38%, blimey! That is how much year-on-year dealmaking value in pharma and biotech decline last year. And yet, it is not all about money. We can tell our friends in biotech are back at work after the holiday break if we judge by the length of this edition… But before we get into the details, a lot of you have subscribed to Cambridge Biocapital in the last few days. Welcome to all of you, and thank you for your interest in this project. If you have news you want to distribute, regardless of how small your company is, feel free to reach out. If you play a role in the British biotech ecosystem, you are in the right place. Now, BioNTech has agreed to acquire InstaDeep for more than £362 million, a natural consequence after they participated InstaDeep’s Series B and they collaborated successfully on neoantigen selection and ribological sequence optimisation projects. It is exciting to see where mRNA vaccine design will go leveraging real integration of AI-first predictive and rational approach with machine learning. Liquid biopsy blood test is the field that keeps on giving, and no, this is not about GRAIL: Oxford Cancer Analytics has raised $3.7 million follow-on to its seed round to advance its ML-enabled software. Some for the levelling up ambitions: Glasgow-based PneumoWave has raised £7.5 million Series A, Manchester-based QV Bioelectronics has secured £2 million pre-seed investment, and Edinburgh-based Metacarpalhas been granted a £100,000 Scottish Enterprise SMART funding. Meanwhile, Cambridge Cognition, Astrea Bioseparations and Phastar have been busy with M&A operations. Also, the UKRI/MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator is doing its bit to address limitations in the sustainable production of nucleic acid therapeutics without the constraints of the current solid-phase methods and dependency on organic solvents. Cambridge-based accelerator and venture builder Start Codon has joined the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association, and guess what, they are hiring for a number of roles. Babraham Research Campus and Blackstone’s BioMed Realty have entered an strategic partnership and Sanofi Ventures has increased its evergreen fund to $750 million. Prokarium and Gingko are now working to develop a bactoinfection platform to deliver RNA-based therapeutics. Two important appointments to the Chair of the Board: James Noble has joined Pneumogen (St Andrews) and Michael Booney has joined Dunad Therapeutics (Cambridge). Phoremost has a new COO and C4X Discovery has an new CSO. Friends, quick note on how to get your industry priorities right. The Saudi Arabia royal family is planing to spend $1 billion a year to slow aging. I understand the aim for extending life only applies to religious men belonging to protected families. If you are anything else, your life —let aside its span— does not matter much. Meanwhile, Illumina and Nashville Biosciences have entered an agreement with Amgen to to whole-genome sequence approximately 35,000 DNA samples from African Americans. Interesting readings featuring the FDA Modernisation Act 2.0, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Carlyle, Abingworth, and the great Christine Hockley. Music, groovy flow. Art, German modernism at the Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries. Let’s dive in!

Glasgow PneumoWave has raised £7.5 million Series A. The investment was led by Scottish National Investment Bank (£5.2 million) and participated by existing investors Scottish Enterprise, IIG, London & Scottish Investment Partners, Equity Gap, and Alba Equity (remaining £2.3 million), alongside angel investor Mark Bamforth (Thairm Bio). PneumoWave is developing a biosensor technology platform able to detect remote, wireless, real-time physiological data and digital biomarkers. The aim is to prevent deaths and reducing hospital admissions from respiratory causes in high-risk patient groups. The technology is being developed in collaboration with an international consortium (University of Dundee, University of Glasgow, King’s College London, and NRCH and Department of Health, Australia). The proceedings of the round will be use to advance the technology, accelerate clinical validation for early 2024, and expand operations in the US.

London-based Inflow has raised $11 million Series A funding. The investment was led by Octopus Ventures, with participation from Hoxton Ventures and Route66 Ventures. The company is developing a platform to manage ADHD using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques. The company was founded in 2020 and is a Y Combinatoralumni. it raised $2.3 million seed round in January 2022 and acquired Lina Health in November to expand into tele-health.

