Global Life Science Hub

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GSK has restructured its deal with CureVac, 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 $𝟒𝟐𝟗 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐩𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐑𝐍𝐀 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. This strategic move allows GSK to take over all development and commercialization responsibilities for these vaccines, previously shared with CureVac. In tandem with this deal, 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐕𝐚𝐜 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝟑𝟎% 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 as it shifts focus back to early-stage technology innovation and preclinical vaccine programs. This realignment is part of CureVac’s effort to optimize its operations and financial stability, extending its runway to 2028. Despite these changes, CureVac will continue to pursue its oncology pipeline, aiming to bring additional vaccines into human trials by 2025. https://lnkd.in/d34hzerx #Healthcare #Vaccines #Biotech #Pharma #mRNA

SK bioscience 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝟔𝟎% 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫 IDT Biologika 𝐟𝐨𝐫 $𝟐𝟒𝟒 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy, "SKBS 3.0." This acquisition enhances SK's capabilities in 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and positions it for growth in developed markets and new bio areas like 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲. The deal, which follows SK's $𝟏.𝟑𝟑 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐏𝐎 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏, 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝟖%. IDT Biologika, with operations in 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔.𝐒., had record revenues in 2022 but saw a decline in 2023. https://lnkd.in/e9zNRb45 #PharmaNews #Biotech #GlobalExpansion #VaccineProduction #HealthcareInnovation

Samsung Biologics 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 $𝟏.𝟎𝟔 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐔𝐒 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲, marking its fourth major contract this year. This significant deal constitutes nearly 𝟒𝟎% 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐨'𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 $𝟐.𝟖 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧. Despite the biopharma downturn, the company has managed to report exceptional revenue. The contract, effective until the end of 2030, remains confidential regarding the company's identity and manufacturing details. Additionally, Samsung Bio recently expanded its deals with Baxter International Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, and Merck, reflecting its ongoing efforts to boost its manufacturing capabilities with new sites coming online soon. https://lnkd.in/esH_MdYy #PharmaNews #Biotech #Pharmaceuticals #HealthcareInnovation #ManufacturingIndustry

Alumis, an 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 on the cusp of 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝟑, has secured $𝟐𝟓𝟎𝐌 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐏𝐎. The Bay Area startup sold 𝟏𝟑.𝟏𝟐 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 $𝟏𝟔 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 to fund the late-stage testing of its lead 𝐓𝐘𝐊𝟐 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠, studies of a second asset in neuroinflammatory conditions, and preclinical projects. While the IPO was smaller than initially projected, an additional 𝟐.𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 were sold in a concurrent private placement. With $𝟑𝟒𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 toward clinical development, Alumis aims to create a next-gen immunology treatment, facing competition from Bristol Myers Squibb’s Sotyktu and Takeda’s TAK-279. Alumis has spent heavily on R&D, with $𝟏𝟑𝟕 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 $𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐. The company, led by Martin Babler, hopes to buck the trend of biotechs trading below their IPO price. https://lnkd.in/eK_H6kda #Biotech #Immunology #IPO #Pharma #HealthcareInnovation

Curie.Bio, a biotech accelerator based in Cambridge, MA, has 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 $𝟑𝟖𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 for startups that graduate from its program. This significant funding boost, disclosed on Wednesday, elevates the firm’s total capital to nearly $𝟏 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧. Led by Alexis Borisy, Zach Weinberg, and Christoph Lengauer, Curie.Bio allocates these funds primarily to support emerging drug developers in reaching clinical stages. Notably, the firm has a diverse 20-startup portfolio and aims for investments with blockbuster potential, targeting at least $𝟏 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬. Curie.Bio’s model involves investing $5-7 million in seed rounds, taking about a 7% stake, and providing extensive R&D services to help startups progress efficiently. https://lnkd.in/ehEaPru2 #Biotech #StartupFunding #SeriesA #PharmaInnovation #VCFunding

Foresite Capital 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 $𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐄𝐎 Jim Tananbaum, M.D., describes as "one of the best biotech investment environments" of his career. This new fund will continue Foresite's strategy of backing drug developers and companies at the intersection of technology and biotechnology. Focusing on 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲, Foresite has invested in biotechs like Alumis, Latigo Biotherapeutics, Inc. , and Xaira Therapeutics, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 $𝟏𝟑𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 $𝟏 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. These investments highlight Foresite's presence in significant private funding rounds and its role in facilitating the transition from private investments to public markets. https://lnkd.in/e5ZHtpzT #BiotechInvestment #VentureCapital #HealthcareInnovation #LifeSciences #PrecisionMedicine

Kyowa Kirin, Inc.- U.S. 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 $𝟓𝟑𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚. Construction of the 𝟏𝟕𝟏,𝟕𝟎𝟎-𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞-𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 is set to begin in the latter half of this year, with the facility expected to be operational by 2027. This state-of-the-art plant will produce innovative biologic therapies, including next-generation antibodies, for clinical trials and eventual commercial use. It will be Kyowa Kirin's first manufacturing site in North America and will complement its existing facility in Takasaki, Japan, streamlining the tech transfer process. According to Toshiyuki Kurata, the company's chief supply chain officer and global manufacturing head, the new site will significantly accelerate drug development and production. https://lnkd.in/eSHwMgGq #Biotech #PharmaNews #Biologics #Manufacturing #Innovation

Eko Health 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 $𝟒𝟏 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐈-𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲’𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 $𝟏𝟔𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧. The new funding follows an FDA clearance in April for Eko's AI program, designed to detect 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐜 𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, a crucial early sign of heart failure. Eko’s smart stethoscopes, which also have FDA approvals for detecting structural heart murmurs and atrial fibrillation through ECG sensors, feature advanced sound amplification and noise cancellation, transforming the traditional stethoscope into a sophisticated, connected medical device capable of identifying subtle heart and lung disease patterns. https://lnkd.in/euRzUKa7 #Health #AI #Technology #Innovation #MedicalDevices

Moderna's combination 𝗳𝗹𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗠𝗥𝗡𝗔-𝟭𝟬𝟴𝟯, has demonstrated superior immune responses compared to existing vaccines, including Moderna’s own Spikevax, in a recent phase 3 trial. Comprised of the flu vaccine mRNA-1010 and the next-generation COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1283, this new combo shot aims to simplify seasonal immunization efforts. Unlike earlier vaccines, MRNA-1083 benefits from easier storage requirements, potentially increasing its accessibility. 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮'𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿, 𝗗𝗿. Francesca Ceddia, highlighted the significant gap in vaccination rates between flu and COVID-19, emphasizing the need for such combined vaccines to alleviate patient and caregiver burden. https://lnkd.in/e7-EVQB9 #Moderna #VaccineInnovation #FluCOVIDCombo #MRNA #ImmunizationBreakthrough