GSK

Elegen and GSK Sign Collaboration and Licensing Agreement to Further Develop Elegen’s Cell-Free DNA Production Technology

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Elegen, a leader in DNA manufacturing innovation, today announced a collaboration and licensing agreement with GSK (LSE/NYSE: GSK) to enable its use of Elegen’s proprietary cell-free DNA manufacturing technology in the development of GSK’s vaccines and medicines.

Key Points: 
  • Elegen, a leader in DNA manufacturing innovation, today announced a collaboration and licensing agreement with GSK (LSE/NYSE: GSK) to enable its use of Elegen’s proprietary cell-free DNA manufacturing technology in the development of GSK’s vaccines and medicines.
  • The terms of the agreement include upfront fees and purchase commitments of Elegen’s ENFINIA DNA to support GSK’s development of medicines and vaccines, including RNA vaccines.
  • Elegen is also eligible to receive both near-term milestone payments relating to the development of new product features and a potential equity investment in Elegen by GSK.
  • This collaboration will expand our offering to include the clinical production of genetic medicines potentially including mRNA, cell and viral gene therapies.”

VectorY Appoints Khurem Farooq to Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024

VectorY Therapeutics, a biotech company developing innovative vectorized antibody therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the appointment of industry veteran Khurem Farooq as independent board member, effective immediately.

Key Points: 
  • VectorY Therapeutics, a biotech company developing innovative vectorized antibody therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the appointment of industry veteran Khurem Farooq as independent board member, effective immediately.
  • Khurem Farooq is an accomplished industry leader who brings more than 20 years of operational and drug development experience.
  • He currently serves as the CEO at Aiolos Bio which recently announced an agreement to be acquired by GSK.
  • Sander van Deventer, CEO of VectorY, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Khurem to VectorY as an independent board member.

Wes Wheeler Assumes Role as Executive Chair of the Board at BioTouch™

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024

"Wes Wheeler brings a proven leadership style and strategic vision to his role, having previously held key positions in various healthcare organizations.

Key Points: 
  • "Wes Wheeler brings a proven leadership style and strategic vision to his role, having previously held key positions in various healthcare organizations.
  • With a career spanning more than two decades, Wes Wheeler has held the positions of CEO, President, and Chair across five distinct public and private companies including UPS Healthcare, Marken, Patheon (a ThermoFisher company), Bushu, and DSM.
  • In a recent statement, Wheeler expressed his enthusiasm about assuming the role of Executive Chair of the Board for BioTouch.
  • Robert Coyle expressed his enthusiasm about Wes Wheeler's appointment as Executive Chair of the Board, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Wes to BioTouch as our new Executive Chair.

An RSV vaccine has been approved for people over 60. But what about young children?

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Australia for the first time.

Key Points: 
  • The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Australia for the first time.
  • RSV is a contagious respiratory virus which causes an illness similar to influenza, most notably in babies and older adults.

A bit about RSV

  • There are two key groups of people we would like to protect from RSV: babies (up to about one year old) and people older than 60.
  • In babies and younger children, RSV generally causes a wheezing asthma-like illness (bronchiolitis), but can also cause pneumonia and croup.

RSV vaccines for older people

  • For older adults, there are actually several RSV vaccines in the pipeline.
  • The GSK and Pfizer RSV vaccines are similar.
  • Both vaccines have been shown to reduce illness from RSV by more than 80% in the first season after vaccination.

Protecting young children from RSV

  • To prevent other diseases, this can be overcome by giving multiple vaccine doses over time.
  • But the highest risk group for RSV are those in the first few months of life.
  • To protect this youngest age group from the virus, there are two potential strategies available instead of vaccinating the child directly.
  • Abrysvo, the Pfizer RSV vaccine, has been trialled in pregnant women.
  • In clinical trials, this vaccine has been shown to reduce illness in infants for up to six months.
  • It has been approved in pregnant women in the United States, but is not yet approved in Australia.

What now?

  • RSV, like influenza, is a major cause of respiratory illness, and the development of effective vaccines represents a major advance.
  • While the approval of the first vaccine for older people is an important step, many details are yet to be made available, including the cost and the timing of availability.


Allen Cheng receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Australian Technical Advsory Group on Immunisation. The views expressed in this article may not reflect those of ATAGI.