Oxford-based Oxford Cancer Analytics (OxCan) has raised $3.7 million follow-on to its seed round. The funding was led by Eka Ventures and participated by LifeArc, the company MegaRobo Technologies (China), Oxford Technology Management, and a number of angel investors. The company is developing a new generation of liquid biopsy blood tests leveraging proteomics and machine learning to detect and analyse the deadliest cancers at an early stage. The software focuses exclusively on proteins present in the blood to reduce testing to a dozen biomarkers, instead of several hundred available from a regular blood test. The blood test is minimally invasive and integrates with existing care pathways. The company currently focuses on lung cancer, one of the deadliest in the UK, which accounts for approximately 21% of cancer deaths. OxCan technology is backed by Francis Crick Institute, Cancer Research UK and it is currently being tested at hospitals in ****Oxford and Liverpool and St Andrews. To date, the company has raised £5.5 million. The proceedings of the round will be used to expand operations internationally and advance product development.

London-based Actimed has raised the second tranche of £5 million seed financing, bringing the total seed financing to £10 million. The seed round was closed with investment from Mankind Pharma, one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies, making this the pharma’s first overseas investment of its class. Actimed is a clinical stage company developing treatments for cancer cachexia and other muscle disorders. the Company’s lead asset, S-pindolol benzoate has already undergone pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies successfully. The proceedings of the round will be used to prepare for Phase 2b/3 programme for the Company’s lead asset, S-pindolol benzoate. In addition, Atish Majumdar, President (Sales & Marketing) of Mankind Pharma has been appointed to Actimed’s Board of Directors.

London-based LIfT BioSciences has raised further seed investment from its lead investor Starbloom Capital. In addition, LIfT BioSciences has been admitted into Johnson and Johnson Innovation (JLABS), the Pharma’s accelerator. In addition, the company is currently backed by Downing Ventures,  Johnatan Milner and Kizoo Technology Ventures. LIfT BioSciences is developing Neutrophil Only Leukocyte Infusion Therapy (N-LIfT), its first-to-market anti-cancer innate cell therapy. The therapy builds on the idea of transferring cells from the innate immune response to cancer patients. The aim is to bring it into clinical trials by Q1 2024. LIfT is also doubling down on investment into its second-generation product CAR-iN-LIfT after showing promising results in producing its Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs) from iPSCs, and with transducing genetically engineered CAR add-ins. The proceedings of the round will be use to enable technology transference of N-LIfT to Good Manufacturing Practice standards for use in patients.

Manchester-based QV Bioelectronics has raised £2 million pre-seed investment. The round was led by the Science Angel Syndicate and Fink Family Office, and participated by new investors Northern Gritstone and Elbow Beach Capital, and existing investors SOSV and Catapult Ventures. The company is developing a surgically-implanted Electric Field Therapy (EFT) device for the treatment of brain tumours. The implant (GRACE) aims to target dividing cancer cells within the brain, without affecting healthy cells, currently with a focus on glioblastoma. QV Bioelectronics was founded by biomedical engineer Dr Christopher Bullock (CEO), and NHS neurosurgeon Dr Richard Fu (Clinical Director). The proceedings of the round will be used to complete pre-clinical studies to assess the safety and efficacy and advance GRACE technology.

London-based Peppy Health has raised $45m Series B. The investment was led by by AlbionVC, alongside Kathaka, MTech Capital, Simplyhealth and Sony Innovation Fund. Current investors Felix Capital, Hambro Perks, Outward VC and Seedcamp also participated. Peppy has developed a personalised digital health platform that focuses on menopause, fertility, pregnancy and early parenthood and men’s health benefits. The company has over 250 enterprise clients such as Accenture, Adobe, Disney, and Marsh McLennan. The proceedings of the round will be used to accelerate its expansion in the US.

