Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Microbiotica’s microbiome therapy showed 63% remission in ulcerative colitis phase 1b trial

Cambridge-based Microbiotica’s ulcerative colitis (UC) candidate met its primary and secondary phase 1b study objectives on safety, efficacy signals and bacterial engraftment. The company has reported positive results from a small, placebo-controlled study of its oral precision microbiome therapy MB310 in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis, adding a rare positive clinical signal in a disease area where microbiome approaches have so far struggled to gain traction.

Swiss-Japanese ADC player Araris expands Chugai pact with $780m licensing agreement

Zurich-based oncology biotech Araris Biotech AG has entered into a research collaboration with an option to license with Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Roche. The aim of the partnership is to develop next-generation antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). While Araris itself is now Japanese-owned – a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical, part of the Otsuka Group – its research activities remain firmly rooted in Zurich. That presence was highlighted last year when the Strüngmann brothers, German billionaire twins, awarded a prize to the company’s founders.

This Memo sticks: CSL bites in Switzerland for antibody collaboration

The Australian–Swiss plasma specialist CSL is relying on technology from Switzerland for recombinant polyclonal immunoglobulins (IgG). With Memo Therapeutics, the company has entered into a collaboration and option agreement with a total potential value of up to CHF 265 million. This is good news for Memo, while CSL, following substantial job cuts including in Marburg, could also use some different headlines for a change.

This Memo sticks: CSL bites in Switzerland for antibody collaboration

The Australian–Swiss plasma specialist CSL is relying on technology from Switzerland for recombinant polyclonal immunoglobulins (IgG). With Memo Therapeutics, the company has entered into a collaboration and option agreement with a total potential value of up to CHF 265 million. This is good news for Memo, while CSL, following substantial job cuts including in Marburg, could also use some different headlines for a change.

4Moving Biotech raises €12m to prove whether GLP-1 can crack osteoarthritis

After more than a decade of failed drug development efforts, osteoarthritis remains one of biopharma’s most stubborn challenges. Despite affecting more than 600 million people worldwide, no therapy approved in Europe or the United States has yet been shown to slow or modify disease progression. Against that backdrop, 4Moving Biotech (4MB) is betting that a familiar drug class, GLP-1 receptor agonists, can succeed where others have fallen short.