Global Roundup: BioNTech Forges AI Deal to Develop Immunotherapies
Germany’s BioNTech has been in the spotlight for its COVID-19 vaccine, but the company is also surging ahead in other areas. This week, BioNTech and London’s InstaDeep Ltd. forged a multi-year collaboration aimed at applying the latest advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology to develop novel immunotherapies for a range of cancers and infectious diseases.
BioNTech and InstaDeep will form a joint AI Innovation Lab to advance a portfolio of initiatives across drug discovery and design, protein engineering, manufacturing and supply chain optimization. The AI Innovation Lab will combine InstaDeep’s advanced capabilities in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digitalization along with BioNTech’s deep domain expertise in precision immunotherapies and its access to a wide variety of internal and external datasets. One of the key research areas of the BioNTech-InstaDeep joint Innovation Lab will be the development of next generation vaccines and biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and prevention and therapy of infectious diseases, including Covid-19.
“We see a significant opportunity at the intersection of AI and immunology by computational design of new precision immunotherapies. This collaboration will expand our digital capabilities and optimize our operations across the value chain by adding InstaDeep’s powerful Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning expertise. We look forward to working with InstaDeep to advance the next wave of innovation in the field,” Ugur Sahin, co-founder and chief executive officer of BioNTech said in a statement.
In other global news:
Horizon Therapeutics – Dublin-based Horizon and Halozyme Therapeutics announced a global collaboration and license agreement that gives Horizon exclusive access to Halozyme's Enhanze drug delivery technology for subcutaneous formulation of medicines targeting IGF-1R. Horizon intends to use Enhanze to develop a subcutaneous formulation of Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw), indicated for the treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease. Under the terms of the agreement, Horizon will make an upfront payment of $30 million to Halozyme and is obligated to make potential future payments of up to $160 million in the aggregate, subject to achievement of specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestones.
Minaris – Germany’s Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH, a contract development and manufacturing service provider for the cell and gene therapy industry, and Mustang Bio signed an agreement to enable technology transfer and GMP clinical manufacturing of Mustang’s MB-107 lentiviral gene therapy program for the treatment of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (“XSCID”), also known as bubble boy disease, in Europe. Under the terms of the agreement, Minaris will perform technology transfer of the manufacturing and analytical processes, as well as their adoption to the European regulatory environment, for the GMP-compliant manufacturing of the drug product at its site in Ottobrunn, Germany, with the goal of supplying clinical trials in Europe. MB-107 is being assessed in a Phase I/II clinical trial for XSCID in newly diagnosed infants under the age of two. The FDA granted Rare Pediatric Disease, Orphan Drug and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designations to MB-107 for the treatment of XSCID in newly diagnosed infants.
Medison Pharma – Health Canada approve the new drug submission for Israel-based Medison’s and Rigel Pharmaceuticals’ Tavalisse, (fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to other treatments. With the approval from Health Canada, Medison intends to launch Tavalisse in Canada in 2021. In Israel, a decision on the new drug application is anticipated during the second quarter of 2021.
Bio-Me – Norway’s Bio-Me entered into a collaboration with Siolta Therapeutics to develop a rapid, detailed and comprehensive diagnostic test for infants at risk of developing allergy and asthma. The test will be offered to parents of newborns in order to help them take preventive steps to minimize the risk of their infant developing serious allergic and asthmatic conditions later on in life.
GemVax & Kael – South Korea-based GemVax & Kael released additional positive data from a Phase II trial in Alzheimer’s disease of lead candidate GV1001. Previously, the company announced GV1001 was well tolerated and safe. The newly released data shows a statistically significant improvement in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and an improvement trend in Alzheimer`s Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily living (ADCS-ADL). Based on these results, the company is now planning to submit a Phase III IND application.
Avacta Group – Cambridge, U.K.-based Avacta Group announced significant progress in the development of a highly scalable manufacturing process for a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antigen test being carried out with BBI Solutions, and that the lateral flow test has very good analytical sensitivity with laboratory samples. Avacta is developing several coronavirus tests using Affimer binders that are highly specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein.
FairJourney Biologics – Portugal’s FairJourney and U.K.-based IONTAS Limited signed an agreement to discover antibodies with Pandion Therapeutics (Pandion). The partnership will harness both FJB and IONTAS’ proprietary antibody libraries and technology platforms to investigate novel therapeutic targets for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Pandion will access the novel libraries and platform technologies provided by FJB and IONTAS.
University of Birmingham -- A new approach to treating cancers and other diseases that uses a mechanically interlocked molecule as a “magic bullet” has been designed by researchers at the University of Birmingham. Called rotaxanes, the molecules are tiny nanoscale structures that resemble a dumbbell with a ring trapped around the central post. The Birmingham researchers have shown that, when the rotoxanes bind to the junctions, the cylinder molecules are able to stop cancer cells, bacteria and viruses from reproducing.
Novalis Biotech – Belgium-based Novalis Biotech raised €8 million for its second fund. The majority of investors in Novalis’ first fund have co-invested in this first closing. For the Novalis Acceleration Fund, investments will be split between approximately 10 early stage incubation projects and about 10 acceleration projects, where the investment in each company is larger.
Polyphor AG – Switzerland-based Polyphor AG announced a $3.3 million funding agreement with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to advance clinical development of its novel class antibiotic, inhaled murepavadin, in cystic fibrosis. Inhaled murepavadin is a highly potent and selective antibiotic against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including multidrug resistant strains. The funds will be used to fund a Phase Ib/IIa study in adults with cystic fibrosis.
HEL Group – London’s HEL Group announced full regulatory compliance for the company’s battery testing protocols and equipment in China. Accompanying the regulations, H.E.L has bolstered their support infrastructure for Chinese customers, with dedicated local sales and technical representatives.