The academic-industry consortium led by Prof Nick Turner (Manchester Institute of Biotechnology) has been awarded£6 million by the UKRI/MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA) through NATA’s Manufacturing Challenge. The consortium is part of an overall £14 million investment that NATA is making, with additional collaborations from LifeArc. The consortium is formed by the University of Keele, the Rosalind Franklin Institute, Nuclera, AstraZeneca, LGC, Agilent and the Centre for Process Innovation. It aims to address limitations in the sustainable production of nucleic acid therapeutics without the constraints of the current solid-phase methods and dependency on organic solvents.

Cambridge-based Kuano has been awarded £540,000 from Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst to develop colorectal cancer drugs. Kuano is developing a platform (Quantum Lens) that combines artificial intelligence and quantum simulation to achieve a next-generation detail in structure based drug discovery. Quantum Lens captures Transition States, tight binding states that occur during enzymatic reactions, and uses them as templates for drug discovery. The Kuano platform uses the key chemical features of Transition States to define a filter for matching stable molecules, the so-called Quantum Pharmacophore.The quantum simulations can reveal differences between malfunctioning enzymes and healthy ones, allowing to target the former individually. Currently, the company is targeting the enzyme NOTUM, involved in cancer development such as Bowel cancer.

London-based Nanoloom has been awarded an Innovate UK Smart Grant in collaboration with Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour and the Royal College of Art. The company is developing biocompatible, biodegradable and 100% recyclable, graphene-based material. It can be manufactured using other methods like mould casting or 3D printing, depending on product requirements.

Cambridge-based Reflection Therapeutics has been received Innovate UK Edge funding. In addition, the company has been awarded the BBSRC Industrial Partner Grant in collaboration with Sian Henson (Queen Mary University of London).

Edinburgh-based Metacarpal has secured a £100,000 Scottish Enterprise SMART feasibility study grant. The funding will be used to help fund research and development activities. The company is developing fully body-powered, bionic, prosthetic hands without electronics.

Germany-based BioNTech (Nasdaq: BNTX) has entered an agreement to acquire London-headquartered InstaDeep for £362 million and additional performance-based £200 million. InstaDeep is a leading company in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Upon closing, InstaDeep will operate as a UK-based global subsidiary of BioNTech. The acquisition builds on an ongoing multi-year strategic collaboration between the companies in projects such neoantigen selection and ribological sequence optimisation. In addition, BioNTech invested on InstaDeep’s Series B funding round in January 2022. The acquisition will enable to discover, design and develop immunotherapies by leveraging InstaDeep’s ML/AI knowledge, such as DeepChainTM protein design platform, across BioNTech’s therapeutic platforms and operations.

Cambridge-based Cambridge Cognition has acquired Toronto University-spinout Winterlight Labs. The financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed. Winterlight has developed an digital tool for monitoring cognitive impairment through free-speach analysis. The acquisition strengthens Cambridge Cognition’s position in the digital health space with a focus on brain-related conditions. In addition, it will allow advancing Cambridge Cognition’s platforms for screen-based, structured voice-based and free-speech based cognitive assessments for clinical trials.

Cambridge-headquartered Astrea Bioseparations has acquired Gloucestershire-based Delta Precision (financial details not disclosed). Astrea Bioseparations provides a range of purification technologies. Delta brings in expert manufacturing and production of advance chromatography allowing Astrea to expand its product portfolio. The acquisition builds-on a decade or commercial relationship. Astrea has currently a portfolio of products used in over 20 approved therapeutic and medical products.

London-based Phastar has acquired Denmark-based S-Cubed ApS. Phastar is a a global specialist biometrics contract research organisation. S-Cubed ApS, a specialist biometrics and data visualisation company in the Nordic region. The deal strengthens Phastar’s position in the region, adds capabilities in data visualisation and brings the group to a total of 550 people worldwide, including its operations site in Durham (NC).

