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Innovation community news – August
Published on 29 August 2024
Image: ©Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
A summary of recent news and announcements from Milton Park-based companies:
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals expands collaboration with Genomics
- Adaptimmune Therapeutics wins accelerated FDA approval
- Pathios Therapeutics appoints new CEO
Vertex Pharmaceuticals extends collaboration with Genomics plc
Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Genomics plc have announced a three-year extension of their collaboration to use human genetics and machine learning to improve the discovery and development of new precision medicines.
The partnership, which was previously extended in 2021, will now run until 2026. The companies have been working together to support Vertex’s efforts to develop transformation medicines for serious diseases.
Mark Bunnage, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Research at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, commented: “Vertex’s leading-edge discovery teams and R&D capabilities and Genomics’ world class scientists, are at the forefront of using insights into human genetics to identify the most promising targets and advance them into medicines for patients.
“This collaboration has been valuable and productive and we’re excited to continue and expand our transformative work right across the drug development pathway.”
Adaptimmune Therapeutics wins accelerated FDA approval
US and Milton Park-based Adaptimmune Therapeutics secured an accelerated FDA approval of TECELRA, the first new treatment option for people with synovial sarcoma, a rare, soft tissue cancer that most commonly impacts young adults.
Working to redefine the treatment of solid tumour cancers with cell therapy, TECELRA is the first engineered cell therapy for a solid tumour cancer approved in the US.
Adrian Rawcliffe, Chief Executive Officer of Adaptimmune Therapeutics, commented: “The approval of TECELRA is a momentous step in Adaptimmune’s journey to redefine the way cancer is treated and the culmination of a decade of groundbreaking R&D.”
The approval comes alongside Adaptimmune’s Q2 financial reports, which reveal the company’s revenue increased significantly in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Revenue for the three and six months ending 30 June 2024 was £99.5m and £104m, respectively, compared to £3.9m and £40.9m for the same periods in 2023.
Pathios Therapeutics appoints new CEO
Milton Park-based Pathios Therapeutics has appointed Paul G. Hingham, as Chief Executive Officer. Bringing over 20 years of C-level executive biotechnology company experience, Hingham’s appointment comes as the drug discovery company prepares to enter clinical development with its first-in-class GPR65 antagonist, in its pursuit of a novel immuno-oncology approach to the treatment of cancer.
Tom McCarthy Ph.D., Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Pathios Therapeutics, commented: “Pathios is preparing to take a critical step forward and enter the clinic with its lead immuno-oncology program. As we transition from a company with preclinical assets to a full-fledged clinical-stage biotech, we will benefit greatly from Paul’s deep operational and strategic expertise.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul to the Pathios team and look forward to the successes he will drive, including ongoing fundraising efforts focused on completing our Series B round.”
Oxitec featured in National Geographic article
Oxitec, a biotechnology company based at Milton Park, has recently featured in a National Geographic article. The report explores Oxitec’s work developing sustainable biological insect control technology that can prevent mosquitos transmitting human diseases.
The piece reveals that Oxitec has released over one billion genetically modified mosquitoes, which, studies in Brazil have suggested, can crash numbers of a harmful species of mosquito by up to 96% in less than a year, in some areas.
Read the full article on National Geographic (subscription required).
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