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EdisonTV | Pharmaceuticals & healthcare | 24/04/2018
Bitesize briefing - NeuroVive Pharmaceutical
Mitochondrial disease is an umbrella term that includes a diverse set of conditions where the function of the mitochondria is failing. The diversity of the clinical presentation, low incidence rates and high unmet need make this an interesting area for specialist orphan drug developers. Here, healthcare analyst Dr Jonas Peciulis presents an overview of mitochondrial medicine, the competitive landscape in drug development and discusses one of the companies covered by Edison, specialising in the field, NeuroVive Pharmaceutical. Read the report
Interview with David Veitch, CEO of Basilea Pharmaceutica
Basilea Pharmaceutica is a Switzerland-based biotech specialising in the anti-fungal/anti-infective niche, where it has been able to commercialise via partnerships with large pharma. The company’s lead assets are Cresemba (or isavuconazole – an antifungal therapy) and Zevtera (or ceftobiprole – an antibiotic therapy). Preclinical assets that round out the company’s expanding portfolio include the recent antifungal asset addition, Fosmanogepix.
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04/03/2024 | Basilea Pharmaceutica
e-therapeutics showcase
e-therapeutics is a UK biotech company using proprietary computational biology and RNAi platforms to discover novel disease targets and therapies. The company is specifically focused on leveraging its expertise to design treatments for hepatocyte-associated disease indications (not restricted to diseases in the liver) with untapped, novel targets, providing scope for new treatments to have a unique offering.
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29/02/2024 | e-therapeutics
Ultimovacs – executive interview
In this video, Soo Romanoff, healthcare managing director of Edison Group, interviews Jens Bjørheim, CMO of Ultimovacs, who discusses the company’s key asset, UV1, and upcoming milestones/catalysts for Ultimovacs.
Ultimovacs is developing novel immunotherapies against cancer. Its lead product candidate, UV1, is a peptide-based vaccine against the universal cancer antigen telomerase (hTERT), which is expressed in c 85–90% of all cancer types. UV1 therefore has broad potential in a variety of different settings and combinations. Currently the company has five ongoing Phase II trials and we continue to believe the upcoming Phase II INITIUM readouts in malignant melanoma (expected in March 2024) could represent the next most significant catalyst for Ultimovacs. The FDA granted Fast Track designation to UV1 as an add-on therapy to checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in October 2021 and Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of stage IIB–IV melanoma in December 2021. Ultimovacs has reported compelling Phase I data in malignant melanoma in combination with pembrolizumab, with ~70% overall survival after four years. Management recently recapped an active FY23, and a detailed discussion (including INITIUM) can be found in our prior update note.
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27/02/2024 | Ultimovacs
Cereno Scientific – Executive interview with CSO and CMO
In this video, Soo Romanoff, healthcare managing director of Edison Group, interviews Bjorn Dahlof, CSO of Cereno Scientific, and CMO Rahul Agrawal, who discuss the company’s innovative product portfolio and targeting unmet needs in the cardiovascular diseases (CVD) space.
Cereno Scientific is a clinical-stage biotech focused on developing treatments for CVD using novel approaches. The company has an exciting pipeline of differentiated assets targeting unmet needs in CVD, with one clinical and two preclinical programmes. Lead candidate CS1 has an interesting mechanism of action (a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) showing epigenetic modulation properties) and promises disease-modifying properties in pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare, debilitating and progressive condition with no curative therapies. With Phase II readouts expected in Q324, the company is approaching a significant period of inflection. The preclinical pipeline is led by CS014, a novel HDACi, initially targeting thrombosis (the leading cause of morbidity in CVD), but without increased risk of bleeding associated with currently available antithrombotics. With preclinical studies complete, the drug is set to enter the clinic in H124. The company’s other preclinical asset, CS585, is an IP agonist, currently under evaluation for different CVD indications, backed by encouraging preclinical evidence.
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26/02/2024 | Cereno Scientific
Cereno Scientific – executive interview
In this video, Soo Romanoff, healthcare managing director of Edison Group, interviews Sten Sörensen, CEO of Cereno Scientific, who discusses the company’s innovative product portfolio, targeting unmet needs in the cardiovascular diseases (CVD) space, and the key upcoming catalysts.
