Synexa Life Sciences

Synexa Life Sciences is a biomarker and bioanalytical lab CRO, specialising in the development, validation and delivery of a wide range of complex and custom-designed assays.

With a team of over 200 staff across three global laboratory locations; Manchester, Turku (Finland) and Cape Town, we provide innovative solutions to support our customers to achieve their clinical milestones.

Our main areas of expertise include biomarker identification and development, large and small molecule clinical bioanalysis, (soluble) biomarker analysis (utilising MSD, LC-MS/MS, ELISA, RIA, fluorescence and luminescence-based technologies), cell biology (including flow cytometry, ELISpot and Fluorospot) and genomic services to support clinical trials and translational studies.

We pride ourselves on our deep scientific expertise and ability to tackle complex problems, translating them into robust and reliable assays to support clinical trial sample analysis.

NEWS

Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis

Deals

Lilly Drops Up to $2.5B for Scorpion’s PI3K-inhibitor Molecule

The multi-billion deal, in which Eli Lilly will acquire Scorpion Therapeutics’ STX-478 program, is a shot in the arm for PI3K treatments, which have had a mixed history over the past few years.

January 13, 2025

2 min read

Dan Samorodnitsky

Employees Walking In And Out Of The Door, Some Were Leaving Their Job And Some Were Being Hired At The Same Time. Full Length, Isolated On Solid Color Background. Vector, Illustration, Flat Design, Character.

Layoffs

Passage Bio Cutting 55% of Staff to Help Extend Cash Runway

Passage Bio’s workforce reduction could affect about 32 people, leaving the company with 26 employees as it continues evaluating a treatment for frontotemporal dementia with granulin mutations.

January 13, 2025

1 min read

Angela Gabriel

3D illustration of an antibody-drug conjugate

Antibody-drug conjugates

Merus and Biohaven Strike New ADC Collaboration

On the heels of an FDA approval for its monoclonal antibody Bizengri, Merus will generate three novel cancer-targeting antibodies that it will pass over to Biohaven to link into antibody drug-conjugates.

January 13, 2025

1 min read

Dan Samorodnitsky

Neuroscience

Biogen Submits Offer to Buy Embattled Partner Sage

Biogen’s proposed acquisition comes after two difficult years of regulatory and clinical challenges, during which shares of Sage Therapeutics have fallen by more than 90%.

January 13, 2025

3 min read

Heather McKenzie

Mergers & acquisitions

Johnson & Johnson Makes Major Neuro Play With $14.6B Intra-Cellular Buyout

Among Intra-Cellular’s neuropsychiatric assets is Caplyta, a pill approved for schizophrenia and bipolar depression and proposed for major depressive disorder.

January 13, 2025

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley

Immunology and inflammation

Gilead Continues Diversification Drive With Potential $1.7B Inflammation Pact With LEO

Gilead’s investment will let it assess the therapeutic potential of targeting STAT6, a transcription factor involved in IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, which in turn are known inflammatory targets.

January 13, 2025

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

Update: AbbVie headquarters building in California

Neuropsychiatric disorders

AbbVie Absorbs $3.5B Cost of Schizophrenia Flop

Emraclidine was the centerpiece of AbbVie’s $8.7 billion acquisition of Cerevel in December 2023 but failed two mid-stage trials. Tavapadon, meanwhile, has been a more rewarding asset for the pharma, clearing three Phase III Parkinson’s studies in 2024.

January 13, 2025

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

3D illustration of tow GLP-1 therapy autoinjectors

IPO

Metsera Moves Fast in Crowded Obesity Market With IPO Plans

Metsera will use its IPO proceeds to fund the Phase III development of its injectable, ultra-long-acting GLP-1 therapy MET-097i, which last week achieved 11.3% weight loss in a Phase IIa study.

January 13, 2025

2 min read

Tristan Manalac