Sanofi Ventures has announced a multi-year commitment from Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY; EURONEXT:SAN) increasing evergreen fund to $750 million. Sanofi Ventures funds early and mid-stage biotech and life sciences companies and supports the M&A processes within Sanofi. In 2022, Sanofi Ventures closed 10 investments in global therapeutic and digital areas of strategic interest to Sanofi. Since its inception, 80% of investments have been in biotherapeutics and 20% have been in digital health companies.

Cambridge-based Start Codon has joined the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association. Start Codon is a venture builder and investor supporting life science, biotech and healthcare startups by investing a minimum of £250,000 per company, as well as providing mentorship, access to a broad network of investors, industry leaders, commercial partners and collaborators. In addition, Start Codon is hiring for a Community and Programme manager and a Team/Executive Assistant.

The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) and CPI have launched a £7 million Health Technology Regulatory and Innovation Programme. The initiative will be funded by Innovate UK and will aim to support small and medium-sized medtech companies int he process of successfully overcoming the regulatory process. Currently, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is looking into the future medical devices regulation (MDR) and manufacturers will have to prepare for such UK-based regulatory system. In addition, companies expecting to sell into the EU market will need to adhere to the new MDR, and the impending IVDR regulations.

The IMPULSE Maxwell Program 2023 has been launch. It is a 12-week hybrid program aiming to bring to a commercial state high-potential technology innovation.  into a commercial proposition. This year, Cancer Research Horizons has announced it will sponsor two places on the 2023 cohort. Deadline for applications is March 19.

The Financial Times quotes Refinitiv to report in some pretty striking numbers. Last year the dealmaking value in pharma and biotech fell to its lowest level in five years, a 38% year-on-year decline to $199 billion. Only 66 healthcare deals (22 in pharma/biotech) have been announced in the first weeks of the year, worst figure in 20 years, and the overall value is down 27%. On more optimistic records: Amgen’s agreement to buy Horizon Therapeutics for more than $28 billion, the largest pharma deal announced in the last 2 years.

London-based Prokarium has entered partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) to discover multiple targets for RNA therapeutics for immuno-oncology. Prokarium is developing microbial immunotherapies for oncology indications. The aim is to develop a bactoinfection platform to deliver RNA-based therapeutics. Bactoinfection is the process of transferring genetic material into a mammalian cell via a bacterium, an alternative gene delivery system that could potentially be successful in deliver therapeutic agents to a patient. Thus, the naturally occurring tumour-colonising bacterial species can be modified to serve as targeted delivery vehicle for therapeutic payloads. The collaboration will leverage Ginkgo’s microbial and mammalian capabilities and Prokarium’s knowledge in microbial immunotherapy.

Cheshire-based Infex Therapeutics has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (“QIDP”) designation by the US Food and Drug Administration to the company’s broad spectrum Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) -inhibitor (MET-X). MET-X is a resistance bypass treatment targeting Gram-negative Enterobacterale which produce MBL enzymes to deactivate beta-lactam antibiotics and evade antibiotic clearance of disease. MET-X blocks MBL resistance, restoring antibiotic activity. MET-X has proven performance in animal studies and is currently undergoing pre-clinical safety evaluation with clinical studies planned for 2023. QIDP grants MET-X access to the accelerated FDA regulatory pathway (priority review, fast-track designation and additional five years of market exclusivity upon approval).

London-based Multus has been granted the ISO 22000 Certification, indicating its production is now officially food-safe. This is an essential milestone for the company as eliminates long audit timelines when choosing Multus as supplier. Multus is researches and manufactures ingredients for the affordable and sustainable scale-up of cellular agriculture and supports the emerging cultivated meat industry. The ISO22000-certified production covers ingredients and formulations, growth factors, attachment molecules and serum replacements.

Manchester-based Monument Therapeutics has announced its first-in-human clinical study of its neuro-inflammation candidate MT1980 has met all objectives. MT1980 is a novel formulation of an on-market anti-inflammatory compound designed as therapy for poorly treated conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, post-operative cognitive decline and long Covid. Healthy volunteers received MT1980 on one occasion at one of three dose levels. No significant side effects related to MT1980. The company plans a further Phase I clinical study to investigate safety and pharmacokinetic data from multiple doses of MT1980.

