#25 - New partners & wider horizons

The coffee break biotech roundup, by SomX.

🦤 This week in Biotech: refined treatments and new frontiers…

Next-gen ADCs sharpen their aim at stubborn diseases, Oxford Nanopore and UK Biobank assemble a grand epigenetic puzzle, the FDA re-examines Bluebird’s gene therapy pages, Gilead enlists a Spanish ally to tackle HIV, and Western companies chart new territory in China. It’s all about finer methods, unexpected friendships, and wider frontiers.

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🎗️ Next-Gen ADCs driving ‘renaissance’ in already hot oncology drug class (BioSpace): These advanced antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are evolving fast. Enhanced by cutting-edge payloads and linker tech, ADCs combine the targeting precision of antibodies with the potent punch of chemotherapy. And with the market believed to leap to $44 billion by 2029, next-gen ADCs are offering expanded potential for hard-to-treat solid tumours – and even new therapeutic areas like autoimmune diseases – in a more precise and less toxic way then ever before.

Our take: Well, it seems ADCs are shedding their rocky reputation. For years, developers struggled to balance efficacy and safety, and early ADCs often caused off-target toxicity, as the cytotoxic payloads harmed healthy cells alongside cancer cells. But advancements in payload and linker technologies are outsmarting these challenges, and making ADCs more reliable, predictable and less toxic to patients. They may yet earn a spot in the oncologist’s toolkit!

🧬 Oxford Nanopore and UK Biobank to create world’s first epigenetic dataset targeting the causes of cancer, dementia, complex disease (Nanopore Technologies): In a rather splendid endeavour, Oxford Nanopore is combining their direct DNA/RNA sequencing prowess with the UK Biobank’s extraordinary participant dataset, to create a vast epigenetic dataset with 50,000 samples. By decoding up to 98% of methylation markers – and preserving their bases for identification – this publicly accessible trove promises richer insights into disease mechanisms and a priceless baseline for understanding human health. Fancy that!

Our take: Epigenetics is the subtle editor of our DNA, shaped by environment and lifestyle. Until now, large-scale population data was scarce. With richer epigenetic maps blending molecular tweaks and phenotypes, scientists may soon spot early whispers of disease – transforming these markers into next-gen predictive tools for early diagnostics and more precise therapies. This arsenal could help fast-track biomarker discovery and nudge epigenetics into drug development’s mainstream.

🩸 FDA is looking into haematology risks after patients take bluebird's Skysona gene therapy (Endpoints): Skysona, bluebird bio’s therapy for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), is under review after cases of blood cancer surfaced, potentially linked to its lentiviral vector. Seven cases of myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukaemia – diagnosed up to 92 months post-treatment – have raised questions about the vector design. Regulators and scientists are now combing through the data to understand and address this unexpected long-term risk.

Our take: While these cases are unsettling, let’s not forget this therapy can be a final lifeline for patients with few (if any) other options. The fact that the FDA and developers are digging deep into the data, rather than sweeping issues under the rug, is reassuring. With luck, these instances remain rare and inspire even safer, more reliable gene therapies – helping patients hold on to precious time.

💉 Gilead buys HIV vaccine from Spanish biotech following success in clinical collab (Fierce Biotech): After years of working side-by-side, Gilead has bought Aelix Therapeutics novel HIV vaccine. This deal follows a six-year collaboration testing the HTI immunogen alongside Gilead’s antiviral vesatolimod, with top-line results deemed ‘promising.’ Discovered through insights into people who can naturally control HIV, Aelix T-cell targeted approach could reshape new treatment strategies.

Our take: Gilead clearly knows the value of a test drive before splashing out! After a lengthy test run, they’re steering towards a more integrated HIV strategy, adding Aelix’s vaccine to their antiretroviral lineup. By engineering T-cell responses linked to protective viral regions, the immunogen targets latent and treatment-resistant HIV reservoirs – a tough nut for the immune system to crack.

And finally…

🇨🇳 Big pharma’s bet on China biotech is a rare trade bright spot (Bloomberg): At a time when geopolitical tensions are rattling industries as diverse as semiconductors to electric vehicles, biopharma is proving resilient. Western pharma giants have spent over $3 billion this year licensing and acquiring Chinese drug candidates, signalling a shift away from China as an outsourcing hub, and towards innovative, first-in-class assets. China’s R&D scene is fast maturing into a global innovation hub!

Our take: What’s truly compelling here is the maturation of China’s biopharma ecosystem. The shift from service outsourcing to deep innovation stems from regulatory reforms, surging domestic investment, and a returnee talent pool blending global training with local expertise. The biotech industry’s core mission of improving human health may well turn out to be its most effective diplomatic channel.

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