benefit individuals living with Type 2 diabetes who do not rely on insulin therapy, although his comments reflect the company’s own vision rather than an independently validated clinical impact.
This latest Series C funding round was spearheaded by Alpha Wave Ventures and included contributions from a number of previous investors, such as RiverVest Venture Partners, AXA IM Alts, LifeSci Venture Partners, M Ventures, Hikma Ventures, Aphelion Capital, Taisho Pharmaceutical, and Features Capital.

The current investment follows an earlier round in April 2024, during which Biolinq secured $58 million to support a pivotal clinical trial. That effort was also led by Alpha Wave Ventures. Additionally, the company completed a $100 million Series B round in late 2021.
Rick Gerson, chairman of Alpha Wave Global, previously highlighted the multidisciplinary expertise assembled by Biolinq, citing the firm’s collaborations with professionals in biosensor engineering, consumer technology, material sciences, software, and semiconductor design.

Sanofi Deepens Autoimmune Push with $1.8B AI Biotech Deal

Editorial Team — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:08:09 +0000

Sanofi’s ambition to become a dominant force in immunology continues to take shape, as the French pharmaceutical giant signs a deal worth up to $1.8 billion with U.S.-based biotech Earendil Labs. The agreement gives Sanofi exclusive global rights to two bispecific antibody therapies aimed at treating chronic inflammatory diseases.
Sanofi, which co-markets the blockbuster anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent with Regeneron, has been undergoing a major pipeline transformation.
That strategy has been backed by a string of recent high-value deals. In March, Sanofi inked a $1.6 billion agreement with Dren Bio for a CD20-targeting antibody to treat B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Earlier this month, the company returned to Nurix with a $480 million pact involving a protein degrader targeting autoimmune conditions.

The new collaboration with Earendil Labs adds two promising assets to Sanofi’s expanding immunology portfolio. The company will pay $125 million upfront, with an additional $50 million expected in the near term. If both drugs reach the market, Sanofi could pay up to $1.72 billion in development and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties.
The lead candidate, HXN-1002, targets α4β7 and TL1A to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. HXN-1003, meanwhile, targets TL1A and IL-23, with potential applications in both colitis and skin inflammation.
“We firmly believe that Sanofi’s extensive expertise in the autoimmune disease field will significantly accelerate the development of HXN-1002 and HXN-1003, ultimately bringing these potentially life-changing treatments to patients worldwide as soon as possible,” said Zhenping Zhu, M.D., Ph.D., President and co-CEO of Earendil Labs, in a press release.

Earendil Labs describes itself as a “global leader in AI-driven research and development of next-generation biologics therapeutics.” The biotech is affiliated with Helixon Therapeutics, another AI-focused drug discovery firm applying machine learning to protein design.
With this latest deal, Sanofi continues to position itself at the forefront of immunoscience innovation, betting on emerging technologies like AI to accelerate drug discovery and development in one of the industry’s most competitive therapeutic areas.

Merck Signs $493M Agreement to Use Cyprumed’s Oral Peptide Platform

Editorial Team — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:44:58 +0000

Merck & Co. is taking a significant step toward transforming its peptide therapies into convenient oral tablets through a licensing agreement worth up to $493 million with Cyprumed, an Austria-based biotechnology company specializing in drug delivery technologies. The partnership gives Merck nonexclusive global access to Cyprumed’s oral peptide delivery platform for an undisclosed number of drug targets. Additionally, Merck has the option to secure exclusive rights for specific targets in the future.
As part of the deal, Cyprumed stands to receive up to $493 million in a combination of upfront payments and milestone-based compensation. These milestones are tied to the development, regulatory progress, and commercial performance of any potential therapies developed through the alliance. Cyprumed would also be eligible for further payments should Merck choose to exercise its exclusive licensing option on certain targets.