Cullgen Announces Additions to Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Cullgen Inc., a leading biotechnology company developing small molecule therapeutics based on its proprietary uSMITE™ platform of targeted protein degradation technology, today announced the addition of Xiaogang Pan, PhD to its Board of Directors, and Ian Storer, PhD to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Key Points: 
  • Cullgen Inc., a leading biotechnology company developing small molecule therapeutics based on its proprietary uSMITE™ platform of targeted protein degradation technology, today announced the addition of Xiaogang Pan, PhD to its Board of Directors, and Ian Storer, PhD to its Scientific Advisory Board.
  • Pan Xiaogang, currently Managing Director of AstraZeneca-CICC Fund and Business Development in AstraZeneca China, leads the investment activities in innovative medicine.
  • Xiaogang has nearly 20 years of combined experiences in research, business development and investment.
  • Pan and Storer join Cullgen in these important advisory roles.

Wavestone and Aspirant Consulting Unite for Strategic Advancement in the US

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Aspirant RPO, another division of Aspirant, which provides Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) services, is not included in the scope acquired by Wavestone.

Key Points: 
  • Aspirant RPO, another division of Aspirant, which provides Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) services, is not included in the scope acquired by Wavestone.
  • For Aspirant Consulting, the merger with Wavestone offers the opportunity to pursue their solid development journey in the long term while focusing more on higher value consulting services.
  • "With Aspirant Consulting, Wavestone continues to strengthen its presence in the United States", says Pascal Imbert, Wavestone's CEO.
  • Mike McClaine, CEO of Aspirant Consulting, and key executives will pursue the firm's development within Wavestone, alongside Wavestone's US management team.

Sir Dave Lewis Appointed Operating Advisor to CD&R Funds

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 15, 2024

LONDON, Jan. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R" or the "Firm") today announced the appointment of Sir Dave Lewis as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds.

Key Points: 
  • LONDON, Jan. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R" or the "Firm") today announced the appointment of Sir Dave Lewis as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds.
  • From 2014 to 2020 Sir Dave was the Chief Executive Officer of Tesco where he led the recovery of its strong market position.
  • We are delighted to welcome him as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds and to work with him in the years to come."
  • Sir Dave Lewis said, "I believe the depth of CD&R's operating and investment expertise across the Consumer Goods, Retail, and other sectors in Europe to be incredibly strong.

Sir Dave Lewis Appointed Operating Advisor to CD&R Funds

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 15, 2024

LONDON, Jan. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R" or the "Firm") today announced the appointment of Sir Dave Lewis as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds.

Key Points: 
  • LONDON, Jan. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R" or the "Firm") today announced the appointment of Sir Dave Lewis as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds.
  • From 2014 to 2020 Sir Dave was the Chief Executive Officer of Tesco where he led the recovery of its strong market position.
  • We are delighted to welcome him as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds and to work with him in the years to come."
  • Sir Dave Lewis said, "I believe the depth of CD&R's operating and investment expertise across the Consumer Goods, Retail, and other sectors in Europe to be incredibly strong.

GSK Enters Agreement to Acquire Aiolos Bio

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 9, 2024

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and Aiolos Bio, Inc. (Aiolos) today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which GSK will acquire Aiolos, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing the unmet treatment needs of patients with certain respiratory and inflammatory conditions, for a $1 billion upfront payment and up to $400 million in certain success-based regulatory milestone payments.

Key Points: 
  • GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and Aiolos Bio, Inc. (Aiolos) today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which GSK will acquire Aiolos, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing the unmet treatment needs of patients with certain respiratory and inflammatory conditions, for a $1 billion upfront payment and up to $400 million in certain success-based regulatory milestone payments.
  • AIO-001 was exclusively licensed to Aiolos outside of Greater China by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Hengrui).
  • In addition, GSK will also be responsible for success-based milestone payments as well as tiered royalties owed to Hengrui.
  • This transaction is subject to customary conditions, including applicable regulatory agency clearances under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act in the US.

Alnylam CEO Yvonne Greenstreet Named 2024 Woman of the Year by Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), the leading RNAi therapeutics company, said today that Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Greenstreet has been selected as the 2024 Woman of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA).

Key Points: 
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), the leading RNAi therapeutics company, said today that Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Greenstreet has been selected as the 2024 Woman of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA).
  • Yvonne will be recognized at HBA’s 34th annual Woman of the Year event on May 10 in New York City.
  • The HBA Woman of the Year award honors an executive leader who has made extraordinary contributions to healthcare and the advancement of women in the workplace.
  • “Yvonne demonstrates leadership from the front,” said David Pyott, retired chairman and CEO of Allergan and a member of Alnylam’s board of directors.