Cure Parkinson has announced that large-scale Phase 3 clinical trial (ASPro-PD) of ambroxol will start early 2023. The trial is led by Prof Anthony Schapira at the University College London and will recruit 330 patients of Parkinson’s across 12 clinical centres in the UK. The trial will cost £5.5 million of which Cure Parkinson will provide £2.2 million, with the other funders contributing £1.1 million each. The effectiveness of ambroxol will be measured by its ability to slow the progression of Parkinson’s using a scale including quality of life and movement.

A team at the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge co-led by Dr Charlotte Boughton has announced they have successfully trialed an artificial pancreas for use by type 2 diabetes patients. Approximately 415 million people worldwide live with type 2 diabetes. The device is an artificial pancreas that can help maintaining healthy glucose levels combines an off-the-shelf glucose monitor and insulin pump with an app (CamAPS HX). CamAPS HX runs on an algorithm basis predicting how much insulin is required to maintain glucose levels in the target range. The team has also successfully trialled the device in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing kidney dialysis.

Edinburgh-based Axol Bioscience and France-headquartered NETRI have announced a strategic partnership to launch organs-on-chip kits. The partnership includes producing both NETRI’s neuro-organs-on-chip devices and Axol’s human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) to improve access to organ-on-chip technonologies for the pharmaceutical industry. NETRI and Axol Bioscience will also engage in joint R&D framework programs. The collaboration will offer three sets of models (Peripheral nerve injury, Peripheral neuropathic pain, and Allodynia, nociceptive pain and sensitive skin syndrome).

Edinburgh-based Pheno Therapeutics has entered an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Brussels-based UCB. The agreement grants Pheno rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise a preclinical-stage program of novel small molecules designed to promote remyelination. In addition, this will allow Pheno to advance towards clinical development a range of targets to modulate oligodendrocyte biology, with a focus on treatment of demyelination diseases. Pheno Therapeutics will make a one-time upfront payment and will be responsible for development, manufacturing and global commercialisation. UCB will receive milestones and tiered royalties on net sales.

London-based ProtonDx and Katalyst have announced an strategic to distribute ProtonDx’s Dragonfly in vitro diagnostic system. Under the terms of the agreement, Katalyst, a POCT provider, has been granted exclusive rights to commercialise Dragonfly, a cost‑effective multi‑pathogen detection system, Dragonfly identifies severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), Influenza A Virus (IAV), Influenza B Virus (IBV), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Rhinovirus (HRV) in samples from patients regardless of gender or age.

London-based Autolomous has started a collaboration with the US-based Centre for Breakthrough Medicines (CBM), a cell and gene therapy contract development, manufacturing, and testing organisation (CDMO). Under the terms of the agreement, Autolomous will design, configure and integrate solutions for CBM utilising its AutoloMATE platform, a digital system, that will provide CBM with digital connectivity in the manufacturing operations across all critical elements (e.g., facility systems, technologies) for the end-to-end cell and gene therapy (CGT) value chain.

Cambridge-based Babraham Research Campus and BioMed Realty have entered an strategic partnership. BioMed is a Blackstone portfolio company and the largest private provider of real estate solutions to the life sciences. It joins other strategic partners such AstraZeneca, Eisai and LifeArc, and core partners One Nucleus, Taylor Vinters, RxCelerate, Silicon Valley Bank, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council to enable delivering Accelerate@Babraham, one of the pioneering accelerator programs in the UK. Accelerate@Babraham companies have raised £46.1 million and the current portfolio value is over £90 million. The collaboration will also bring 40,000 square foot purpose-built building with new fitted laboratory space.

