Commit Biologics Raises €5.5M in Seed Funding to Develop Cancer Treatments, Feb. 2, 2025
Commit Biologics has raised €5.5 million in additional seed funding from Korys, bringing its total funding to €21.5 million. The funds will advance its Bispecific Complement Engaging (BiCE) platform, which targets the complement system to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company also appointed Mikkel Wandahl Pedersen as Interim CEO to steer the next phase of growth.
Full Article: Commit Biologics Seed Funding News
BioNTech Completes Acquisition of Biotheus to Boost Oncology Strategy, Feb. 3, 2025
BioNTech SE (BNTX) has completed the acquisition of Biotheus, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on novel antibody development for cancer and inflammatory diseases. The acquisition, which was first announced in November 2024, strengthens BioNTech’s oncology portfolio and enhances its capabilities in bispecific antibody development.
Full Article: BioNTech Acquisition News
Dxcover Secures $6.2M to Expand Early Cancer Detection Platform, Feb. 3, 2025
Dxcover, a clinical-stage diagnostics company, has raised $6.2 million to further develop its multiomic spectral analysis (MOSA-Dx) technology for early detection of solid tumor cancers. This funding boosts the company’s mission to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and offers the earliest possible diagnosis. With this round, Dxcover’s total funding since 2019 reaches $21.4 million.
Full Article: Dxcover Funding News
AdvanCell Secures $112M in Series C Funding to Advance Radiopharma Trial, Feb. 3, 2025
AdvanCell has raised $112 million in a Series C funding round backed by Sanofi Ventures to support its Pb-212-based radionuclide treatment, ADVC001, for metastatic prostate cancer. The funding will drive the Phase 1/2 dose-escalation trial of ADVC001, with hopes that it will become a best-in-class targeted alpha therapy.
Full Article: AdvanCell Series C Funding News
Turnstone Biologics Halts TIL Therapy Program and Announces Workforce Reduction, Feb. 4, 2025
Turnstone Biologics has decided to discontinue its last clinical-stage candidate, TIDAL-01, due to high manufacturing costs. The company had previously reduced its workforce by 60% to sustain the program and will now implement further layoffs. With $45.3 million in cash as of September 2024, Turnstone is exploring strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.
Full Article: Turnstone Biologics News
Pfizer Appoints New Chief Oncology Officer, Feb. 5, 2025
Pfizer has appointed Jeffrey Legos, PhD, MBA, as its new Chief Oncology Officer. Dr. Legos will oversee Oncology Research & Development, guiding functions from pre-clinical to late-stage clinical development. He brings over 20 years of experience, having contributed to 40+ global regulatory approvals across oncology and companion diagnostics, and previously held roles at Novartis.
Full Article: Pfizer C-Suite Change News
Viracta Therapeutics Announces Workforce Reduction and Company Shutdown, Feb. 5, 2025
Viracta Therapeutics has ceased operations, laying off all employees and winding down the company. The board approved the shutdown on February 3, according to SEC filings. The biotech is now seeking strategic alternatives for its development programs. CEO Mark Rothera, CFO Michael Faerm, and CMO Darrel Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., have exited the company, with Craig Jalbert appointed as CEO to oversee the wind-down. This closure follows a Nasdaq delisting and the earlier termination of its Phase 2 lymphoma trial for nanatinostat plus valganciclovir.
Full Article: Viracta Therapeutics Shutdown
Amgen Reports Strong Q4 2024 Revenues with $2B Oncology Sales, Feb. 5, 2025
Amgen reported $9.09 billion in Q4 2024 revenue, an 11% increase from Q4 2023, surpassing Wall Street estimates. The oncology unit contributed over $2 billion, with Blincyto (blinatumomab) sales rising 58% to $381M and Lumakras (sotorasib) sales growing 10% to $85M. The company anticipates continued growth in 2025, driven by expanded indications and upcoming Phase III data for bemarituzumab in gastric cancer. Amgen projects full-year 2025 revenue between $34.3B and $35.7B.
