DeepMind Technologies Ltd, also known as Google DeepMind, has unveiled a new artificial intelligence tool that has demonstrated an ability to predict how mutations in human DNA sequences can impact the processes that regulate genes. The tool was described for the first time in the 25 June edition of Nature. Google DeepMind is also the developer of AlphaFold, the AI system for predicting the three dimensional structures of proteins.
Novartis has entered into a four-year partnership with ProFound Therapeutics Inc of the US to explore the vast domain of proteins contained in the human proteome in order to find new targets for cardiovascular medicines. Announced on 26 June, the collaboration will entail an upfront payment of $25 million with potential near-term milestone payments of $750 million for each target selected. ProFound was founded in 2020 by Flagship Pioneering, a Cambridge, US-based venture capital group.
A consortium led by the Danish biotech company, Adaptvac ApS, has received $12.4 million from CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) and the EU to design and test a candidate vaccine that could offer broad protection against several filoviruses. Filoviruses are a family of viruses known to cause severe haemorrhagic fever in humans. The vaccine would be used to protect high risk populations, such as healthcare workers, in areas where filovirus outbreaks are most prevalent. These are primarily in Central and East Africa.
Thermosome GmbH, a clinical-stage German drug developer, reported positive early data on 24 June from a thermosensitive, liposomal version of a commonly used chemotherapy drug that produced meaningful clinical activity in pre-treated patients with soft tissue sarcomas. The median progression-free survival for patients after treatment reached 4.5 months across two dose levels, a result that exceeded typical survival figures for patients receiving first-line chemotherapy.
A new clinical-stage company with plans to develop therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders was launched in the UK on 18 June on the back of $140 million in Series A financing led by Access Biotechnology, the investment arm of Access Industries. The company, Draig Therapeutics Ltd, is an academic spin-out which capitalises on scientific discoveries made by two professors at Cardiff University in Wales.
Oncorena AB of Sweden has raised $13.9 million from a share issue to complete a Phase 1/2 study of a new treatment for renal cell carcinoma. The candidate treatment, ONC175, is a small molecule drug containing synthetically produced orellanine, which is a compound found in certain mushrooms. According to the company, the drug has demonstrated a highly organ-specific mode of action in preclinical studies and appears to be capable of killing human metastatic renal cancer cells. Separately, it is understood that orellanine does not affect organs other than the kidneys.
UK-based OutSee Ltd has secured seed funding of £1.8 million to expand its work in the field of predictive genomics. The company was founded by the scientist and entrepreneur Julian Gough who has an established career in bioinformatics and computational biology. OutSee’s proprietary technology is an AI-based predictive modelling tool that interrogates the molecular and cellular biology of the genome for drug targets. This is different from the more common method of pattern-matching which is based on genetic associations.
UK-based Quell Therapeutics Ltd is to out-licence a candidate cell therapy for inflammatory bowel disease to AstraZeneca Plc following the achievement of a research milestone. Further details of the research goal were not disclosed. The two companies have been collaborating since 2023 in the development of engineered T-regulatory (Treg) cell therapies for two immune-mediated disease indications. Inflammatory bowel disease is one indication and Type 1 diabetes is the other. The achievement of the milestone will trigger a payment to Quell of $10 million.
UK-based Compass Pathways Plc has reported positive Phase 3 data for a synthetic psilocybin, and the first classic psychedelic for potential use in treatment-resistant depression. The small molecule drug, COMP360, achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in symptom severity compared with a placebo as measured on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, according to the company.
A new stem cell therapy has been recommended for conditional approval by the European Medicines Agency for patients with a blood cancer who need a transplant following chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy but have no suitable donors. The allogeneic product, Zemcelpro, is derived from umbilical cord blood and contains two components. These are expanded CD34+ cells and unexpanded CD34- cells, each derived from the same cord blood unit.