News round-up by DDW’s Megan Thomas for 29 November – 3 December
DDW’s Megan Thomas has rounded up five stories this week that showcase the different ways in which breakthroughs, agreements, trials and research developments influence the drug discovery world.
1. Agreement to develop vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases
Nykode Therapeutics (formerly Vaccibody) has entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Regeneron for the discovery, development and commercialisation of potential new vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases.
2. Sanofi acquisition is move for acne vaccine candidate
Sanofi will acquire Origimm Biotechnology in December 2021, an Austrian biotechnology company specialising in the discovery of virulent skin microbiome components and antigens from bacteria-causing skin disease (such as acne), adding ORI-001 to Sanofi’s early-stage pipeline.
3. First patient enrollment for ALS treatment trial
Ferrer, a pharmaceutical company focused on neurological disorders and pulmonary vascular and interstitial lung diseases, has enrolled the first patient in its Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Deceleration with ORal Edaravone (ADORE), FNP122 Phase III clinical trial.
4. Sweet talk: “sugar soap” reverses blocked arteries
Australian biopharmaceutical company Cholrem have produced CAVADEX (Beta-Cyclodextrin), a product which removes cholesterol from damaged and narrowed arteries after a few months of treatment, leading to increased blood flow.
5. Collaboration to develop treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders
Neurocrine Biosciences and Sosei Group Corporation have collaborated to develop novel muscarinic receptor agonists, which Neurocrine Biosciences intends to study in the treatment for schizophrenia, dementia and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