St Andrews-based Pneumagen has appointed James Noble as Chairman of its Board of Directors. He is currently Chairman at Orexo AB, Sutura Therapeutics and Celleron Therapeutics and non-executive director of Netherlands-headquartered Lava Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LVTX). Noble co-founded Adaptimmune (NASDAQ: ADAP) where he served as CEO until 2019 and currently sits on the Board. Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Immunocore, which he also co-founded. Pneumagen is a clinical- stage company developing Neumifil, an intranasal multivalent Carbohydrate Binding Molecule (CBM) for the prophylaxis and treatment of a broad range of viral respiratory tract infections.

Cambridge-based Dunad Therapeutics has appointed Michael Booney as Chair of its Board of Directors. In the past, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cubist Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Merck for $9.6 billion) and Executive Chair of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Mr Booney was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Biogen, where he built the organisation’s first commercial capability in the US and launched Avonex, injectable immunomodulator therapy for multiple sclerosis. In addition, Dunad has appointed Kathryn Mcnaughton, PhD as Senior Vice President, Portfolio & Program Manager. In the past she served as Senior Vice President, Portfolio & Program Management at AVROBIO, Vice President, R & D Pipeline Program Management at Synageva BioPharma Corp and other roles at Shire and Praecis Pharmaceuticals. Dunad is developing covalent orally bioavailable, CNS-accessible, small molecule therapeutics based on novel insights from chemistry and protein degradation.

Cambridge-based Phoremost has appointed Charlie (Batley) Howes, PhD as Chief Operating Officer. Dr Howes has been part of Phoremost team for over 7 years where she has held different leadership roles (Senior Director of Operations, Chief of Staff/Vice President of Operations). Before joining Phoremost, she served at Horizon Discovery. Phoremost is developing a pipeline of novel targets in oncology and targeted protein degradation leveraging its proprietary SITESEEKER technology.

Manchester-headquartered C4X Discovery Holdings plc (AIM: C4XD) has appointed Nick Ray, PhD as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr Ray joined C4XD in 2016 and is currently Senior Vice President Drug Discovery. he will continue working closely with Clare Murray PhD (SVP Drug Discovery) to advance C4XD’s drug discovery portfolio from target selection through to pre-clinical candidate generation, and with Charles Blundell PhD (CTO) to develop 4Sight, the company’s conformational analysis technology. C4XD is a drug discovery company leveraging DNA-based target identification across multiple diseases.

Cambridge-based Reflection Therapeutics has appointed Nia Emami, PhD as co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer. Dr Emami joins from Quell Therapeutics where he was Associate Director, Product Research. In the past, he served in different science roles at Gadeta (Netherlands) and King’s College London. Reflection is working on the T-Reg therapies space, aiming to address the unmet clinical need for inflammatory disorders.

Cambridge-based STORM Therapeutics has appointed Matthew Fyfe, PhD as Senior Vice President of Therapeutics and Beth Thomas, PhD as Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry. Dr Matthew Fyfe is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has held senior leadership positions at Sitryx (Oxford), TopiVert (London), Oryzon (Barcelona) and Prosidion (Oxford). He has led multiple research programs into clinical trials beyond Phase 2. Dr Beth Thomas brings 20 years of expereince in pharma and biotech and has led inter-disciplinary drug discovery teams at Celltech, UCB, BioFocus, University of Cambridge and the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre. STORM Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company creating novel therapies that inhibit RNA modifying enzymes for use in oncology and other diseases.

London-based Quell Therapeutics has appointed Lyndsay Telakis FCIPPD as Vice President, Human Resources. Telakis joins from being Director of People & Organisational Development at RxCelerate and is a Chartered Fellow at the Institute of Personnel and Development. In the past she held various leadership roles at Freeline (VP of Human Resources, Director).