Full Article: Amgen Q4 2024 Revenue Report
TransCode Therapeutics Completes Cohort 3 Dosing in Phase 1 Trial for TTX-MC138, Feb. 6, 2025
TransCode Therapeutics has successfully enrolled and dosed three patients in Cohort 3 of its Phase 1 trial for TTX-MC138, its lead RNA oncology candidate. The Safety Review Committee approved the cohort based on positive safety and pharmacokinetic data from Cohorts 1 and 2. The dose for Cohort 3 is approximately double that of Cohort 2. No dose-limiting toxicities have been observed, and preliminary data shows TTX-MC138 has a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile consistent with prior preclinical studies. Notably, the treatment demonstrated 66% inhibition of miR-10b in Cohort 1, further supporting its potential.
Full Article: TransCode Therapeutics Update
Allarity Therapeutics Expands Phase 2 Trial to Accelerate Development of Stenoparib in Ovarian Cancer, Feb. 6, 2025
Allarity Therapeutics announced a new Phase 2 clinical trial protocol for stenoparib, its dual PARP/Wnt pathway inhibitor, aimed at advancing treatment for advanced, recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The trial will optimize dosing and refine patient selection using the Drug Response Predictor (DRP) to improve clinical outcomes. Enrollment is expected to begin in H1 2025, pending final regulatory approval, with a focus on patients who have shown durable benefit in prior trials.
Full Article: Allarity Therapeutics Trial Expansion
Merck Initiates Phase 3 Trial for Zilovertamab Vedotin in DLBCL, Feb. 6, 2025
Merck has initiated the pivotal Phase 3 waveLINE-010 trial to evaluate zilovertamab vedotin, an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in combination with rituximab and chemotherapy (R-CHP) for patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The trial will compare this combination to the standard R-CHOP regimen. This follows encouraging results from the Phase 2 waveLINE-007 trial. The global study aims to enroll 1,046 patients, with progression-free survival as the primary endpoint. Zilovertamab vedotin is also being tested in other DLBCL trials, underscoring Merck’s commitment to addressing unmet needs in oncology.
Full Article: Merck Zilovertamab Vedotin Trial
Epitopea Appoints Dr. Klaus Edvardsen as Chief Medical Officer, Feb. 7, 2025
Epitopea, a cancer immunotherapy company, has appointed Dr. Klaus Edvardsen as Chief Medical Officer to lead the development of its RNA-based immunotherapies. With leadership experience at AstraZeneca, Merck, and Nykode, Dr. Edvardsen played key roles in advancing therapies like Tagrisso®, Lynparza®, and Calquence®. His expertise will support Epitopea’s pioneering work in Cryptigens™, a novel class of tumor-specific antigens, as the company moves its pipeline into clinical trials.
Full Article: Epitopea C-Suite Appointment
Ariceum Therapeutics Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Satroteotide in SCLC, Feb. 7, 2025
Ariceum Therapeutics has received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for 225Ac-SSO110 (satroteotide) to treat Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options and poor survival rates. The company plans to start Phase I/II trials (SANTANA-225) in Q1 2025. Preclinical data showed promising efficacy, supporting further development for SCLC, Merkel cell carcinoma, and other SSTR2-expressing cancers. The designation provides regulatory incentives, including market exclusivity, to accelerate development.
Full Article: Ariceum Therapeutics Orphan Designation
Oncolytics Biotech Announces Leadership Change, Feb. 7, 2025
Oncolytics Biotech’s leadership transition, with Dr. Coffey stepping down after 25 years, raises key strategic questions as the company advances pelareorep in metastatic breast and pancreatic cancers. While interim CEO Wayne Pisano provides stability, the next CEO’s expertise—whether in clinical development or commercialization—will shape the company’s future. Investors should watch for potential impacts on trial execution, regulatory interactions, and partnerships, especially given Oncolytics’ $59.3M market cap and its ability to attract top biotech talent. The board’s choice will signal its priorities in either advancing clinical programs or exploring strategic alternatives.
Full Article: Oncolytics Biotech Leadership Change
