Biogen is backing Genentech on developing a bispecific antibody aimed at B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company exercised an option to participate in Roche Group member Genentech’s development of mosunetuzumab under a long-standing collaboration for antibodies targeting CD20.
A multinational team of researchers genetically engineered T-lymphocytes to produce dual receptor rejuvenated T-cells, which exhibit antitumor properties with persistent, unlimited availability in vivo.
Kyverna Therapeutics secured an additional $85 million following a successful Series B financing round to support various projects in the company’s pipeline of therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Takeda added some more firepower to the company’s immuno-oncology game on January 10 when the Japanese giant announced it will exercise an option to acquire U.K.-based Adaptate Biotherapeutics.
High levels of T-cells from common cold coronaviruses can provide protection against COVID-19, an Imperial College London study published on January 10 found, which could inform approaches for second-generation vaccines.
British researchers said on November 10 they had identified proteins in the coronavirus that are recognized by T-cells of people who are exposed to the virus but resist infection, possibly providing a new target for vaccine developers.
Four years after partnering with GammaDelta Therapeutics to develop therapies for solid tumors, Takeda Pharmaceutical pulled the trigger and exercised its option to acquire the London-based company.
Seattle-based Mozart Therapeutics closed on a $55 million Series A financing round, led by seed financier ARCH Venture Partners along with Sofinnova Partners. Additional investors were Eli Lilly and Company, MRL Ventures Fund, an early-stage fund run by Merck & Co., Leaps by Bayer, Altitude Life Science Ventures, and Alexandria Venture Investments.
Coronavirus vaccines are known to be less protective in people with the blood cancer multiple myeloma, such as former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who died on Oct. 18 of complications from Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated. Additionally, in a paper in the journal Stem Cell Reports, researchers said numerous businesses have made unsubstantiated and inaccurate claims about supposed stem cell products to treat Covid-19.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Enzyvant Sciences’s Rethymic (allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc) for children with congenital athymia.
