Franck Le Deu

In a recent interview with Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management magazine, Bain's Alex Boulton discusses how the APAC region is grappling with a growing healthcare demand that exceeds the available supply of medical professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fragility of this imbalance. However, this challenge has also driven significant innovation in eHealth within the region, as traditional healthcare providers recognize the urgent need for transformation.

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It was busy week for tech+bio news 👇 💰 Johnson & Johnson acquires Proteologix for $850M, gaining access to bispecific antibody programs, including Phase I-ready PX128 for atopic dermatitis and asthma. 🚀 AstraZeneca plans to build a $1.5 billion facility in Singapore to produce antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), enhancing its global manufacturing capabilities for precision cancer therapies, with operations expected to start in 2029. ⚡ Recursion launches BioHive-2, the fastest supercomputer owned by a pharmaceutical company, developed with Nvidia. Ranked No. 35 worldwide, this supercomputer enhances AI-driven drug discovery, allowing Recursion to train larger AI models more efficiently and support multiple parallel AI projects. 🔬 AstraZeneca adds a novel heart failure target to its discovery portfolio, discovered using BenevolentAI’s AI-drug discovery platform and validated by AstraZeneca, marking significant progress in the field of target identification. 💰 Nabla Bio closes a $26M Series A round led by Radical Ventures and announces over $550M in collaborations with AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Takeda to develop protein drugs. 🔬 Erasca, Inc. cuts 18% of its workforce and halts three clinical programs, focusing on KRAS inhibitor and molecular glue therapy, licensing them for $22.5M upfront. 🔬 Sartorius and NVIDIA expand their collaboration to develop predictive AI models for stem cell-derived organoids, aiming to replace animal models in drug discovery and precision medicine, leveraging NVIDIA’s Clara suite and DGX platform for advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing and therapeutic development. 🔬 Insilico Medicine, in collaboration with Fosun Pharma, initiated the first-in-patient dose of ISM8207, a novel QPCTL inhibitor which targets a protein involved in immune evasion, in a Phase I clinical trial for advanced malignant tumors. ⚠️ MacroGenics reports significant safety concerns in Phase II trial of vobramitamab duocarmazine for metastatic prostate cancer, with over 50% experiencing serious adverse events and five deaths, leading to a 70% stock drop despite some efficacy signals. 💰 Accenture invests in Turbine to enhance AI-powered cell simulations for biopharma research, aiming to accelerate drug R&D through Turbine's Simulated Cell™ platform. Terms of the investment remain undisclosed, with Turbine joining Accenture Ventures’ Project Spotlight to leverage Accenture’s domain expertise and enterprise client access. 🔬 Galapagos partners with Blood Centers of America to enhance GMP-compliant, decentralized CAR-T therapy production, reducing vein-to-vein time to seven days for its haemato-oncology program. 📉 Ionis and Biogen discontinue their experimental ALS drug BIIB105 after it failed to show clinical benefits in the Phase I/II ALSpire trial, despite reducing ATXN2 protein levels. Subscribe to our newsletter "Where Tech Meets Bio" for more insights (link in the comments). #biopharmatrend #biotech #technology