Cereno Scientific is a clinical-stage biotech focused on developing treatments for CVD using novel approaches. The company has an exciting pipeline of differentiated assets targeting unmet needs in CVD, with one clinical and two preclinical programmes. Lead candidate CS1 has an interesting mechanism of action (a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) showing epigenetic modulation properties) and promises disease-modifying properties in pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare, debilitating and progressive condition with no curative therapies. With Phase II readouts expected in Q324, the company is approaching a significant period of inflection. The preclinical pipeline is led by CS014, a novel HDACi, initially targeting thrombosis (the leading cause of morbidity in CVD), but without increased risk of bleeding associated with currently available antithrombotics. With preclinical studies complete, the drug is set to enter the clinic in H124. The company’s other preclinical asset, CS585, is an IP agonist, currently under evaluation for different CVD indications, backed by encouraging preclinical evidence.
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22/02/2024 | Cereno Scientific
VolitionRx webinar: Unravelling the web of NETs in sepsis … Part II
Join VolitionRx’s chief commercial officer Gael Forterre and intensive care specialist and haematology key opinion leader Dr Andrew Retter as they cover:
•sepsis, patient case studies and the challenges in diagnosing, treating and monitoring sepsis;
•the connection between NETosis and sepsis;
•the role of Nu.Q® NETs and its clinical evidence and ongoing clinical study programme; and
•Volition’s commercial strategy.
The panel and Q&A are chaired by Soo Romanoff, managing director of healthcare at Edison Group.
About VolitionRx
VolitionRx is a multinational epigenetics company that applies its Nucleosomics™ platform through its subsidiaries to develop simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases, in both humans and other animals, including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis and COVID-19.
Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential not only to prolong the life of patients but also to improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics™, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid – an indication that disease is present.
Volition’s research and development activities are centred in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the US and additional offices in London and Singapore.
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15/02/2024 | VolitionRx
Executive interview with Erik Manting PhD, CEO of Mendus
In this video, Soo Romanoff, healthcare managing director of Edison Group, interviews Erik Manting, CEO of Mendus.
Mendus is a clinical-stage immunoncology (IO) company based in Sweden and the Netherlands. The company specialises in allogeneic dendritic cell biology and is developing durable off-the-shelf therapies for haematological and solid tumours. Its lead asset, vididencel, has the potential to be a disruptive therapy in the maintenance setting for acute myeloid leukaemia. Most recently the company announced positive Phase II data from its ADVANCE II trial (presented at the American Society of Hematology 2023 meeting) and we look forward to the CADENCE combination trial. The company also has a second asset (ilixadencel) in soft tissue sarcoma (planned Phase II trial).
IO is a frenetic pharmaceutical development area with many clinical combination studies being conducted by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Investors should expect relatively rich newsflow from this subsector over the next few years.
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12/02/2024 | Mendus
Sequana Medical - executive interview
Based in Belgium, Sequana Medical develops and commercialises products to treat diuretic-resistant fluid overload, a frequent complication of liver disease and heart failure. Its proprietary alfapump and DSR approaches aim to provide significant clinical and quality-of-life benefits in these fluid overload conditions.
In this interview, CEO Ian Crosbie describes how the alfapump may provide material benefits for patients with recurrent and refractory ascites as shown in pivotal data from its POSEIDON North American registration study, with US market approval projected before the end of 2024. Crosbie highlights the promising results shown so far for its DSR 2.0 product in patients with persistent congestion due to heart failure, including from the recent non-randomised cohort of its US MOJAVE Phase I/IIa study, and he discusses the next steps ahead for this programme.
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26/01/2024 | Sequana Medical
Executive interview with Carlos Buesa, CEO of Oryzon Genomics
Spanish biotech Oryzon Genomics is among the leading clinical-stage drug developers, with a second generation of epigenetic therapeutics that have greater selectivity and a potentially favourable safety/efficacy profile compared with the first-generation HDAC inhibitors. Oryzon is focused on epigenetics in oncology and the central nervous system (CNS). Iadademstat is being explored for acute leukaemias, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and neuroendocrine tumours. CNS asset vafidemstat has completed several Phase IIa trials and a Phase IIb trial in borderline personality disorder is now the lead study.
In this interview, Oryzon CEO Carlos Buesa recaps the company’s pipeline and provides a preview of the upcoming rich newsflow.
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13/12/2023 | Oryzon Genomics
Ultimovacs - executive interview
Ultimovacs is a Scandinavian-based biotech focused on developing novel immunotherapies in combination with checkpoint inhibitors against cancer. Its lead product candidate, UV1, is a universal off-the-shelf peptide-based vaccine being studied in ongoing Phase II clinical trials across five indications. The innovative oncology vaccine targets the cancer antigen telomerase (hTERT), which is expressed in c 85% of all cancer types. UV1 therefore has broad potential in a variety of settings and would increase accessibility.
In this interview, Ultimovacs CMO Jens Bjørheim recaps the company’s progress and provides a preview of the upcoming rich newsflow.
