Hudson Institute of Medical Research

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #Biotech -- Odyssey Therapeutics, Inc. , a biotechnology company pioneering next-generation precision immunomodulators for inflammatory diseases, today announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which includes renowned experts in the fields of immunology and therapeutic development. The SAB will be chaired by Stephen Blacklow, M.D., Ph.D., who holds positions at Harvard Medical School and the Dana- Farber Cancer Institute and is a recognized drug discovery innovator. “The lens by which we evaluate therapeutic opportunities is supported by the profound knowledge of immune biology among our team and trusted advisors,” said Gary Glick, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Odyssey Therapeutics. “We are fortunate to work with a group of preeminent scientific minds and recognized drug hunters with extensive track records in developing molecules that have successfully translated from scientific hypothesis to clinical validation and regulatory success. We look forward to benefiting from their collective experience as we move our lead programs into the clinic and advance our earlier-stage pipeline.” Dr. Blacklow commented, “I am excited to work alongside Gary, my esteemed SAB members and the Odyssey team. Odyssey’s differentiated approach and dedication to advancing medicines for inflammatory disease is inspiring, and I look forward to contributing my expertise to help drive these groundbreaking programs forward.” Odyssey’s SAB is comprised of the following members: Dr. Blacklow, M.D., Ph.D., Gustavus Adolphus Pfeiffer Professor and Department Chair of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School, member of the Department of Cancer Biology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Dr. Blacklow is a globally recognized expert in signal transduction at the structural and molecular level. His research on the Notch pathway, a complex signaling pathway integral to immune cell function, has led to the development of multiple investigational therapies for hematologic malignancies, such as T cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. Of his many awards and affiliations, Dr. Blacklow received the National Cancer Institute’s prestigious Outstanding Investigator Award in 2017, and was elected to the Association of American Physicians in 2018 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2024. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University. Robert Abraham, Ph.D., former Executive Vice President of Cancer Biology at Odyssey: Dr. Abraham previously served as Chief Scientific Officer at Vividion Therapeutics, which was acquired in August 2021 by Bayer for $2 billion. He has extensive experience in both the pharmaceutical industry and academia, including 10 years at Pfizer where he served as Senior Vice President and group head in Oncology Research and Development, with oversight of cancer drug discovery and early clinical development. He previously held roles at Duke University Medical Center, including an Endowed Chair in the Department of Cancer Biology. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to multiple research areas, including cell signaling, T lymphocyte biology, rapamycin pharmacology and mTOR functions, cancer metabolism and DNA damage responses. He received a B.S. in biology from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Pittsburgh. Richard Flavell, Ph.D., F.R.S., Sterling Professor of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Dr. Flavell is a co-discoverer of introns in cellular genes, and his research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern immune responses, from the characterization of signal transduction pathways to the regulation of immune cell differentiation and activation. His work has been instrumental in identifying key components of the innate immune system, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Nod-like receptors (NLRs), and activation of the innate immune system and inflammatory disease. He received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Hull, England. Alexander (Sasha) Rudensky, Ph.D., Director, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Tri-Institutional Professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University and Cornell University, and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Dr. Rudensky’s research has defined regulatory T cells and the roles they play in autoimmunity, tolerance, allergic disease, infections and cancer. His current work addresses the molecular mechanisms underlying regulatory T cell activity, and the role these cells play in autoimmunity, tumor immunity and immunity to infections. He received his candidate of sciences degree from the Gabrichevsky Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, and completed his postdoctoral work at the Yale School of Medicine. Ruslan Medzhitov, Ph.D., Sterling Professor, Yale University School of Medicine and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Dr. Medzhitov’s work has identified innate immune sensing pathways and established the principle of innate control of adaptive immunity. His current research is focused on inflammation biology, allergic diseases and evolutionary medicine. Dr. Medzhitov has been