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https://lnkd.in/gCaS58Kp In late November, I was asked to participate on a panel of early- to mid-stage investors at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School talking with undergraduate business students about venture capital. We discussed a number of topics (e.g., interest rates and trends toward private credit, influence of rapidly evolving AI technologies, what are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of being a venture capitalist, etc.). After a great discussion with the group and some self-reflection, the most interesting topics were about how to navigate the current market pressures and deploy capital to take advantage of opportunities? Carefully. As described in the FierceBiotechIT article, which is worth reading, the “ever-shifting sands” of the volatile life sciences markets have resulted in, among other things, significant fundraising challenges (companies and investor funds alike), depressed valuations, and massive layoffs over the past 12+ months. There is talk that things have “bottomed out." Everyone knows that there are billions of dollars on the sidelines, so what now? Competition is good and, as history has demonstrated time and time again, these cycles help filter out the noise. By “noise,” I mean faulty assumptions and faulty decision-making among companies, investors, and LPs alike. This is particularly true for the life sciences space, which requires significant capital, capabilities, and time to bring forward new and innovative products for humans, animals, and the environment. As the article points out, investors and their LPs want to see a path to liquidity, but everyone should be working to create and capture value, not working to an exit. The market volatility should not change basic practices focused on fundamentals, intentional diligence processes, and the expertise that is supposed to enable evaluating and entering into good deals in the first place. As an illustration of this point and the notion that a deal is only as good as its implementation, Julia Moore rightly talks about providing companies with 24 to 36 months cash, having them stick to conservative milestones, and engaging in early discussions about how to draw in the next set of investors or collaborators.   Consistent with the comments in the article from my former colleague Juergen Eckhardt and our advice to the UNC undergraduate business students (and everyone else), even in this environment there are tremendous opportunities for selected, smart investments by investors (funds and their LPs) with domain expertise, financial, operational, and strategic networks, and experience making contributions that enable growth and success for their portfolio companies. #leadership #investments #venturecapital #lifesciences #duediligence Abhi Narang Drew Cutshaw Michael Lee Noah Thurer Henry Leasure

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This news is interesting coming on the heels of Otsuka Pharma's set-up of a new business unit to commercialise digital therapeutic Rejoyn. A second Japanese Pharma company Teijin is dipping its toes into the DTx space by signing a co-marketing deal with industry pioneer CureApp, Inc. for the Japanese market. Details on the deal is light, but it looks like Teijin will use its medical channel sales and marketing capabilities to drive the adoption of the hypertension prescription DTx product Cureapp HT. Its an interesting approach since western pharma companies have shied away from trying to promote DTx products in the US or Europe but the different market dynamics in Japan might make this approach more viable, particularly if Teijin wants to use this as a strategic way to broadly engagement doctors and patients to help sell its drug and medical device portfolio. #digitaltherapeutics #digitalhealthcare

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I will be attending this very vital #lungcancer #oncology series that aims in #actionplans for rising #asia #climatechange and its impact on #lungoncology #incidence #prevelance and #survival #research area of my #expertise Why it matters? Recall- I'm the #first in the entire #US (probably Asia) to have assigned pre-diagnosis and treatment #airpollution #weather #environmental exposure to #earlystage lung cancer #patients of #SEER national #cancer #registry #data 1988-2015 to establish their survival through sophisticated #statistical #modeling Recommendation: If you are someone representing the research field do consider attending it as your inputs can help. #SDG #sdg2030 and #humanhealth #planethealth are all interconnected that don't work in vacuum , where this research area is a small part of it. Bottom line: Climate change, concerning levels of air pollution can all affect human health and Asia is projected to have alarming rise in Lung cancer cases due to the same. Now its upto everyone of us if we want to save ourselves at the #prevention stage or do we want to end up spending in #healthcare #costs just praying that the cancers would somehow disappear while playing the gamble of incidence. You could be the next in the gamble of incidence game! #csrindia #csractivities #healthdisparity #socialdisparity

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Amazing panel discussion today at BeiGene with Carmelo Fontana from Google, my colleagues Mike Cowling Paul Fang and I on the topic "Is #AI worth the risk?" If I have to pick one thought from this fruitful discussion it would be: Not using AI in the future would be like flying a plane today without a radar. AI is a general purpose technology and we need to embrace and make the best use of it. It is here to stay!