Under the agreement, Merck will take full responsibility for the research, development, manufacturing, and eventual commercialization of any products that make use of Cyprumed’s delivery platform. The partnership underscores Merck’s growing investment in advancing its peptide-based drug pipeline, particularly in macrocyclic peptides—a class of molecules with high target specificity and therapeutic potential.
Cyprumed’s proprietary technology is designed to enhance oral bioavailability of peptides, which are traditionally administered through injections. The tablets developed using their platform rely on drug excipients that are already approved, making the manufacturing process more scalable and regulatory-friendly. According to Cyprumed, the company’s oral delivery approach enables the creation of patient-friendly formulations that are not only easier to administer but also cost-effective to produce. Cyprumed is also collaborating with major pharmaceutical companies like Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Ferring to advance peptide therapeutics into oral formats.
Florian Föger, Ph.D., CEO of Cyprumed, described the Merck deal as a “significant step” for the company, emphasizing that the inclusion of options for additional targets serves as validation of their platform’s value. On Merck’s side, Allen Templeton, Ph.D., vice president of pharmaceutical sciences at Merck Research Laboratories, expressed optimism about the partnership’s role in pushing forward the company’s macrocyclic peptide initiatives.

While Merck hasn’t disclosed which specific peptides might be converted to oral tablets through this collaboration, the company has made recent strategic moves in the peptide space. In early 2024, Merck signed a $220 million biobucks deal with Unnatural Products to develop macrocyclic peptides for oncology. Merck sees macrocyclic peptides as a promising drug modality that combines the advantages of small molecules—such as oral dosing—with the precision of biologic drugs.
One of Merck’s key programs in this area is MK-0616, an oral PCSK9 inhibitor currently in phase 3 trials for hypercholesterolemia, being developed in partnership with UCB. Another is efinopegdutide, a GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist in phase 2 trials for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Efinopegdutide, currently studied as an injectable, aligns closely with Cyprumed’s focus on developing oral versions of GLP-1 analogues and other mini-proteins.

OPM Cuts Staff, Executive Wages in Wake of Servier Exit

Editorial Team — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 01:46:28 +0000

The French biotech company Oncodesign Precision Medicine has been forced to tighten its purse strings as a result of the decision made by Servier to withdraw from a Parkinson’s disease collaboration. OPM was forced to reduce the wages of two senior executives and lay off employees as a result of the loss of a chance to achieve a significant milestone.

Near the end of the previous year, OPM repurchased the rights to OPM-201. In 2022, a fellow French firm Servier participated in a phase 1 study of the LRRK2 inhibitor in healthy participants. However, it decided to withdraw from the experiment before to the release of the study’s concluded findings. OPM, which had a balance of just 5.1 million euros ($5.6 million) at the end of December, had anticipated that Servier would make it a payment that would mark a significant milestone this year.

Philippe Genne, CEO of OPM, explained in a statement that ending the partnership with Servier had significantly affected the company’s financial plans for 2025. He noted that this challenge comes amid a broader decline in investment within their sector, especially for publicly traded firms. As a result, he indicated that OPM would need to make difficult strategic decisions to adjust and navigate through this period.

As a result, OPM laid off five workers in January. After the French stock market had closed on Thursday, the firm disclosed the initial specifics of the redundancies in its annual report. As part of the effort to minimize costs, the chief executive officer and chief scientific officer of the firm both received 50% salary cuts.

OPM hinted at more projected reductions on programs that are not considered priorities but did not provide any other specifics. In a letter that Genne sent to shareholders in January, he cautioned that these difficult circumstances need a more targeted approach to management as well as a realistic and adaptable strategy. The emphasis being placed on cost reduction is consistent with this warning.

By concentrating on the RIPK2 inhibitor OPM-101 and its collaboration with Navigo Proteins to produce radioligands, the biotechnology company was able to reduce its operational expenditures by 19% in 2024. In July, OPM plans on enrolling the first participant in a phase 1b/2a study of OPM-101 in patients with metastatic melanoma who have developed resistance to anti-PD-1.

OPM is looking for an additional partnership for the OPM-201 program. This isn’t the first time the company has found itself in such a situation. OPM-201 is a product of the study that Ipsen financed between 2011 and 2017. As soon as Ipsen left, OPM took the initiative to move the program ahead on its own and, two years later, secured a contract with Servier.