Weekly round-up: Novo Nordisk Prize goes to Prof. Jean-Laurent Casanova’s groundbreaking infection research
For decades, scientists believed that infections were determined solely by viruses and bacteria, but Professor Jean-Laurent Casanova’s groundbreaking research has revealed a more complex reality.
Genes play a fundamental role in determining who gets seriously ill and who stays healthy. Because of his pioneering discoveries, he is being honoured and awarded with the 2025 Novo Nordisk Prize.
Ottimo Pharma strengthens leadership team with senior appointments
Ottimo Pharma, an innovative biotech company developing one-of-a-kind PD1/VEGFR2 dual pathway antibodies to extend the lives of patients living with cancer, on Tuesday announced the appointments of Robert Tighe as Senior Vice President of Preclinical and Translational Sciences and Katherine Bell-McGuinn, M.D., Ph.D. as Senior Vice President of Clinical Development. Their appointments will support Ottimo Pharma as it rapidly advances the clinical development of lead candidate, Jankistomig, its first-in-class dual pathway, biparatopic IgG1 therapy.
Experienced industry leader Tom Arnold appointed as Chief Executive Officer of ViCentra
ViCentra B.V., the company behind Kaleido, one of the world’s smallest, lightest, and most precise insulin patch pump and automated insulin delivery (AID) system, on Wednesday announced the appointment of Tom Arnold as Chief Executive Officer. An experienced MedTech leader, Arnold will scale manufacturing, drive European expansion, and position the company to enter the US market with the Kaleido insulin patch pump AID system.
Domain Therapeutics to present and participate at major global healthcare conferences, March to June 2025
Domain Therapeutics, the GPCR experts harnessing deep receptor biology to develop breakthrough treatments for patients, on Thursday announced its participation and presentation in a series of forthcoming high-profile healthcare conferences. Domain will present on its first-in-class biased antagonist of PAR2 and best-in-class Treg-depleting anti-CCR8 antibody candidates.
Listen to Optimum’s emotional yet hopeful Rare Disease Day special podcast
Listen to our Rare Disease Day podcast special featuring Tahira Mathur, Patient Advocate, and Kate Adcock, Director of Research & Innovation, at Optimum’s chosen charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, alongside Jasper Morrow, consultant neurologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, below.
This emotional yet hopeful episode highlights the importance of raising awareness of rare conditions, while discussing patient care, diagnosis, and genetic testing for Muscular Dystrophy.
If you would like to contribute to the life changing work of Muscular Dystrophy UK, or find out more about Tahira’s story living with GNE myopathy, visit her page here: Tahira’s Team – JustGiving
Optimum’s hot topics
Industry Events
Milan in March for BIO-EUROPE Spring
It’s less than 3 weeks to go until the Optimum Team is in Milan for EBD Group’s spring edition of BIO-EUROPE 2025!
Don’t miss Optimum’s CEO, Mary Clark, moderating the fireside chat with Francesco De Rubertis of Medicxi and Brian S. Kim of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discussing the strategic and innovative framework that powered the $100m launch of Alys Pharmaceuticals.
Reach out if you would like to connect there!
April is for Anglonordic
The countdown is on for the 21st Annual Anglonordic Life Sciences Conference in London, one of the highlights of the life sciences’ year.
On 3 April 2025, over 400 delegates from leading and upcoming drug discovery and technology companies from the UK, Nordic and many other European regions, plus investment firms throughout Europe, will get together in London.
With the support of M Ventures, as lead and founding sponsor, and the generosity of the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, for providing their venue for a pre-conference reception for the second time, this edition of Anglonordic is shaping up to be one of the top R&D-to-investor conferences in the UK.
Register with Optimum’s exclusive F&F discount code – OPTIMUM20 to receive 20% off delegate passes!
That’s all folks! To stay in the know – subscribe to Optimum’s weekly wrap-up today.