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[Success Story] In the heart of Europe's thriving life sciences ecosystem, the leading global biotech, BeiGene, chose Basel in Switzerland for its European HQ, boosting global cancer treatment. 🌐 Strategic collaborations Operating in more than 40 offices worldwide, including Beijing and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and conducting clinical trials in over 45, BeiGene leverages Basel's collaborative environment. The city's dense network of research groups and access to top-tier talent has been instrumental in driving its innovative oncology research. 📈 Growth and innovation BeiGene continues to expand, with its European headcount tripling to 600 employees by the end of 2023. The company’s success in Basel underscores Switzerland's role as a hub for life sciences, offering unparalleled support for biotech ventures. 🧩 Why the Basel Area is a hotspot for global biotech? The Basel Area stands out as an ideal location for biotech companies, thanks to its robust pharmaceutical industry, strong talent pool, and innovative ecosystem. Switzerland's stability, business-friendly environment, and strong IP laws make it a magnet for biotech companies. The Basel Area, in particular, provides a vibrant ecosystem conducive to groundbreaking research and development. Since its establishment in the Basel Area in 2019, BeiGene has made significant strides. In 2023, BeiGene Switzerland received the prestigious Prix Galien for its groundbreaking BTK inhibitor, BRUKINSA®. The company's European presence supports its mission to make cancer treatments more accessible and affordable globally. 👥 Join the Success: For global biotech firms looking to expand, the Basel Area offers a compelling blend of industry presence, strategic location, and access to exceptional talent, making it an ideal base for global operations in life sciences. "The biopharma industry is all about innovation, and innovation needs talented people. That’s why we decided to set up our European headquarters in Basel." - says Xiaobin Wu, President and Chief Operating Officer of BeiGene. Read more about this inspiring collaboration and its impact on cancer treatment: https://buff.ly/4dzbNPP by Switzerland Global Enterprise ______________________________________________ Follow us on #investinbasel Basel Area Business & Innovation #lifesciences #oncology #biotech #business #innovation #collaboration #Switzerland Invest in Switzerland | Standortförderung, AWA, Kanton Basel-Stadt Thank you again to Beigene CEO and co-founder, John Oyler for sharing his experience while establishing the company headquarters in the Basel Area | Maryline IVA | Christof Kloepper | Sirpa Tsimal | Paul Eschmann | Annelise Michel | Martin Jordan | Anke Hollnagel | Fabio Marelli | Kirsten Detrick | Jayne Riemer-Chishty

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In the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), it's crucial for key stakeholders to take decisive action. Here are essential recommendations for various groups, echoing The Investor Action on AMR Statement: 🏢 Large Research & Development-based Pharmaceutical Companies: Advocate for the creation of science-based targets and frameworks to sustain action on AMR. 🔬 Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises: Collaborate with public-private partnerships to accelerate R&D efforts targeting priority pathogens. 💰 Public Funders, Including Governments in High-Income Countries: Invest in initiatives that promote the development of critical antimicrobials and alternatives, supporting both push and pull incentives. 🌍 Governments in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Implement legislative measures to reduce antibiotic use in agriculture and establish mechanisms for managing antibiotic residues, crucial for stewardship and environmental efforts. 🤝 Public-Private Partnerships: Enhance global surveillance systems for AMR and antibiotic use, aligning with integrated surveillance efforts. Explore the full Investor Action on AMR statement https://lnkd.in/eHQmbDQr. Get in touch to become a signatory. #Investors #Pharma #AMR #AntimicrobialResistance #InvestorActionAMR #GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #AMRDrivers #ImpactInvesting #ESG #HealthcareEquity #DrugResistance #UNGA #OneHealth #PriorityPathogens #WorldHealthOrganisation #WHO #LMICs #AccessToMedicines Suzanna van Es Bram Wagner Martijn van Gerven Sadhavi Chauhan