a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 2019 Dickson Prize in Medicine. He earned his Ph.D. from Moscow State University. Sun Hur, Ph.D., Professor at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Dr. Hur’s work on the molecular mechanisms of how the immune system distinguishes between self and non-self-entities led to the discovery of MDA5 and its role in innate immunity, autoimmunity and autoinflammatory diseases. She is a past recipient of the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science for her research on inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and experimental enzymology. She earned her B.Sc. from Ewha Womans University and her Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Seth Masters, Ph.D., Centre Head, Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research: Dr. Masters’ research on understanding the innate immune pathways that drive diseases led to the identification of the mechanisms by which NLRP1 mediates autoinflammatory disease. His current research explores how innate immune pathways contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, metabolic diseases and neurodegeneration. Dr. Masters obtained his B.Sc. in biochemistry from The University of Melbourne, Australia, and his Ph.D. in medical biology from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Michael B. Yaffe, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Dr. Yaffe’s research focuses on uncovering signaling pathways in cells that respond to stress, DNA damage and inflammatory cytokines and how the outputs of these pathways are integrated at the molecular and systems level to control the cell outcomes. Dr. Yaffe received his B.S. in materials science and engineering from Cornell University, M.D., Ph.D. degrees from Case Western Reserve University and advanced postdoctoral training with Prof. Lew Cantley at Harvard Medical School. About Odyssey Therapeutics Odyssey Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing the next generation of inflammatory precision medicines. Since its founding in 2021, Odyssey has rapidly advanced a pipeline of clinical- and research-stage programs, leveraging the scientific expertise of its team of drug hunters and a comprehensive suite of tools to tackle drug targets with the greatest potential to benefit patients. Odyssey’s mission is to create extraordinary leaps in patient outcomes and change the standard of care for those living with serious inflammatory diseases. For more information, please visit odysseytx.com and follow Odyssey Therapeutics on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn . Contacts Josh George jgeorge@spectrumscience.com 713-828-1913

Bristol Myers Squibb and Eisai's ADC deal termination, Takeda's planned layoffs in Massachusetts and the U.S. House Speaker's pledge for a vote on the BIOSECURE Act made our news in the past two weeks. After a break for the Fourth of July holiday in the U.S., we're back with two weeks' worth of biopharma news from Asia. During that time, Bristol Myers Squibb returned Eisai's FRα-targeted antibody-drug conjugate. In addition, Takeda telegraphed plans to lay off 220 employees in Massachusetts, while U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson pledged a full floor vote on the BIOSECURE Act this year. 1. BMS axes Eisai ADC pact 3 years after paying $650M for would-be Elahere rival Bristol Myers Squibb has ended its bet on Eisai’s FRα-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, farletuzumab ecteribulin (MORAb-202), which is a potential competitor to AbbVie’s newly bought Elahere. The deal included $460 million upfront, $200 million in R&D support and up to $2.5 billion in milestones, giving BMS joint rights in the U.S. and Europe plus exclusive rights in other countries. Eisai now aims to “accelerate the development of the agent as a high priority.” 2. Takeda to cut another 220 jobs in Massachusetts, as Merck KGaA plots office move Takeda continues to reduce staffing levels in the U.S. amid a restructuring campaign. In Massachusetts, the Japanese pharma said it will cut 190 employees at its Cambridge headquarters and 31 people at its Lexington site, beginning in August. A previous round of 641 cuts was set to begin in early July. 3. House Speaker Mike Johnson pledges vote for BIOSECURE as China-targeting bill hangs in limbo U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson pledged to advance several China-targeting bills in the remaining term of this Congress. Among them, the House will vote this year on the BIOSECURE Act, Johnson said at an event held by conservative think tank the Hudson Institute. 4. BIOSECURE Act hurts US biopharma industry's confidence in Chinese partners: survey Meanwhile, a L.E.K. survey found that U.S.-based life sciences companies experienced a sharp decline in confidence in working with Chinese partners. Already, 26% of 73 firms surveyed by the consulting firm said they’re looking to shift away from their Chinese partners, even tough only 2% have started the unwinding process. 5. China's share of trials jumps, along with enrollment times: IQVIA report Amid geopolitical turmoil, China’s share of the world’s clinical trials has surpassed Eastern Europe, an IQVIA report shows. The country’s proportion of world trials grew to 15% at the end of 2023, while Eastern Europe’s share declined to 11%. North American trials now make up 23% of the total, a 17% increase from five years ago, while Western Europe’s share fell to 25% of the global total. 