Novartis Pharma KK

Novartis, through its subsidiary Novartis Pharma, has inked a strategic collaboration with California-based Dren Bio focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic bispecific antibodies for cancer. Per the deal, the partners will use Dren's proprietary 'targeted myeloid engager and phagocytosis platform' to discover novel bispecific antibody therapies in an attempt to bring forward new therapeutic options for patients living with cancer. The partners will collaborate to advance selected targeted myeloid engager programs in oncology through clinical candidate selection, at which point Novartis will assume full responsibility for all remaining development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization activities. Under the terms of the deal, Dren will receive $150 million upfront from Novartis, which includes a $25 million equity investment in the company. Dren is also eligible to receive up to $2.85 billion in additional cash payments upon achieving certain milestones. For Novartis, the collab comes amid a surge of oncology-focused dealmaking. Back in April , the drugmaker entered into a potential $1+ billion licensing agreement with Arvinas for the worldwide development and commercialization of a second-generation androgen receptor degrader aimed at treating prostate cancer. Later that month, Novartis expanded its multi-billion dollar peptide discovery collaboration with Japan-based PeptiDream. In May, Novartis paid $1 billion upfront to acquire Massachusetts-based Mariana Oncology, picking up a pipeline of novel radioligand therapies to treat cancers with high unmet need. The bispecific antibody space has also been generating interest among drugmakers as of late, with companies such as J&J, Gilead and Astellas all recently announcing collaborations.

The bispecific antibodies are intended for cancer treatment. Credit: Aunt Spray / Shutterstock. Dren Bio has partnered strategically with Novartis subsidiary Novartis Pharma to discover and develop therapeutic bispecific antibodies to treat cancer. The partnership will leverage Dren Bio’s targeted myeloid engager and phagocytosis platform to create the antibodies. Dren Bio is entitled to an upfront payment of $150m from Novartis, including an equity investment of $25m. The company could earn up to $2.85bn in milestone payments on specific preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial goals in addition to royalty payments on sales of any products resulting from the deal. Dren Bio and Novartis will jointly progress targeted myeloid engager programmes through the selection of clinical candidates. See Also: MHRA approves Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty JN.1 vaccine MHRA approves Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide to cut cardiovascular risk Novartis will subsequently take over development, manufacturing and commercialisation responsibilities. Novartis biomedical research oncology global head Shiva Malek stated: “Our agreement with Dren Bio is a promising opportunity to discover novel bispecific antibody therapies for cancer, building on our longstanding expertise in immuno-oncology science at Novartis. “We’re excited to collaborate to bring forward new therapeutic options for patients living with cancer, complementing our strategic efforts across a wide range of modalities, including targeted therapies, biologics, radioligand therapies and CAR-Ts [chimeric antigen receptor-T cells].” Dren Bio focuses on developing antibody therapeutics for cancer and serious diseases. Its lead product, DR-01, is in a Phase II study for cytotoxic lymphomas and is being expanded to autoimmune indications. The company’s platform produces bispecific antibodies that activate myeloid cells only when the target antigen is present. This specificity could lead to better safety profiles compared to other therapies. DR-0201, its lead platform programme, is in a Phase I study for diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Dren Bio CEO Nenad Tomasevic said: “We are thrilled to establish this new collaboration with Novartis, a global leader in oncology. “Combining the proven capabilities of Novartis in oncology drug development with Dren Bio’s novel platform could enable the advancement of important new therapies for patients.”

Safe and Tolerable: MyopiaX-1 proof-of-concept clinical trial (NCT04967287) supports MyopiaX’s excellent safety and tolerability pro no untoward safety events. Novel Approach: Dopavision’s approach to delivering targeted photobiomodulation to the eye shows signals of clinical effect on the rate of myopia progression. New Alternative: The intervention delivered in an easy to use and accessible manner provides a child-friendly alternative to pharmaceuticals and optical approaches. BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dopavision, a pioneering company dedicated to transforming pediatric eye care, today announced topline findings from its MyopiaX-1 proof-of-concept clinical trial (NCT04967287). The six-month outcomes of the randomized, controlled trial demonstrate the safety and tolerability of MyopiaX. MyopiaX delivers targeted photobiomodulation to the eye with the aim of managing the progression of myopia among children. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Mark Wuttke, CEO of Dopavision (Photo: Business Wire) Conducted across six European countries, the trial randomized 124 myopic children in a 2:1 fashion to MyopiaX or a control group. Over six months, treatment with MyopiaX shows signals of clinical effect on the rate of myopia progression. MyopiaX was safe and tolerable over the six-month trial period, with no ocular safety events reported, validating MyopiaX as a low-risk, non-invasive approach. MyopiaX is a first-in-class, targeted intervention that non-invasively stimulates specific cells in the eye to regulate innate signaling pathways and slow the rate of myopia progression. MyopiaX offers an intuitive and child-friendly digital platform that seamlessly integrates myopia treatment into daily routines leveraging consumer electronics. This approach facilitates ease of use and broad accessibility worldwide, aiming to address the growing global public health challenge of myopia, with projections indicating nearly half of the world’s population will be myopic by 2050. The outcomes of the MyopiaX-1 trial add to the growing body of scientific evidence supporting MyopiaX’s mechanism of action and its potential therapeutic application to slow myopia progression. “The six-month outcomes represent a significant step in the clinical development of MyopiaX,” said Prof. Ian Flitcroft, PhD, FRCOphth, Coordinating Investigator of the MyopiaX-1 trial. “The results are an important addition to the existing evidence supporting the mechanism of action of MyopiaX light stimulation.” Dr. Mark Wuttke, CEO of Dopavision added: “The six-month findings of the MyopiaX-1 trial mark a monumental achievement for Dopavision. With MyopiaX, our goal is to enrich myopia management for millions of children worldwide, providing a safe, non-invasive and engaging alternative that empowers young people to build a healthier, brighter future.” The ongoing MyopiaX-1 clinical trial is scheduled to complete in September 2024. Dopavision is engaged in discussions with regulatory authorities to outline the potential pathways for MyopiaX’s development and approval. About Dopavision Dopavision is a pioneering company in the development of innovative and accessible solutions for myopia management. A multidisciplinary team of experts with backgrounds in biopharmaceuticals, neuroscience, ophthalmology and healthcare technology is driven by the mission to bring in a new perspective to the world of eye care. Dopavision is unique in developing products that combine targeted photobiomodulation and digital delivery methods to address the growing global problem of myopia. Dopavision is backed by top-tier international investors including Seventure Partners, Novartis Pharma (dRx Capital), Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and Ababax Health, and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).