Cambridge-based Spirea has appointed Prof John Hartley, Dr Anthony Tolcher, Dr Rakesh Dixit, and Dr Paul Varleyto its Scientific Advisory Board. Spirea is developing antibody drug conjugates leveraging proprietary technology that enables a better payload delivered specifically to the target of interest on the tumour cell. Prof Hartley co-founded Spirogen, then acquired by AstraZeneca, and is Professor of Cancer Studies at the University College London. Dr Anthony Tolcher is an industry leader in the field of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), founder and CEO of NEXT Oncology and co-founder of the South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics. Dr Rakesh Dixit is the President and CSO of Regio Biosciences and Bionavigen and is on the scientific advisory boards of several ADC companiesDr Paul Varley is one of the founders of the BIA COVID-19 antibody Task Force and has held numerous leadership roles in AstraZeneca, MedImmune, Kymab, and currently Alchemab.

London-based Isomorphic Labs has appointed Jennifer Doudna, PhD (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2020), Sir David MacMillan, PhD (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2021), Sir Paul Nurse, PhD (Nobel Prize in Physiology 2001), and Venki Ramakrishnan, PhD (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012) to its inaugural Scientific Advisory Board. Isomorphic Labs is a subsidiary of Alphabet’s DeepMind in 2021 and is leveraging its AI-first approach to drug discovery and biology.

Dundee-based Ubiquigent has appointed Dr Xavier Jacq to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr Jacq is Chief Scientific Officer at moa Technology and he co-founded Mission Therapeutics where he has served as VP Scientific Affairs and Director of Biology. Prior to Mission, he was VP of Biology at Almac Discovery and Senior Vice President at Dunad Therapeutics. Ubiquigent is developing novel deubiquitinase (DUB) modulators as new therapeutics for areas of high unmet medical need.

London-based Pangea has appointed Dr Alleyn Plowright as Vice President, Head of Drug Discovery and Preclinical Development. Dr Plowright has led multi-disciplinary teams in AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and most recently as Head of Translational Science and Preclinical Development at Wren Therapeutics. Overall, he and his teams have brought three compounds currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. Pangea working to discover and develop therapeutics inspired by naturally occurring compounds while preserving ethnobotanical knowledge and ecosystems.

The Works at Unity Campus (Howard Group) has announced Chimeris has secured last available suit in campus. Chimeris has secured Suite 5 (8,000 sq ft), a CL2 wet laboratory space. In addition, The Works is now home to IONTAS, Phoremost and Summit Therapeutics. The expansion will continue with three new wet laboratory buildings of 32,500 sq ft, 31,000 sq ft and 24,500 sq ft currently under construction. Scheduled for completion in Q3, 2023 each building in this second phase of development will provide a 60/40 lab/office split with provision for four ducted fume hoods and dedicated plant facilities.

Osney Mead-based Swailes SuperLab has officially open. The building offers 7,000 sq ft of accommodation for up to 84 staff and is located within a quarter of a mile of Oxford city centre. The building is made of 95% recycled aluminium and features a grey water system using collected rainwater to flush the toilets, thermal efficient panelling, air source heat pumps and solar panels to minimise its carbon footprint and keep running costs as low as possible.

The Iversen Building at the Magdalen College-owned Oxford Science Park will be completed in summer 2023 followed by the Leggett Building which will provide 81,372 sq ft of laboratory/office space. The building will include be lab-ready accommodation available over the three upper floors and extensive parking, loading and laboratory amenity at ground and first floor levels.

Cambridge-headquartered AstraZeneca (NASDAQ, LON: AZN) has agreed to acquire CinCor (NASDAQ: CINC) for $1.8 billion to strengthen its cardiorenal pipeline. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will acquire all of CinCor’s outstanding shares for $26.00 per share in cash plus a non-tradable contingent value right of $10.00 per share in cash payable upon a specified regulatory submission of a baxdrostat product. $1.3 billion will be payed upfront, a 121% premium over CinCor’s closing market price (Jan 6). The total consideration (incl. contingent value right, if the milestone is achieved) would be approximately $1.8 billion (206% premium over closing price). CinCor was founded in 2018. Its lead asset, baxdrostat (CIN-107) is an oral small molecule inhibitor of aldosterone synthase, designed for the treatment of hypertension and primary aldosteronism. Centerview Partners LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Cooley LLP is acting as legal advisor to CinCor. Covington & Burling LLP is acting as legal advisor to AstraZeneca.

