Weekly roundup: Europe’s life sciences industry builds momentum ahead of LLSW 2025

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👥Jefferies & London Life Sciences Week 2025

Europe’s biggest week in life sciences is just around the corner, are you ready?

Optimum Strategic Communications and Catalyst Advisors have teamed up to help you make the most of every meeting, mixer, and moment.

👉 Download our events schedule to be in the right place at the right time to build valuable connections.

Know of an event we should include? Please let us know at marketing@optimumcomms.com

Vesper Bio announces positive Phase Ib/IIa topline results for lead candidate VES001 for frontotemporal degeneration

Vesper Bio, a clinical stage biotech developing novel oral therapies for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, on Friday announced positive topline results from its Phase Ib/IIa SORT-IN-2 clinical study evaluating VES001 in asymptomatic carriers with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) caused by mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN). VES001 is the first oral therapy being tested in FTD, and over a three-month daily dosing regimen led to >95% mean increase in progranulin levels in CSF, compared to baseline. The findings provide the first validation of Vesper’s approach of restoring normal progranulin levels in this population by selectively inhibiting progranulin binding to the sortilin receptor without affecting sortilin levels or functions important for neuronal health. This is in contrast to antibody-mediated degradation of sortilin.

Domain Therapeutics doses first patients in Phase I / II Trial of DT-7012 targeting CCR8 in solid tumours

Domain Therapeutics, the GPCR experts harnessing deep receptor biology to develop breakthrough treatments for patients, announced that the first patients have been dosed in its Phase I / II DOMISOL clinical study of DT-7012, a differentiated Treg-depleting anti-CCR8 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of solid tumours.

Alys Pharmaceuticals doses first subject in Phase 1/1b trial of ALY-301, a first-in-class mast cell selective c-Kit inhibitor for Chronic Urticaria

Alys Pharmaceuticals, an immune-dermatology focused company, announced that the first subject has been dosed in a Phase 1/1b study of ALY-301, a first-in-class mast cell selective c-Kit inhibitor for the treatment of Cold Urticaria, a subtype of Chronic Inducible Urticaria (CIndU) that is also considered to be a good model for the broader Chronic Urticaria population. ALY-301’s differentiated profile is designed to support chronic dosing in mast cell–driven diseases while avoiding the safety limitations of conventional c-Kit inhibitors.

Hansa Biopharma reports third quarter and interim year to date 2025 financial results

Hansa Biopharma announced its interim report for January-September 2025. Highlights include:

  • Imlifidase successfully met primary endpoint in pivotal US Phase 3 ConfIdeS trial in kidney transplantation.
  • First clinical data supports imlifidase ability to substantially reduce anti-AAV antibodies to allow administration of gene therapy.

Hansa also announced it will host a virtual event featuring two distinguished transplant surgeons to provide deeper insights into the medical journey of highly sensitized patients awaiting a kidney transplant and share perspectives on the clinical relevance of the topline results from the US Phase 3 ConfIdeS study.  The event will take place on Wednesday 12 November, 2025, at  9:00 AM EST / 15:00 PM CET. Click here to register.

ViCentra strengthens leadership team to accelerate growth

ViCentra, a European medical device company redefining insulin delivery for people with diabetes with the Kaleido insulin patch pump system, announced two strategic senior leadership appointments following the Company’s recent $85 million Series D financing. Karen Baxter, former Vice President & General Manager at Dexcom, joins as Senior Vice President of Sales, Europe, and Jay Little, a long-time commercialisation and market access executive at Medtronic Diabetes, takes on the newly created role of Vice President of Strategy & Business Development.

Women in Life Science Denmark (WiLD) expands mentoring program to support next generation of female leaders in life sciences

Women in Life Science Denmark (WiLD), announced that it is launching the third cohort of its successful Female Leadership Mentoring Program, to achieve a more equitable future for women in life sciences and accelerating the advancement of women in biotech, pharma, and academia. This initiative will commence in November 2025, offering a tailored, high-level mentorship spanning 12 months.

AMS to participate in upcoming investor conferences in November and December

AMS, the innovative tissue healing medical device company delivering high-performing, cost-effective solutions for better patient outcomes, announced that the Group will be participating in the Investec UK CEO Conference, London on 11 November and the Berenberg European Conference, Windsor on 4 December.

📺Optimum TV

Fragile X Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests with various symptoms including hyperactivity, anxiety, social withdrawal and intellectual disability, for which no approved treatments are currently available.

Barcelona-based CONNECTA Therapeutics is developing a first-in-class, neuroplastic modulator for the condition. In our latest edition of Optimum TV, we talk to CONNECTA’s Co-Founder & CSO, Dr. Josep Prous Jr, about the condition and how the firm is addressing it. Watch here ⬇️

🔥Hot topic

Every year, the life science industry pays close attention to news of who’s won The Nobel Prize for Physiology / Medicine and for Chemistry.

But this year, it’s the Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences that could have the biggest positive impact on the sector – if the joint winners’ relatively simple advice is put into practice – argues this week’s hot topic. Read the full article below.

🧩 Sector moves

Keep up to date with the latest industry moves here.

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