#07 - Biotech’s gold (medal) approvals!

The one minute biotech roundup, by SomX.

Bonjour, mon amis 🦤 

Gold medals aren’t just being handed out in Paris this week, the world of biotech is experiencing its own run of gold-star approvals.

Pfizer’s haemophilia B gene therapy Durveqtix has been given the green light in the EU, AstraZeneca and Astex gain MHRA approval for their first-in-class AKT inhibitor, and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy wins EU backing to expand into heart health.

Elsewhere, Apollo partners with Oxford University for cutting-edge drug discovery, and Google co-founder Sergey Brin whips out his cheque book for psychedelics for mental health.

Alas, my sporting dreams were dashed in my youth by a wandering tortoise, but if this week’s news is anything to go by, it looks like we have some new biotech champions!

Au revoir, 

Dodo

If there’s anything you’d like to see in future editions of Biotech Dodo, send us a message.

Discover 🔍

🥇 First AKT-targeting drug capivasertib to hit the market, could it open the door for more? (Labiotech) – AstraZeneca and Astex Pharmaceuticals’ brain child capivasertib has won MHRA approval. The first-in-class AKT inhibitor offers a new treatment option for patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer by targeting an over-active signalling pathway which causes cancer cells to quickly proliferate.

Our take: AKT inhibitors target a signalling pathway found to be prevalent in many cancer types, making them a very exciting proposition across oncology. While capivasertib is certainly not the first AKT inhibitor, its FDA and MHRA approvals – and convincing Phase 3 clinical trial results – may soon open the door for more of these therapies to come to market.

🚀 Apollo launches Oxbridge drug discovery collaboration (Business Weekly) – Apollo Therapeutics and Oxford University are joining forces! Their mission? To support Oxford’s top researchers to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets – and expedite their routes to market – through access to Apollo’s therapy development expertise and funding, as well as increased access to clinical trials.

Our take: This seems to be a bit of a rinse-and-repeat deal structure for Apollo, who already have five other academic partnerships on the go – including with the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. And it’s clearly working. With 20 therapeutic programmes on the go (5 in clinical development) this Dodo reckons we’ll be hearing progress from these partnerships sooner, rather than later.

🫀 Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy wins EU backing for reducing heart risks (CNBC News) – The European Medical Agency has given Novo Nordisk the nod to expand Wegovy’s use into reducing serious heart events in overweight and obese adults. The decision comes on the heels of the SELECT trial where semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, was found to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events by a whopping 20% compared with a placebo.

Our take: I say, Wegovy's been making quite a splash lately, hasn't it? This new endorsement validates Wegovy’s efficacy in mitigating cardiovascular diseases – a leading cause of mortality – and could encourage broader adoption and reimbursement support. As the obesity drug market heats up, with rivals like Roche entering the fray, it seems Novo Nordisk may be heading for gold!

🩸 Pfizer quickly expands its haemophilia B gene therapy's reach with EU approval (Fierce Pharma) – Durveqtix (branded as Beqvez in the US) has crossed the pond! Three months post FDA approval, the blood-clotting therapy has been approved in the EU for adults with severe and moderately severe haemophilia B who haven’t been treated with factor IX inhibitors and don’t have antibodies that could block treatment. 

Our take: For those grappling with haemophilia B, frequent infusions are more than just an inconvenience: patients often need to navigate pain and mobility issues due to breakthrough bleeds. Durveqtix’s one-time dose replaces multiple weekly infusions, offering a better quality of life and long-term bleed protection.

And finally…

🍄 Google co-founder backs biotech studying psychedelic African shrub (Financial Times) – Well, I never…another Silicon Valley founder dabbling in psychedelics! Sergey Brin, Google co-founder, is throwing his considerable wallet behind ibogaine research in the name of mental health treatment and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brin’s non-profit, Catalyst4, is funding nearly $15 million of a $25 million round for Soneira, the start-up that will lead the research.

Our Take: While one might raise an eyebrow, this Dodo can't deny the potential of psychedelics. In fact, early trials of ibogaine found improved cognitive function and mental health in 30 US military veterans with TBI. But this move from Sergey Brin also highlights a broader trend: the growing acceptance of, and investment in, psychedelics (to the tune of $180 million invested in 2024 so far). Groovy!

Tune in 🎧

Apply ✍️

🗻 Head of Frontier Research, Owkin – Born to lead? Owkin is looking for someone to helm its dynamic team of ML researchers driving AI and healthcare projects. If you have experience in deep learning frameworks and leading high-impact research teams, this could be for you.

🧬 Biotech R&D Project Manager/Engineer, Cytiva – Love a Gantt chart? Cytiva is looking for someone to lead on biotech projects including new product development and technology evaluation. If you have 5-10 years of experience and a knack for integrating biology with physics, optics, or electronics, then get applying.

📈 Data Checker III Biotech, Labcorp – Have an eye for detail? Labcorp is searching for a Data Checker to manage and streamline their documentation processes. You’ll need two years of lab experience and strong data review skills, with enthusiasm to develop new drugs and diagnostics.

—

Got news, jobs or events you think are worth coo-ing over? Post an event here, or email us at biotechdodo@substack.com!

SomX is a communications and creative agency for healthcare. We are clinicians, scientists, creatives and communicators dedicated to serving our healthtech, biotech, pharma and public sector clients with services across strategy, content, PR, design, events and media production. Get in touch to learn more.