Weekly roundup: Financial milestones to scientific breakthroughs, leadership moves and major industry events
Novo Holdings announces 2025 Annual Results
Novo Holdings announced its financial results for 2025. Despite a challenging global environment, Novo Holdings has made significant progress on its Strategy 2030 during 2025 and delivered on its priorities. The Novo Holdings Investment Portfolio continued to perform well on both an absolute and relative basis, with a return of 9.2% in CER.
numares Health – New paper in Frontiers in Medicine reveals first reliable biomarker test for early kidney transplant rejection detection in living-donor recipients
numares Health, the transformative metabolomics company pioneering multidimensional biomarker insights that deliver clinical pathways for optimal patient care, announces the publication of a new analysis in Frontiers in Medicine highlighting numares’ urinary metabolite constellation as the first biomarker test to show reliable diagnostic accuracy for detecting acute kidney transplant rejection during the critical first 14 days after transplantation in recipients of living donor kidneys.
Commit Biologics appoints serial biotech founder as new CEO to take complement-powered immune engagers into the clinic
Commit Biologics, a biotechnology company pioneering complement system activation and backed by €21.5 million in seed financing from Novo Holdings, Bioqube Ventures, and Korys, announced the appointment of seasoned biotech entrepreneur Thomas L. F. Montgomery Andresen, PhD, as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Andresen joins at a pivotal juncture to accelerate Commit’s transition into the clinic.
Hansa Biopharma participated at key conferences
Hansa Biopharma announced that Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO participated in a panel discussion titled “The Path to Public: Mastering Your Exit Strategy” at the LSX Investival Showcase USA in Miami, at 15:15 PM EDT on Tuesday 10 March, 2026. Hansa Biopharma COO and President U.S. Maria Törnsén, and CMO Richard Philipson also attended the event.
Renée Aguiar-Lucander also participated in a fireside chat at the DNB Carnegie Healthcare Conference 2026 in Stockholm, at 15:10 PM EDT on Thursday 12 March, 2026, with VP Global Corporate Affairs Kerstin Falck also in attendance.
Kainova Therapeutics announces positive Phase I results for DT-9081, an oral EP4 receptor antagonist, in advanced solid tumours
Kainova Therapeutics, a key player for breakthrough treatments in immuno-oncology and inflammation, announced positive preliminary results from its Phase I EPRAD study evaluating DT-9081, an oral small molecule EP4 receptor (EP4R) antagonist in patients with advanced, recurrent, and metastatic solid tumours. Phase I results demonstrate a favourable tolerability profile, sustained EP4 receptor engagement and early signs of anti-tumour activity.
Poolbeg Pharma plc – Appointment of Dr Adrian Kilcoyne to Scientific Advisory Board
Poolbeg Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a core focus on transforming the cancer immunotherapy field, announces the appointment of Dr Adrian Kilcoyne to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr Kilcoyne brings over 20 years of clinical expertise with strategic drug development leadership, focusing on innovative therapies that address unmet medical needs in oncology and immunology and brings deep knowledge of haematological malignancies, T-cell therapies and Cytokine Release Syndrome.
📺Optimum TV
Rare fibrotic kidney diseases, such as Alport syndrome, which can lead to a patient needing multiple kidney transplants throughout their life, have proved difficult to treat.
Watch this week’s episode of Optimum TV, featuring William Newsome, CEO of Fibrocor Therapeutics, who describes how the biotech is developing new ways of tackling fibrotic kidney diseases, including Alport.
🎙️Optimum Perspectives Podcast
Did you know getting enough high-quality sleep could help protect against developing neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s?
On World Sleep Day 2026, Optimum Perspectives marked the occasion with a brand-new episode featuring Magnus Ivarsson, CSO of AstronauTx and Prof. Liz Coulthard from the University of Bristol.
Stream the full episode below.
👥Industry events
LSX World Congress Europe
From 24th – 26th March, LSX World Congress Europe arrives in Lisbon. A leading life science fundraising and investment event, bringing early-stage innovators and investors together through strategic 1:1 meetings and targeted networking.
Be sure to connect with Optimum’s CEO Mary Clark, as she will be taking to the stage to present Investment, Innovation, and Influence: Reimagining Europe’s Role in Global Life Sciences.
When booking your partnering pass to LSX Europe, you are eligible to an exclusive 50% discount on your BIO-Europe Spring ticket as part of Spring Innovation Week. Combine this with Optimum’s 15% F&F discount for LSX Europe events, reach out to the team for more information, or register today at informaconnect.com/lsx-world-congress/register
Anglonordic Life Sciences Conference XXII
With over 100+ active life science investors already registered, join us on the 23rd of April in London for the unique opportunity to connect with decision makers in an intimate setting, and at a fraction of the cost of larger conferences.
Register today at anglonordiclifescience.com/page/registration
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