More on AstraZeneca. Airsupra (albuterol/budesonide) has been approved in the US as the first and only rescue medication for as-needed use to reduce risk of asthma exacerbations. it is a pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI), fixed-dose combination rescue medication containing albuterol, a short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA), and budesonide, an anti-inflammatory inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and has been developed in collaboration with Avillion. In addition, Tezspire (tezepelumab) has been approved for self-administration in the EU in a new pre-filled pen.

London-headquartered Small Pharma (TSXV: DMT; OTCQB: DMTTF) has announced the completion of Phase 2a trial for its candidate SPL026, a proprietary synthetic formulation of N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). In addition, the company was granted an Innovation Passport designation from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for intravenous SPL026 with supportive therapy for Major Depressive Disorder. Small Pharma is progressing a pipeline of short-acting psychedelic-assisted therapies for the treatment of mental health conditions.

London-headquartered Autolus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AUTL) has entered into a non-exclusive license agreement with Cabaletta Bio (NASDAQ: CABA) for the use of RQR8, Autolus’s Safety Switch System, in cell therapies for autoimmune diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Autolus will receive an upfront payment for non-exclusive access for use in Cabaletta’s CD19-CAR T cell therapy program, with the potential for near term option exercise fees and development and regulatory milestone payments. In the past, Autolus has signed similar deals with Bristol Myers Squibband Moderna. Autolus is developing programmed T cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, currently with a focus on haematological malignancies and solid tumors.

Cambridge-headquartered Arecor Therapeutcis (AIM: AREC) has announced the transfer of AT307 to London-based Hikma Pharmaceuticals. AT307 is a ready-to-use (RTU) injectable medicine and Hikma will now carry on with the development of the product and seeking approval under the US Food and Drug Administration’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. In addition, Hikma has reprioritised AT282 and thus Arecor has regained rights following a portfolio review.

Interesting piece on Reuters reporting that Private Equity firms that used to consider drug development too risky for their portfolio are now changing their minds. Guest starts: Blackstone Life Sciences, Sanofi, Autolus Therapeutics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Carlyle, Abingworth, Apollo Global Management, EQT AB, and Sofinnova Partners.

CN Bio has published a great in-depth article on the US Food and Drug Administration’s  Modernisation Act 2.0. It explains what has driven the change, what it means for drug developers, and for New Approach Methodologies developers. Part of the changes are oriented to promote research that moves away from animal use. Dr Jan Turner(Product Manager at Axol) has been interviewed on Animal Free Labcast about this matter.

The Medtech Podcast has talked to Marcel Gehrung, CEO and co-founder at Cyted. He has been awarded the Alexander Fleming Prize from the Gates Foundation and the Prix Galien Award for the best medical technology with Cytosponge, Cyted’s lead product, a novel test for the early detection of oesophagus cancer.

Saudi Arabia plans to spend $1 billion a year to slow aging via the Royal family foundation Hevolution Foundation. The fund is managed by Mehmood Khan, a former Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and former Chief Scientist at PespsiCo. Not much to say, I rest the my case, judge.

Illumina and Nashville Biosciences have entered an agreement with Amgen to to whole-genome sequence approximately 35,000 DNA samples. The sample cohort is primarily made up of DNA from African Americans, who are currently underrepresented in research for the clinical applications of genomics. This cohort will be the largest data set of genomes of its kind to date.

Christine Hockley, Managing Director at British Patient Capital, has written a piece on the Scottish Financial Newsabout the investment opportunities in the tech startup scene outside London.