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🧐 Looking for a quick recap on the latest deals in the Pharma & Biotech space ? 👇 Here’s a few recent highlights : 🔬 Eli Lilly and Company collaborates with Radionetics Oncology on radiopharmaceuticals, securing an option for GPCR-targeted radiotherapies. 💉 AbbVie acquires Celsius Therapeutics, aiming to enhance its immunology portfolio with a focus on IBD therapies. 🌿 Seres Therapeutics plans to sell all the rights to its microbiome pill Vowst to Nestlé. 🧬 Agios Pharmaceuticals sells rights to its brain cancer drug, vorasidenib, to Royalty Pharma for $131 million. 🏥 Merck acquires EyeBio, focusing on innovative treatments for retinal diseases. 📈 Johnson & Johnson licenses bispecific antibody technology from Numab Therapeutics AG to develop new therapies for atopic dermatitis. 💼 AbbVie licenses TL1A antibody from FutureGen to tackle bowel disease, expanding its immunology pipeline. 🔍 Eisai Co., Ltd. and Bristol Myers Squibb terminate their ADC deal for a folate receptor alpha-targeting therapy. 🌐 Orna Therapeutics acquires ReNAgade Therapeutics to boost its circular RNA technology capabilities. 🌿 MilliporeSigma acquires Mirus Bio to enhance gene therapy vector manufacturing. Source: BioPharma Dive 👍 If you found this insightful, don’t forget to like and share! --- I am Alexis - French pharmacist turned entrepreneur. My company BTHT connects senior industry experts, ex-payors, and KOLs with consultants and investors in Life Sciences and Healthcare for expert calls and advisory services. 👇 For more content like this Join 14K+ followers by clicking 🔔 Join 1.3K+ newsletter subscribers 💌

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AstraZeneca intends to build a $1.5 billion manufacturing facility in Singapore for antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), enhancing global supply of its ADC portfolio. ADCs are next-generation treatments that deliver highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through a targeted antibody. The planned greenfield facility, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), will be AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end ADC production site, fully incorporating all steps of the manufacturing process at a commercial scale. Manufacturing of ADCs is a multi-step process that comprises antibody production, synthesis of chemotherapy drug and linker, conjugation of drug-linker to the antibody, and filling of the completed ADC substance. Cheong Boon Png, Chairman, EDB said: "We welcome AstraZeneca's decision to establish a manufacturing presence in Singapore for the first time. It will also be a first for AstraZeneca – an end-to-end manufacturing facility for novel antibody drug conjugates that enables precision therapy for cancer. This greenfield investment is a strong show of confidence in Singapore's biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and talent, strengthens our ecosystem in supporting the development and manufacturing of precision medicines, and creates meaningful jobs and economic opportunities for Singapore. We look forward to a successful partnership with AstraZeneca." Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: “AstraZeneca has built an industry-leading portfolio of cancer medicines including antibody drug conjugates which have shown enormous potential to replace traditional chemotherapy for patients across many settings. Singapore is one of the world’s most attractive countries for investment given its reputation for excellence in complex manufacturing, and I am excited for AstraZeneca to locate our $1.5 billion ADC manufacturing facility in the country.” AstraZeneca has a broad portfolio of in-house ADCs including six wholly owned ADCs in the clinic and many more in preclinical development. As part of AstraZeneca's commitment to driving sustainability in healthcare, the Company will work with Singapore's government and other partners on green solutions for the ADC facility. This facility will be designed to emit zero carbon from its first day of operations. AstraZeneca aims to begin design and construction of the manufacturing facility by the end of 2024, with targeted operational readiness from 2029. #cancermedicines #ADCs #production #sustainability #SingaporeEDB #AstraZeneca #WhatScienceCanDo

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The 2024 Asia Biotech Conference, scheduled for July 24th to 28th, will focus on the theme “Exploring Global Biotech Opportunities from an Asian Perspective.” This year, the conference will expand to include three major forums: Innovation in Technology, Investment Summit, and Regional Cooperation. Chairman Lee Chung-hsi anticipates participation from over 800 leading companies, occupying 2,100 booths, with professionals from 50 countries converging to make it the largest gathering yet. Established as one of the top three biotech exhibitions globally, the Asia-Pacific Biotech Conference aims to underscore its position and harness the biotech prowess of Asia. Chairman Lee Chung-hsi revealed plans for the inaugural Asia-Pacific Biotech Awards this year, recognizing individuals, organizations, technologies, or policies contributing significantly to Asia’s biotech landscape. This initiative also seeks to elevate Taiwan’s international visibility on the biotech stage.

