Archive: Company News

Company News: NEO New Oncology AG begins clinical study on molecular diagnostics for lung cancer patients

NEO New Oncology AG announced today the launch of its prospective registry “NEOlung”. In this study, approximately 1,500 patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer will gain direct and timely access to comprehensive molecular diagnostics and close-to-home care in specialized centers in Northern Germany.

With NEOlung, NEO New Oncology AG will employ its NEO technology to offer comprehensive tumor analysis in addition to standard histopathological diagnosis for each participating patient. NEO is able to provide rapid and comprehensive analysis of all therapeutically-relevant genetic alterations from either a blood sample or a minimal quantity of tissue. In addition to point mutations, both translocations and copy number changes, all of which play an increasingly important role in the treatment of lung cancer, are detected. The aim of NEOlung is to establish a prospective, non-interventional registry in order to evaluate the quality and performance of the NEO technology in its ability to detect therapeutically relevant genomic alterations. Furthermore, the efficacy of treatment using targeted substances in different lines of therapy, the progression of tumor diseases and the emergence of resistances in clinical practice will be recorded prospectively. Data pertaining to health economics will also be collected and evaluated. Finally, NEO will be compared to standard molecular diagnostics methods as well. NEOlung is financed by NEO New Oncology AG.

NEOlung will be performed at centers of the NOWEL network, which aims to ensure optimal, region-wide accessible care for lung cancer patients across all of Northern Germany.

Company News: NOWEL network established for the optimal care of lung cancer patients in Northern Germany

The Pius Hospital Oldenburg, the Institute of Haematopathology Hamburg and NEO New Oncology AG announced today the formation of NOWEL, the North-East-West Lung Network (Nord-Ost-West-Lunge, NOWEL, www.nowel.org). The objective of the network is to make area-wide care with the best available diagnostics and therapy accessible to lung cancer patients in Northern Germany.

At NOWEL, the region’s leading experts in the fields of oncology, pulmonology and pathology have joined forces in interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation to offer patients evidence-based, personalized cancer therapy of the highest scientific level. In doing so, NOWEL’s primary goal is to provide patients with close-to-home and timely diagnosis and treatment of their cancer. A main focus of NOWEL’s activities centers on health services research. With a comprehensive, quality-assured benefit analysis, NOWEL aims to actively contribute to improved diagnostic and therapeutic care concepts.

Company News: Lead Pharma Achieves First Milestone for Development of Autoimmune Diseases Treatments in Research Collaboration with Sanofi

Company receives undisclosed milestone payment

Lead Pharma, a pharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer, today announced that it has achieved the first milestone under its research collaboration with Sanofi, triggering an undisclosed milestone payment. The collaboration aims to develop small molecules directed against the nuclear hormone receptor ROR gamma (t) for the treatment of a broad range of autoimmune disorders, including common diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

In February 2015, Lead Pharma and Sanofi announced a research collaboration and licensing agreement to discover, develop and commercialize small molecule therapies directed against ROR gamma (t), a key regulator of immune cells called T-helper 17 (Th17) cells. The current milestone payment follows an initial upfront cash payment at the start of the collaboration. Lead Pharma is eligible to receive further milestone payments and entitled to receive royalty payments on global sales from any resulting products. Financial details were not disclosed.

Company News: Curetis Announces New Supervisory Board of Curetis N.V.

Curetis B.V. [1] (“Curetis”), a developer of next-level molecular diagnostic solutions, today announced the composition of its supervisory board. William E. Rhodes, III, will be serving as chairman of Curetis’ supervisory board (the “Board”), while Mario Crovetto will serve as chairman of Curetis’ audit committee. Board members Dr. Werner Schaefer, Dr. Frank Muehlenbeck, Dr. Rudy Dekeyser, and Dr. Holger Reithinger have previously been members of the supervisory board of Curetis AG.

William Rhodes is a healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, and has been serving as an Operating Partner with Linden Capital Partners´ investment team since January 2013. During his 14-year career at Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, 1998-2012), Mr. Rhodes was an Executive Officer and held several senior leadership positions, including roles as Worldwide President of BD Biosciences (2009-2011). He was responsible for BD’s corporate M&A activities as well as leading and growing operating companies. Furthermore, he founded BD Ventures, the venture capital arm of Becton, Dickinson and Co. Prior to Becton Dickinson, he held senior business development positions at Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc. Mr. Rhodes also has served, among other roles, as President of The William-James Co. and has a track record of more than 20 successful acquisitions and divestitures. Mr. Rhodes holds a Master’s degree in International Business from Seton Hall University and a BSc degree from Cornell University.

Mario Crovetto has been working as an independent advisor on M&A and corporate projects, notably integrations, divestments and financing since 2011. From 1999 to 2011, he was the CFO of Eurand NV (Specialty Pharmaceuticals), which he took public on NASDAQ in 2007. From 1990 to 1999, he held various senior business positions at Recordati (Pharma-ceuticals), including VP of Corporate Development, Division Manager of Diagnostics and CFO. Prior to that, he worked in various positions at Montedison (Speciality Chemicals), Digital Equipment Corporation, Mobil and SIAR (Management Consulting). Mr. Crovetto holds a BSc in Economics from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, and a Master’s degree in Business Economics from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

[1] Curetis B.V. will be converted into Curetis N.V.

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