The Weekly Roundup newsletter curates the top five - deals, pipeline, funding, and news from the past week.

The complete list is available here: Industry Updates

🤝Deals and Collaborations

BioCryst and Er-Kim Pharmaceuticals Collaboration: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals is joining forces with Er-Kim Pharmaceuticals, a partnership that aims to bring ORLADEYO to Turkey. This medication, the only oral treatment of its kind, works to prevent hereditary angioedema attacks in patients aged 12 and above. [Learn more about this partnership↗]

Merger of Neurogene and Neoleukin: The neurology-focused biotech company, Neurogene, is merging with Neoleukin Therapeutics in an all-stock deal. The goal of the merger is to expedite the development of Neurogene's pipeline of genetic medicines, particularly NGN-401, a promising treatment for Rett syndrome. [Get the details of the merger here↗]

LianBio, Nanobiotix, and Janssen Agreement: LianBio and its partner, Nanobiotix, have entered into a licensing agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica. The agreement centers around the development and commercialization of the radioenhancer NBTXR3. However, LianBio will retain the commercialization rights in Greater China, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. [Read about the agreement here↗]

Korro Bio and Frequency Therapeutics Merger: Korro Bio, an RNA editing company, and Frequency Therapeutics are merging. The new entity will focus on advancing Korro Bio's portfolio of RNA editing programs. [Find out more about the merger↗]

Research Collaboration between Eleven Therapeutics and Novo Nordisk: Eleven Therapeutics and Novo Nordisk are coming together in a research collaboration that will leverage Eleven's DELiveri platform. The aim is to discover new molecules that promote precise nucleic acid delivery for treating cardiometabolic diseases. [Discover more about the collaboration here↗]

⏫ Pipeline and Approvals

Fosun Kite's CAR-T Therapy: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved Shanghai Fosun Kite Biotechnology's CAR-T product, Yikaida®, as a second-line therapy for adult large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL). This comes after two or more failed immunochemotherapy treatments. Previously, Yikaida was approved as a third-line treatment, and this new approval makes it the first CAR-T product available as a second-line therapy for rr/LBCL in China. [Read more about this approval↗]

Genmab's Epcoritamab (TEPKINLY®): The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval of epcoritamab (TEPKINLY®) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The final decision on marketing authorization for epcoritamab is anticipated later this year. [Learn more about the CHMP's recommendation↗]

Daiichi Sankyo’s Vanflyta: The FDA has approved Daiichi Sankyo’s Vanflyta as the first drug for the treatment of newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3-ITD mutations. This comes nearly four years after being rejected by the FDA in its first filing. The approval of Vanflyta marks considerable progress in the treatment of AML, providing a new option for patients with this aggressive form of leukemia. [Discover more about this FDA approval↗]

BeiGene's Tislelizumab: BeiGene has announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the approval of tislelizumab as a treatment for adults with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Tislelizumab is not currently authorized for use in Europe, but if approved, it could provide a new treatment option for patients with this aggressive form of cancer. [Find out more about this positive recommendation↗]

Jazz Pharma's Blood Cancer Therapy: Jazz Pharmaceuticals has received backing from the European Medicines Agency for its blood cancer therapy, JZP458, for approval as a therapeutic component in certain cases of leukemia and lymphoma. The therapy is recommended for use in those who are not indicated to receive E. coli-derived asparaginase, a component of multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimens for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This approval could provide a new treatment alternative for patients with these types of cancer. [Learn more about this EU backing↗]

💰 Funding

SURGE Therapeutics Funding: Biotech company SURGE Therapeutics has successfully raised $32 million in a Series B funding round. These funds will be channeled towards the development of immunotherapy during cancer surgery, team expansion, and the advancement of multiple clinical trials for its injectable biodegradable hydrogel. [Find out more about this funding↗]

Kelun-Biotech IPO: Sichuan Kelun-Biotech has raised a significant $174 million from its IPO on the Hong Kong Exchange. This influx of capital will be used to further develop Kelun-Biotech's pipeline of novel biologics and small molecule drugs targeted towards oncology, autoimmune, inflammatory, and metabolic indications. [Learn more about this IPO↗]

Mage Biologics Investment: The newly formed U.S.-based biotech company, Mage Biologics, has secured an investment of up to $28 million. The joint investment comes from TVM Capital Life Science and specialty pharma company, Tillotts Pharma. The funds will be used to advance a novel, orally administered, humanized monoclonal antibody to clinical proof of concept for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. [Discover more about this investment↗]

Molecure SPO: Poland's Molecure has completed a 50 million Zloty secondary public offering (SPO). The funds will be used to develop the company's lead drug candidate, MC180295, an epigenetic drug for cancer treatment. [Read more about this SPO↗]

Exeliom Biosciences Funding: Paris-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Exeliom Biosciences, has raised an additional €8 million in Series A extension funding. This closes the total Series A round at €24 million. The funding will be used to progress the clinical development of its lead candidate EXL01 into two new therapeutic areas: immuno-oncology and infectious diseases. [Find out more about this funding↗]

📰 Interesting News

Innovative Foods: A fascinating article in Forbes sheds light on ten new types of food that could be coming to our plates in the next decade. These innovative food items range from carbon-neutral chicken and 3D printed cake to high-protein chickpeas and edible food packaging. Progress in science and food technology is set to deliver these groundbreaking food items, potentially benefiting both human health and the environment. [Learn more about these future foods↗]

Drug Delivery Innovations: The field of drug delivery is continuously evolving with a host of new innovations. An article in Drug Delivery Business highlights eight significant drug delivery advancements, including automated insulin delivery tech, insulin pen add-ons, alternative diabetes therapies, ear tubes for treating ear infections, needle-free drug delivery tech, transdermal drug delivery patch, pre-filled syringes, and on-body drug delivery systems. These innovations could redefine how we administer treatments in the future. [Discover more about these breakthroughs↗]

Genetic Engineering in China: China is making significant strides in the field of genetic engineering, with the potential to become a global leader. A feature in Labiotech explores how China is investing heavily in genetic engineering research and is actively using gene-editing tool CRISPR for various applications. The country is also making progress in the cultivation of genetically modified crops and animal genome editing. [Read more about China's genetic engineering progress↗]

Revolutionizing Early Diagnosis of Endometriosis: Ziwig, a French startup, has developed a new method for diagnosing endometriosis in just 10 days, compared to the current average diagnosis time of 10 years. The company's Endotest uses saliva samples to examine microRNA and offers a definitive diagnosis. This could be a game-changer for the millions of women globally affected by endometriosis. [Find out more about this innovation↗]

Nirma's Pharma Ambitions: Nirma, a well-known Indian brand initially famous for its washing powder, is venturing into the pharmaceutical field. According to a Finshots report, Nirma is considering acquiring listed entity Glenmark Life Sciences. This move follows Nirma's successful foray into the cement industry and could mark a significant shift in the company's business focus. [Learn more about Nirma's diversification plans↗]