Optimum showcases cutting-edge life sciences R&D in ‘24

Optimum’s clients pushed on with their vital research in 2024, from preclinical studies to cutting-edge oncology clinical trials. 

Biocomposites announced two new Phase II clinical trials of Stimulan VG, a calcium matrix antibiotic carrier mixed with vancomycin and gentamicin, to take place in the U.S. BLADE-VG2 trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of STIMULAN VG to treat diabetics foot osteomyelitis, while BLADE-OPU2 will evaluate the safety and efficacy of STIMULAN VG to treat stage IV pressure ulcers. 

Cure51, a techbio company seeking to unlock the biological mechanisms responsible for exceptional cancer survivor patients, launched the Rosalind study in the UK. The UK phase aims to decode the biological factors behind long-term cancer survival and unlock insights that could pave the way for more effective cancer treatments. 

Curve Therapeutics, a private biotechnology company redefining drug discovery with its proprietary Microcycle technology announced the publication of an article in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). The paper entitled ‘Identification and Development of Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors of Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIF) 1 and 2 That Disrupt Hypoxia-Related Signalling in Cancer Cells’ can be viewed here. Curve’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Ali Tavassoli, co-authored the article and leads the academic group at the University of Southampton where the work was undertaken. 

STORM Therapeutics announced data from its First-in-Class METTL1 tRNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors at ESMO Targeted Anticancer Therapies Congress. Findings demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of METTL1 inhibits tumour growth and reduces tRNA methylation and stability of tRNAs. 

Heidelberg Pharma AG, presented first efficacy data on its Phase I clinical trial with ATAC candidate HDP-101, as well as preclinical data on other drug candidates from its proprietary ADC technology platform at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, held in San Diego, California. Heidelberg followed this with an announcement that there had been progress in a Phase I/ II study of its lead candidate HDP-101 in multiple myeloma.  

An amended protocol included an expanded Cohort 6 with dose optimisation, including three parallel arms at different dosing regimens. Heidelberg built on this with data at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) showing one patient experienced complete remission from the fifth cohort. The patient had been previously treated multiple times and had received several courses of HDP-101. 

iOnctura reached new clinical milestones in uveal melanoma, completing the Phase I DIONE-01 study demonstrating clinical activity and long-term safety of roginolisib, a unique allosteric modulator of PI3Kδ. 

Aside from meeting its primary safety endpoint, patients with uveal melanoma showed a doubling of overall survival compared to historical controls. 

iOnctura’s chief medical officer Michael Lahn also contributed to research published in the European Journal of Cancer, entitled “High levels of autotaxin and lysophosphatidic acid predict poor outcome in treatment of resectable gastric carcinoma”. The company’s autotaxin inhibitor IOA-244 is in phase 1 development for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. 

Munich-based 4SC had plenty to shout about when Professor Dr Rudolf Stadler, of University Hospital Johannes Wesling, Minden, Germany, presented data from its pivotal RESMAIN study of 4SC’s resminostat (Kinselby) at the 5th World Congress of Cutaneous Lymphomas (5WCCL). Kinselby is an oral maintenance treatment for advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). 

Calliditas Therapeutics, announced data from a proof-of-concept Phase 2 trial evaluating setanaxib, its lead NOX enzyme inhibitor, in combination with pembrolizumab, in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). 

Cambridge-based Alchemab Therapeutics announced publication of a peer-reviewed article titled “Predictability of B cell clonal persistence and immunosurveillance in breast cancer” in the journal Nature Immunology.  

Vivet Therapeutics presented key pre-clinical findings for VTX-806, its gene therapy program for the treatment of Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis (CTX), at The Liver Meeting presented by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), being held in San Diego, CA. 

Spanish biotech Oxolife caused a stir with findings showing that its non-hormonal oral drug raised embryo implantation rate, pregnancy rates and live birth rates in women undergoing IVF and ICSI. Data were presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Amsterdam – where Oxolife also won a major award for the best scientific communication at the prestigious event. 

Calliditas Therapeutics announced that the Phase 2b TRANSFORM trial of setanaxib, its NOX enzyme inhibitor, had met its primary endpoint in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and elevated liver stiffness. The trial showed a statistically significant improvement in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for both doses tested versus placebo. 

Beijing-based QL Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative biologic drugs for the treatment of metabolic diseases, presented an abstract on its lead drug candidate ZT002 at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2024. The results showed that ZT002 was well-tolerated in overweight or obese patients with both biweekly and monthly dosing, with an overall tolerability profile consistent with that of GLP-1Ras. 

Vesper Bio ApS, a clinical stage biotech and world leader in sortilin receptor biology, announced the successful completion of the Phase I study for its lead candidate, VES001, a potentially disease-modifying treatment for patients with a type of frontotemporal dementia caused by mutations in the progranulin gene – known as FTD(GRN). 

Oxford-based Infinitopes, an integrated cancer biotech combining world leading platforms in precision antigen discovery with vaccine vectors capable of durably stimulating protective immune responses, presented three posters on its pioneering cancer vaccine discovery and development technology. One was recognised as a ‘top 100’ poster presentation at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) conference 2024, held in Houston, Texas. 

Resolution Therapeutics presented new clinical and preclinical data highlighting the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effect of regenerative macrophage therapy at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2024, held in San Diego. This followed Phase 2 data from the MATCH trial announced at the EASL Congress 2024, which demonstrate the significant potential of macrophage cell therapy as a treatment for advanced liver cirrhosis.  

Data show excellent safety and efficacy post treatment with autologous non-engineered macrophages in a population of compensated and decompensated patients with liver cirrhosis and baseline MELD score 10 – 16. 

Also at ASH, Poolbeg Pharma presented a poster detailing POLB 001’s efficacy in reducing immunotherapy-induced cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in an in vivo animal model. 

Continue reading Optimum’s 2024 year in review with the fundraising and M&A editions!