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🔬Life sciences industry update weekly roundup 👇 🏭 Sanofi plans to invest €1.5 billion in its Frankfurt plant, reversing plans to relocate production to France. 🤝 Eli Lilly and Company invests $140 million upfront in Radionetics Oncology, with an option to acquire the company for $1 billion. 🤝 GSK acquires CureVac's mRNA flu and COVID-19 vaccines for €400 million upfront, with potential payments up to €1.05 billion. 💉 Emergent BioSolutions secures over $250 million from the US for strategic stockpile vaccines and treatments. 💸 Beacon Therapeutics raises $170 million to advance its lead eye disease therapy in clinical trials. 💉Moderna secures $176 million from BARDA to develop a bird flu vaccine using mRNA technology. 💰 Cartesian Therapeutics raises $130 million through PIPE financing and reports positive Phase 2b trial results for myasthenia gravis treatment. 🧠 Eli Lilly and Company's Alzheimer's drug Kisunla® gains FDA approval, offering monthly treatment for cognitive decline, priced at $32,000 per year. 🧐 Multinational companies, including GSK, Bayer, and Sanofi, exit Nigeria due to inflation and currency issues. 🔍 The US FTC investigates Teva Pharmaceuticals for patent misuse, aiming to combat inflated drug prices and promote generic competition. 🧬 The "RNA bridge" could revolutionize genome editing, allowing precise genetic code transfers without scars, surpassing CRISPR-Cas9 limitations. 🦟 Valneva receives EU approval for its single-dose chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq®, with plans to deliver doses by Q4 2024. 💊 AstraZeneca's sipavibart for COVID-19 prevention receives accelerated evaluation from the European Medicines Agency based on positive trial data. 💔 Sumitomo Pharma announces job cuts in Japan, following US reductions, to improve profitability after losing exclusivity on a key schizophrenia drug. 💔 Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. cuts 158 jobs, aiming to reduce labor costs by 35% after disappointing clinical results. 📊 China leads in future tech investments, outpacing Western democracies in biotech and AI, driven by substantial government subsidies. 🧠 Annovis Bio, Inc.'s Parkinson's drug buntanetap succeeds in late-stage trials, improving motor and cognitive functions, leading to a 38% stock rise. 🏢 Germany adopts a new medical research law, allowing private drug price negotiations, aiming to accelerate market access for innovative products. ⚖️ Novo Nordisk limits Wegovy® launch in China to avoid supply disruptions globally with its current limited production capacity. ❌ Eisai US and Bristol Myers Squibb end their cancer ADC partnership due to portfolio prioritization. For regular regulatory updates please visit https://regask.com/ #regulatoryintelligence #lifesciences #regask Amenallah Reghimi Andrew Dalton John Vause Caroline Shleifer

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AccendoWave - A Pain #Data Company Three large Japanese firms are forming a joint venture to jumpstart drug research in their home country and stem a recent decline in the development of innovative medicines there. On Monday, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Astellas Pharma and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking announced they’ve signed a deal to establish the as-yet unnamed joint venture, which will be tasked with incubating early drug discovery programs, primarily from Japan, and turning them into new therapies. A Top 4 Global Health Equity Solution and Top 15 Global Remote Monitoring Company, AccendoWave, benchmarks objective brain wave pain data (specialty, gender, age) and has nine #pain databases: Emergency Department, Maternal Health, Oncology, MSK, Medical Surgical, ICU, #Women, Adults, Seniors to eliminate bias, improve outcomes and reduce health care costs. If desired, AccendoWave can also create customized pain databases for partners that can be accessed on the Datavant platform.

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The obesity drug market is making waves in the biotech industry, attracting significant investments from emerging companies. Today, we see a venture capital-backed biotech startup making a substantial investment by licensing three promising assets from Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. As the market continues to expand, we can expect more innovative solutions to tackle this growing health concern. Stay updated on the latest developments in the biotech industry and the fight against obesity. #obesitydrugmarket #biotechindustry #healthconcerns #competitorupdates

