Volume 13 Issue 1, March 2019

Development and regulatory milestone payments are a key element of many biopharma deals. This article analyses some of the trends involving these payments over the last decade.

Faron Pharmaceuticals’ antibody drug candidate that targets the macrophage receptor Clever-1 may be a game changer in immuno-oncology.

Polaris Pharmaceuticals is evaluating its lead therapeutic protein—pegargiminase, a novel targeted cancer therapy that depletes circulating arginine—in combination with standard chemotherapies and immuno-oncology drugs in various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma and mesothelioma.

YUMAB offers fully human antibody development from target discovery to lead. Building on 30 years of successful research and development by its founders and six years in the market, the company is looking for additional partners interested in customized business and research service solutions for the development of antibody therapeutics.

Immuno-oncology (IO) has revolutionized cancer treatment but not for all. Alligator Bioscience is leveraging its antibody technology platform, including its novel RUBY bispecific platform to produce next-generation tumor-directed IO therapies with higher efficacies and lower toxicities.

Japanese Delta-Fly Pharma is using its module technology to successfully take the time, cost and risk out of cancer drug research and development.

LIfT BioSciences’ unique cell therapy against all solid tumors moves to clinical trials.

Oncopeptides is developing melflufen, a first-in-class peptide-conjugated alkylator for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Oncopeptides has attained orphan drug designations in the United States and Europe for melflufen and is preparing it for rapid marketing approval upon completion of an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial. The company is open to potential commercialization partnerships.

ImmuneOncia Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immune checkpoint inhibitors, which could enhance drug efficacy and safety when used in combination with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors.

TOLREMO therapeutics AG aims to fundamentally change the way modern cancer drugs are used. The company’s resistance-breaking add-on therapies boost the long-term efficacy of existing cancer drugs by inhibiting nongenetic mechanisms of cancer drug resistance.

Heat Biologics’ innovative T cell activation platform provides transformative potential to improve clinical responses of checkpoint inhibitors.

Harnessing its unique CriPec technology, Cristal Therapeutics is improving the treatment options for patients with a range of solid tumors by creating transiently stable nanomedicines.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals’ cutting-edge OmniAb antibody platform leverages genetically engineered rats, mice and chickens to provide the industry’s widest epitope coverage with broad freedom to operate.

Actym Therapeutics’ breakthrough platform addresses intractable immune pathways in the tumor microenvironment.

Sobi is an integrated biopharmaceutical company with capabilities throughout the value chain and a strong track record of commercializing medications in complex markets. While Sobi continues to develop a sustainable research and development base, its proven value-driven platform for launching products for rare diseases offers potential partners strengths in the field. Sobi is looking for opportunities to inlicense late-stage biologics

The government-funded Korea Drug Development Fund is helping support the investment, nurture and development of some of the most promising drugs in Korea. Many of the advanced programs are now looking for partnerships.

Building on its innovative pipeline of oncology, rare disease and neuroscience therapeutics, Ipsen is a global biopharma company and a creative like-minded partner of choice.

Based on its proprietary ADAPT tissue-engineering technology, Admedus is developing an expanding portfolio of next-generation 3D tissue products for cardiovascular repair. The products will expand its range of durable bioscaffolds, which have achieved 10 years without calcification or degradation.