Weekly round-up: Optimism is in the air after BIO-EUROPE Spring

Sofinnova Partners exceeds target with €165m biotech acceleration fund close, Europe’s largest, with strong Pharma support

Sofinnova Partners announced the final close of Sofinnova Biovelocita II. The fund has exceeded its target, successfully raising €165M, with substantial backing from the top global pharmaceutical companies, including Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer Ventures.

iOnctura strengthens leadership with appointments of Chief Business Officer and Board Chair

iOnctura, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company combating neglected and hard-to-treat cancers, has appointed Elizabeth Holt as Chief Business Officer (CBO) and Dr Mark Velleca as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Infinitopes appoints two biotech leaders to its board to advance its precision immunotherapies into the clinic

Infinitopes, a pioneering precision immuno-oncology company, announced the appointments to its Board of Dan Menichella and Jo Brewer, PhD as Non-Executive Directors, as the company prepares to transition into a clinical stage company with ITOP1, its lead vaccine candidate for oesophageal cancer.

Domain Therapeutics discloses DT-9046 as a groundbreaking oral drug candidate for inflammatory diseases

Domain Therapeutics, the GPCR experts harnessing deep receptor biology to develop breakthrough treatments for patients, announced it has nominated and is progressing DT-9046. This candidate has game-changing potential in multiple inflammatory disease markets, including atopic dermatitis (AD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), arthritis but also neuroinflammation, including migraine.

Poolbeg Pharma plc – POLB 001 Patent Granted in Korea

Poolbeg Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focussed on the development of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs, announces that the Korean Intellectual Property Office has granted its patent application for POLB 001 for the treatment of severe influenza to December 2038.

Heidelberg Pharma reports on successful business performance in 2024

Heidelberg Pharma published its financial results and Annual Report for fiscal year 2024 (1 December 2023 – 30 November 2024) and its outlook for 2025.

Optimum TV

PFAS is in many everyday objects – from clothing and packaging to medical grafts. However, there is growing evidence that these “forever” polymers could be harmful in the human body.

In the latest episode of Optimum TV, Professor Frans Moll speaks on the hidden dangers of PFAS in medical grafts, particularly for kidney dialysis patients, as well as showcasing Xeltis’ PFAS free vessel technology.

Hot topic

This week’s hot topic examines President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutbacks – spearheaded by Elon Musk – which reportedly led to 10% of FDA staff being sacked – although some have since been rehired. Now experts are asking if the cull will slow the rate of drug approvals.

Locations