Weekly roundup: Innovation across the board
Infinitopes expands seed financing to $35 million to accelerate clinical development of precision cancer vaccine
Infinitopes, a clinical-stage cancer vaccine biotechnology company, announced the successful completion of the second close of its seed financing round, securing an additional $15.4 million and bringing the total raised to $35.1 million. This latest investment was co-led by Octopus Ventures and new investor Amplify Bio, with further participation from new investor Macmillan Cancer Support alongside existing investors Cancer Research Horizons and Manta Ray Ventures. This funding comes as the company prepares to launch its first-in-human clinical trial of ITOP1, its leading precision therapeutic vaccine aimed at preventing recurrence in oesophageal cancer.
Resolve M Therapeutics exits from stealth with backing from Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC, Inc.) and General Inception
Resolve M Therapeutics, a biotech aiming to build the world’s first comprehensive pro-resolution platform for target ID, validation and drug discovery for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, has announced its exit from stealth. Resolve M was created through a strategic collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC, Inc.) and General Inception, reflecting a bold commitment to early-stage biotech innovation.
New global consortium aims to transform antibiotic discovery to counter the growing AMR crisis
The Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and Wellcome have awarded a total of US$60 million in new grant funding over the next three years to research teams around the world exploring novel approaches to antibiotic discovery. The Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery Innovator (Gr-ADI) will function as a first-of-its-kind consortium where multiple funders and research teams openly share data and learnings and work collectively to accelerate the discovery of urgently needed antibiotics to deal with the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AMSilk’s bioengineered silk protein yarns debut in Balenciaga’s Spring 2026 Collection
AMSilk, a global leader in advanced biomaterials made from silk proteins, announced that its bioengineered yarns are now featuring in commercially available garments within Balenciaga’s Spring 2026 collection. As the first commercially available products using its biotech silk protein yarns, the launch marks a significant milestone and demonstrates that biotech materials can meet the exacting demands of high-end fashion.
Women in Life Science Denmark (WiLD) expands Nordic footprint with launch of WiLD Finland
Women in Life Science Denmark (WiLD), the Nordic non-profit network dedicated to advancing women into senior leadership positions in life sciences, announced the launch of WiLD Finland. WiLD’s expansion further strengthens its ambition to contribute to a more inclusive and competitive Nordic life sciences ecosystem by supporting and empowering women in life sciences.
🏆Industry awards
Congratulations to Hansa Biopharma which was awarded the prestigious SwedenBIO Award this week.
Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Hansa Biopharma said,
“I am truly delighted and deeply honoured to receive this award on behalf of everyone at Hansa Biopharma. This recognition reflects the great momentum we’ve built heading into 2026 – powered by our strong U.S. Phase 3 data, the upcoming FDA review process, and the anticipated Phase 3 readout from our European Phase 3 trial later this year. Thank you to the SwedenBIO organisation and judges for this recognition. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and excited for the journey ahead.”
Apply to pitch @ Anglonordic Life Sciences Conference by 31st January
The 22nd Annual Anglonordic Life Science Conference is taking place at County Hall, London, UK on Thursday 23rd April.
Pitch presentation slot is £850+VAT includes:
- 10-minute presentation (including Q&A)
- 1 delegate pass, for The Reception and Anglonordic Conference
- Pre-event online pitch evaluation and support
- Social media promotion
- Enhanced profile and early access to the 1:1 partnering system
- Company profile featured in the conference program with speaker photo
🔥Hot Topic
JPM 2026 proved to be a positive event, marked by strong investor sentiment and renewed interest in the healthcare sector. There are encouraging indications of a resurgence in active financing, while the IPO market appears to be reopening, albeit with greater selectivity – but there was a distinct lack of ‘mega deals’. Does this matter? asks this week’s Hot Topic.
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