This Week’s Biopharma News: EU Launches Initiative to Attract Scientists from US

EU invests to invite science
 

In response to US research funding cuts, the European Union has launched a €500 million ($566 million) initiative to attract scientific talent from the US. Announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the "Choose Europe for Science" event in Paris, this funding aims to bolster the European Research Council and offer "super grants" to top researchers. Von der Leyen criticized the US funding reductions as a "gigantic miscalculation" and emphasized Europe's commitment to scientific freedom and diversity. French President Emmanuel Macron supported the initiative, highlighting Europe's role as a refuge for scientists facing restrictions elsewhere. The EU's strategy includes reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing collaboration between science and industry, positioning Europe as a global hub for research and innovation. 

In her speech, von der Leyen highlighted the EU's commitment to advancing mRNA vaccine technology and strengthening pharmaceutical capabilities, hailing the success of mRNA vaccines in combating COVID-19, as well as their potential in other diseases such as HIV and Malaria.

Novartis to acquire Regulus Therapeutics
 

Novartis says it will acquire Regulus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company based in San Diego that specializes in microRNA-targeted therapies. The acquisition centers on Regulus’s investigational therapeutic candidate, farabursen, an oligonucleotide inhibitor of miR-17 under development for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, the most common genetic cause of renal failure. Farabursen recently completed a phase Ib multiple-ascending dose clinical study, with results showing modulation of urinary polycystin levels, and suggested potential effects on height-adjusted total kidney volume, a marker of disease progression.

Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will pay $7 per share in cash, amounting to approximately $800 million. The agreement also includes contingent value rights that could increase the total consideration to $1.7 billion, subject to the achievement of specified regulatory milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

NIH grant for Alzheimer’s vaccine
 

The Institute for Molecular Medicine (IMM), in collaboration with its commercial partner Nuravax, has secured a $3 million grant from the US NIH to support a phase I clinical trial for Duvax, a dual-target Alzheimer's disease vaccine. The candidate vaccine is designed to elicit immune responses against both amyloid beta and tau proteins, two pathological hallmarks implicated in Alzheimer's disease progression. Developed using IMM’s MultiTEP platform, Duvax aims to overcome age-related immune senescence by activating a broader range of T helper cells, including both naïve and memory populations, thereby enhancing immunogenicity in older individuals.

Preclinical studies of Duvax have demonstrated robust antibody responses against both amyloid beta and tau, with preliminary evidence suggesting a potential to interfere with the accumulation of neurotoxic aggregates. The current NIH grant will be used to manufacture clinical-grade material for human testing.

Hovione and Firstgene harness VLP platform for liver cancer
 

Hovione and Firstgene Life Sciences have entered into a strategic collaboration focused on advancing a virus-like particle (VLP) platform for a precision gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As part of the agreement, Hovione will provide Firstgene with an exclusive license to its proprietary targeted AAV-like particle technology for use in HCC, and will also support the project through preclinical research and development services.

The collaboration centers on the application of customized VLPs engineered to selectively target carcinoma cells. Hovione’s role will include molecular engineering of the VLPs, manufacturing, and conducting proof-of-concept studies to support further development.

“HCC, the most common liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death, continues to represent a major unmet medical need. The combination of Hovione’s expertise in complex chemistry and particle engineering and the commercialization expertise of Xlife Sciences positions Firstgene well to offer patients potential new safe and effective therapy options,” said Alexander Zink, Managing Director of Firstgene Life Sciences GmbH.

EU approves J&J’s Tremfya
 

The European Commission has approved Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya (guselkumab) for treating adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. This marks the first IL-23 inhibitor offering both subcutaneous and intravenous induction options, providing flexibility in treatment administration. Tremfya is a fully human, dual-acting monoclonal antibody that blocks IL-23 and binds to CD64, a receptor on IL-23-producing cells, targeting key drivers of inflammation.

The approval is based on data from the GALAXI and GRAVITI phase III trials, which demonstrated significant clinical remission and endoscopic response at 48 weeks, showing superiority over ustekinumab in endoscopic outcomes. The approval expands Tremfya's indications in the EU, which already include plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, offering a new treatment option for patients with Crohn’s disease.

Cell factory partnership
 

Astraveus has announced a partnership with NecstGen to evaluate its Lakhesys Benchtop Cell Factory, a microfluidic platform designed to automate and streamline CAR-T cell therapy manufacturing. The collaboration will see NecstGen, based in Leiden, Netherlands, assess the performance of Lakhesys within its cell and gene therapy production facilities. In addition to evaluating the system, NecstGen will also produce lentiviral vectors to support Astraveus’ internal research and development programs. This agreement follows Astraveus’ recent achievement of completing an end-to-end CAR-T production process using the Lakhesys platform. The company states that the platform is designed to support scalable, parallelized workflows from early-stage development through to commercial production.