News

The human microbiome took front stage in early January 2016 when two large pharma companies sealed drug discovery deals with France-based Enterome Bioscience SA, a pioneer in microbiome research.

Kymab Ltd of Cambridge, UK is taking its antibody technology to Texas in order to work with scientists at the MD Anderson Cancer Center to discover and develop new monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and biomarkers to identify responder populations.

Complix NV of Belgium has entered into a discovery collaboration agreement with Merck & Co Inc to develop treatments against two undisclosed cancer targets using technology that it says can penetrate cell membranes and modulate intracellular disease targets.

An experimental gene therapy administered to a small group of elderly patients with wet age-related macular degeneration has been shown to be safe, and showed promise as a long-term treatment option for the disease, according to a paper in The Lancet.

Gilead Sciences Inc has stopped a Phase 2 study of the monocolonal antibody simtuzumab in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) due to lack of efficacy. The decision was based on a recommendation of the study’s data monitoring committee.

Baxalta Inc has acquired options to buy six checkpoint inhibitors from the Denmark-based antibody developer Symphogen A/S in a move that may strengthen its hand in takeover discussions with Shire Plc. These discussions are reportedly nearing a conclusion.

Two molecules previously thought to stimulate an aggressive form of leukaemia are now understood to do the opposite – inhibit it. The findings, by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, are expected to prompt new thinking about the mechanisms of the disease and ways to treat it.

Up to three-quarters of new diseases infecting humans come from animals, yet until recently scientists hadn’t identified the locations at greatest risk of transmission. Now researchers from the UK and US have produced a map identifying zoonotic hotspots.

 A new lung cancer treatment for patients who have a specific tumour mutation has received a positive opinion in Europe. The drug, Tagrisso (osimertinib), was developed by AstraZeneca Plc.

Medivir AB has announced the termination of an early-stage hepatitis C project that was being conducted with Janssen Pharmaceuticals because early signs of clinical activity were too weak. The compound, AL-704, was nevertheless safe and well-tolerated.