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Merck and Artios Pharma Announce a Global Strategic Collaboration on Novel DNA Damage Response Targets in Oncology
“Our platform has the potential to revolutionize targeted treatment in cancer and deliver on the promise of precision medicine. This collaboration will leverage the potential of our unique discovery platform of novel DNA repair nuclease inhibitors and targets that we have been developing. The partnership puts us in an exceptional position to focus internal efforts on our leading portfolio of assets which includes a small-molecule ATR inhibitor and a Polθ programme, both in candidate IND evaluation,” said Niall Martin, Chief Executive Officer at Artios Pharma.
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Bayer and Atara Biotherapeutics Enter Strategic Collaboration for Mesothelin-Targeted CAR T-cell Therapies for Solid Tumors
“This exciting collaboration between Atara and Bayer will accelerate the development of mesothelin-targeted CAR T-cell therapies for multiple solid tumors and helps us advance the power of our allogeneic cell therapy platform to patients as quickly as possible,” said Pascal Touchon, President and CEO Atara. “Bayer’s proven track record in oncology global development and commercialization, and growing presence in cell and gene therapy, enhances Atara’s capabilities and complements our leading allogeneic T-cell platform.”
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Aligos Therapeutics signs a license and research collaboration agreement with Merck
On 7th December 2020, Aligos Therapeutics entered an Exclusive License and Research Collaboration Agreement with Merck. Under this agreement, Merck and Aligos will simultaneously utilize Aligos’ oligonucleotide platform technology to discover, research, optimize, and develop oligonucleotides directed against a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) target. This deal also confirms that both companies can develop up to one additional target of interest in cardiometabolic/fibrosis therapeutics. Aligos holds extensive expertise and resources necessary to develop oligonucleotide candidates for liver diseases, including STOPS™ molecules as well as an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) candidates in development for Aligos’ program in chronic hepatitis B and NASH.
“We have assembled a team of scientists and medical professionals with significant experience in oligonucleotide-based drug discovery and we have developed a proprietary oligonucleotide chemistry platform that has broad applicability across diverse therapeutic areas,” “Given the imperative to find new innovative treatments for NASH, a chronic liver disease that can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma, we are pleased to collaborate with Merck to advance the development of potentially effective therapeutic regimens.” - Lawrence Blatt, Ph.D., MBA, CEO, Aligos.
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BioCryst bags $325 M funding to develop small molecule therapeutics for rare diseases like hereditary angioedema (HAE)
On 7th December 2020, New York-based BioCryst has secured $325 M from Royalty Pharma plc and Athyrium Capital Management. $250 M from this newly acquired fund is allocated for the launch of ORLADEYO™ for hereditary angioedema (HAE) attack and the development of its oral Factor D inhibitor, BCX9930. Right before this funding round on 6th December 2020, BioCryst announced that ORLADEYO™ has got the FDA approval.
With this newly acquired fund BioCryst plans to launch ORLADEYO™ across the US and Europe. Additionally, they will focus on the clinical trial of the Factor D inhibitor, BCX9930. BioCryst will receive $125 M upfront cash from Royalty Pharma and gain royalties of annual net sales of ORLADEYO up to $350 million. The rest of the fund will be provided by Athyrium Capital Management as a credit facility.
“We believe ORLADEYO will be a transformative medicine and we are excited to partner with BioCryst to bring this oral, once-daily medicine to HAE patients. Based on the encouraging proof of concept data in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria with BCX9930, we also believe this oral Factor D inhibitor offers substantial opportunities across multiple complement-mediated diseases,”- Pablo Legorreta, CEO, Royalty Pharma.
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