6. J&J, Legend's Carvykti shows CAR-T can extend lives in multiple myeloma Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech said their Carvykti has shown a statistically significant overall survival benefit in the CARTITUDE-4 trial. Compared with two standard combination therapies, the BCMA CAR-T drug was better at extending the lives of multiple myeloma patients who had tried one to three prior lines of therapy. The latest win puts Carvykti further ahead of Bristol Myers Squibb’s rival, Abecma. 7. Ipsen scores 2nd preclinical ADC via $1B biobucks pact with Foreseen Ipsen has got its hand on a second antibody-drug conjugate this year. In a deal totaling $1.03 billion, the French pharma has obtained exclusive global rights to a preclinical solid tumor candidate by China’s Foreseen Biotechnology. The drug, coded FS001, targets an undisclosed tumor-associated antigen and uses a Topo1 inhibitor as its payload. The target was identified with Foreseen’s AI-powered screening platform. 8. High-flying Samsung Biologics inks $1B production pact with unnamed US pharma Samsung Biologics said it has signed a new manufacturing contract with a large, unnamed U.S. drugmaker worth 1.46 trillion Korean won (about $1.05 billion). The deal represents more than 39% of Samsung Biologics’ total sales from last year and is expected to run through the end of 2030. Other News of Note: 9. Elevar, Hengrui eye quick refile for PD-1 liver cancer combo after surprise FDA rejection 10. China-made injectable PD-L1 drug flunks pivotal trial, forcing US partner to seek strategic options 11. Without Pfizer appeal, Daiichi Sankyo closes long-running ADC patent arbitration with $47M win 12. Ensho emerges with inflammatory disease portfolio from Eisai's EA Pharm 13. CDMO Lotte breaks ground on $3.3B production plant in Korea, touts growth goals 14. Rexulti reclaims TV drug ad spending top spot as Otsuka, Lundbeck eat away at AbbVie’s dominance

The proposed BIOSECURE Act aims to block certain Chinese equipment and service providers from the U.S. life sciences market over purported national security concerns. Ahead of an election in November—and amid a period of legislative uncertainty for the China-targeting BIOSECURE Act—U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R - LA) has pledged to hold a vote for the controversial bill before the year is out. Speaking at an event held by conservative think tank the Hudson Institute, Johnson guaranteed that BIOSECURE would get his support and promised to push through more legislation around China-U.S. competition in 2024.   “We will vote on the BIOSECURE Act, which will halt federal contracts with biotech companies that are beholden to adversaries,” Johnson said at the Hudson Institute event Monday. The bill, introduced earlier this year by former Republican congressman Mike Gallagher, seeks to halt federal contracts with Chinese biotech outfits that are “beholden to adversaries and endanger Americans’ healthcare debt,” Johnson explained. The proposed BIOSECURE Act aims to block certain Chinese equipment and service providers from the U.S. life sciences market over purported national security concerns. The bill currently lists respective R&D and manufacturing contractors WuXi AppTec and WuXi Biologics, as well as a clutch of genomics sequencing firms, though more companies of concern could be added to the act in the future. WuXi AppTec and WuXi Biologics did not immediately respond to Fierce Pharma’s request for comment on Johnson’s remarks. While BIOSECURE has won wide bipartisan support, an attempt for a House floor vote that would have included the bill as an amendment to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) fell short in June. The NDAA door remains open in the Senate—but voting on it as a standalone bill is considered difficult. Since the introduction of the BIOSECURE Act in January, industry watchers have fretted over the potential difficulty of western drugmakers decoupling from Chinese service providers. Under the current version of the bill, U.S. and other drugmakers would need to cut ties with Chinese contractors by 2032 to keep hold of their spots on Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, a recent survey by L.E.K. Consulting found that the bill has greatly undermined U.S.-based life sciences companies’ confidence in working with Chinese firms by 30% to as high as 50%. For the confidence metric, the L.E.K. team asked biopharma companies to rate their confidence in working with Chinese partners on a scale of 0 to 10. The team took averages from those responses and compared them with baseline levels from before the BIOSECURE Act discussions. U.S. companies’ confidence in working with Chinese CDMO’s saw the sharpest decline, followed by that for contract research organizations (CROs) and drug development partners. While the L.E.K. team called the chance of BIOSECURE passing before the 2024 presidential election “unlikely,” the team noted that “the advanced planning and the long cycles of the biopharma industry demand that the biopharmas, their service providers and their investors consider the consequences of this significant regulatory action.”