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The burgeoning RNA partnering landscape... My colleague Eliza French put this snapshot together of the RNA partnering landscape from our ThereTrack database. Its a neat visual of the partnering dynamics across RNA and oligo therapeutics. This is a space that's heating up. Overlooked through the pandemic in favor of mRNA, the industry is re-appreciating this modality and the fact that it makes money when launched (with more "traditional" COGS and launch logistics than other advanced or next-gen. therapies across the cell and gene therapy landscape). We've seen recent catalysts from the likes of Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, WaVe Life Sciences, and QurAlis. We also saw new partnerships between Ascidian and Roche. Expect cash-rich Pharma to continue deal-making to fill pipelines and impending loss of exclusivity! What's your take on oligos? Think it will stay hot? reach out and lets discuss! #RNA #pharma #drugdiscovery

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#BioMedMonday : Drug Production Dilemmas What do you do when federal authorities start enforcing ethics in biopharma? The Situation: Maze was smart enough to listen. This drugmaker, which originally wanted to license manufacturing for a new Pompe drug to a company who had a monopoly on the market, switched partners and quickly got approved from the anti-trust authorities. The Ethical Issues with a Monopoly: If Maze had successfully partnered with the manufacturer, the manufacturer would have full control over the Pompe Disease drug market. - This would stifle the incentive for other companies to make therapies for this condition. - Another problem from this partnership would be the price control of the drug, which is a well-known issue in drug production where many drugs sell for astronomically high prices in comparison to their production cost. - Pompe Disease is already underdiagnosed and undertreated in racial minorities, those in rural areas, and low-income folks. Current therapies (like enzyme replacement therapy) cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. This partnership would've had negative equity implications by further reducing access. The Damage: The situation cost Maze an estimated $750 million, yet the startup was able to move forward with a new partner. Folks should continue watch the company's behavior to see 1.) how startups weather ethical pitfalls and 2.) how to prevent some of these avoidable pitfalls in the first place All in all, biopharma startups must keep moving forward with ethical plans if they are going to navigate such a tough landscape. #DesignJustice

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Cell and gene therapies are making a major impact on Asian healthcare markets. Get the latest on cell and gene therapies in Asia from our experts. Read about it here: skp.link/uaf #BetterMarketAccess #CellandGeneTherapy #Healthcare #SimonKucher

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Grant funding opportunities: Health and Life Sciences 🩺 🔬 EOI: UK Gut-Immunology-Brain Axis Network+: Stage 1, leadership team (closes 14 May): The first stage of BBSRC’s call for a UK Gut-Immunology-Brain Axis Network with funding of up to £5 million across four years is available.The aim of this funding opportunity is to establish a single interdisciplinary network to bring the UK research and innovation community together to: 1) advance the understanding of the mechanisms of the gut-immunology-brain axis (GIBA) across the life course 2) convene and create networking and other collaborative opportunities and facilitate a range of activities in support of this goal. 3) A webinar will be held on 2 May at 10:30am – you will need to register in advance for the webinar 🔗 https://buff.ly/3U9U9t6 Royce Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) (closes 13 May): Universities, research and technology organisations and companies can apply for funding up to total project costs of £125,000 for exploring innovative ideas with a focus on technology translation. These projects will be supported by the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials through its research, development, and innovation industrial collaboration programme. 🔗 https://buff.ly/3UpTGmS NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call (closes 29 May): NHS England has announced the third round of the NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call. Applications are invited for innovations or new approaches that will detect cancers earlier and increase the proportion diagnosed at stage one or two. 🔗 https://buff.ly/3UfEMzu NIHR i4i PDA Call 28 (closes 29 May): The i4i Product Development Awards (PDA) supports collaborative research and development of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for use in the NHS or social care systems. PDA are researcher-led and aim to de-risk innovations, supporting early product development and real-world evaluation, to make them more attractive for follow-on funding and further commercial investment. 🔗 https://buff.ly/4bgBnav Royal Society Short Industry Fellowships, April 2024 (closes 29 May): The Short Industry Fellowships scheme is open to talented researchers, especially early career researchers, in academia or industry in the UK. 🔗 https://buff.ly/3UChTqb Future Leaders Fellowships: round 9, business and non-academic (closes 25 June): UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110m for ambitious research and innovation, and tailored support for future leaders’ careers. 🔗 https://buff.ly/3JEGcyC =========== Contact us at MPA to learn more as to how we can support your grant application.

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