Hot topic: Science in the time of TikTok

Who can fail to have been impressed by the amazing developments in the field of oncology on display at ASCO 2025, everything from immunotherapies to ADCs to new biomarkers.  But Optimum was struck by a number of studies which illustrate a challenge that isn’t clinical or technical, but vital, nonetheless.  They were about trust.  Over […]

Weekly roundup: June kickstarts with an abundance of appointments

iOnctura bolsters leadership team with new appointments iOnctura, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company combating neglected and hard-to-treat cancers, announces the appointments of Steven Sciuto as Chief Financial Officer and Michelle Tsai PharmD as Chief Operating Officer. Amber Implants announces successful one-year follow-up data in first-in-human clinical of VCFix® Spinal System Amber Implants announced  completion of the […]

Weekly roundup: Success for Optimum clients in and out of the clinic

Poolbeg granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation for POLB 001 Poolbeg announced that the US Food and Drug Administration had granted Orphan Drug Designation to POLB 001 as an oral preventative therapy for T-cell engager bispecific antibody-induced Cytokine Release Syndrome. Nucleome Therapeutics appoints Bhavna Hunjan as Chief Business Officer Nucleome Therapeutics, a biotechnology company harnessing the power of non-coding […]

Hot topic: Biotech’s winter: this too shall pass

Sometimes trying times just seem to go on and on. The tunnel does have an end, we know, but no light can be seen.  There have been mutterings to that effect from many in the world of biotech and life science investment over the last few months.  Private mutterings have grown into louder grumbles, despite […]

Weekly roundup: A week of deals for Optimum clients despite turbulent markets

Poolbeg Pharma plc completed a successful, upsized and oversubscribed fundraising to raise total gross proceeds of £4.865 million Poolbeg Pharma conditionally raised £4.865 million following the placing of 134.8 million new Ordinary Shares, raising gross proceeds of £3.370 million, the subscription of 53.8 million new Ordinary Shares, raising gross proceeds of £1.345 million, and an […]