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12/12/2023 | Ultimovacs
Edison’s most frequently asked questions - Basilea Pharmaceutica
Basilea Pharmaceutica (SIX:BSLN) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical R&D company focused on treating infectious diseases. Its core marketed products are Cresemba (antifungal) and Zevtera (anti-MRSA broad-spectrum antibiotic). The company continues to innovate to address unmet medical needs, leveraging management’s strong expertise in antifungals and antibiotics.
In this video, Basilea’s chief executive officer, David Veitch, and chief financial officer, Adesh Kaul, provide a brief introduction while addressing a few frequently asked questions.
Edison will be hosting the Basilea team in San Francisco for Healthcare Week on January 8-10, 2024. To request a 1x1 meeting with the Basilea team, please click here.
To learn more about Basilea, please access Edison’s content here.
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12/12/2023 | Basilea Pharmaceutica
Incannex’s US redomicile is now complete – what’s next?
Incannex Healthcare is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing proprietary medicinal cannabinoid drugs and psychedelic medicine therapies. These therapies are designed to target indications with unmet need, including obstructive sleep apnea, generalized anxiety disorder, trauma and inflammatory conditions.
Following the company’s announcement in July 2023 that it intended to list all its shares on Nasdaq, Incannex received widespread support from its shareholders and option holders. Management anticipates that this strategic manoeuvre will yield several advantages, including heightened visibility of Incannex’s equity story, enhanced access to FDA resources and greater access to a large capital market. On 28 November Incannex completed its redomicile to the US.
In this interview, Incannex MD and CEO Joel Latham and CSO Mark Bleackley discuss the primary motivations behind the decision to redomicile to the US, the support from current and prospective shareholders, as well as the effect the move will have on the clinical trial pipeline and FDA approval.
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28/11/2023 | Incannex Healthcare
Mendus – executive interview
Mendus is a clinical-stage immunoncology company developing its lead candidate, vididencel, a cell-based vaccine, as a cancer maintenance therapy, aimed at the prevention or delay of tumour recurrence. Vididencel is in two clinical trials: Phase II (currently in long-term follow-up) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, ADVANCE II, next readout expected in Q423) and Phase I in ovarian cancer (ALISON). Key survival data from vididencel’s use in the treatment of AML was reported in Q422, demonstrating a competitive profile, in our view. Management plans to maximise the potential of vididencel with a Phase II combination study with Onureg, the only approved AML maintenance drug, expected to commence by the end of the year. The company’s second clinical asset, ilixadencel, is being developed as an intratumoral immune primer and is in preparations for a Phase II trial for the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.
In this interview, Mendus CEO Erik Manting recaps the company’s pipeline and gives insight into what investors should expect from the upcoming ADVANCE II update at the American Society of Hematology meeting in December. Immunoncology remains a frenetic pharmaceutical development area with many clinical combination studies being conducted by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Investors should expect relatively rich newsflows from this subsector over the next few years.
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27/11/2023 | Mendus
Basilea Pharmaceutica – executive interview
Basilea Pharmaceutica is a Switzerland-based, commercial-stage biotech focused on treating infectious diseases. Its marketed products, Cresemba (an antifungal) and Zevtera (an anti-MRSA broad-spectrum antibiotic), are therapeutic agents against severe infection including drug-resistant strains of bacteria (eg MRSA) or fungi. The company continues to innovate to address unmet medical needs, leveraging management’s strong expertise in antifungals and antibiotics.
In this interview, CEO David Veitch provides a recap of the company’s ongoing efforts and pipeline.
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09/11/2023 | Basilea Pharmaceutica
IRLAB Therapeutics – executive interview
IRLAB Therapeutics is a Sweden-based biotech company focused on developing novel drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases utilising its integrative screening process technology platform. Its two lead assets, mesdopetam and pirepemat, are in late-stage clinical trials for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is characterised by a triad of cardinal motor symptoms, although non-motor symptoms are as debilitating and remain undertreated. Despite substantial efforts to develop disease-modifying approaches in PD, symptomatic treatment remains the mainstay.
In this interview, CEO Gunnar Olsson provides a recap of IRLAB’s ongoing central nervous system efforts and pipeline.
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08/11/2023 | IRLAB Therapeutics
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies – executive interview
Based in the UK, Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies is focused on advancing cannabinoid medicines for the treatment of pain and other indications. Lead asset OCT461201 is a CB2 selective agonist being investigated for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and visceral pain in irritable bowel syndrome as initial pain indications. These therapies would be an alternative to opioid therapies, which have been limited in distribution in light of the opioid abuse epidemic. New drugs that target the endocannabinoid system may represent an innovative solution to address this need.
In this interview, CEO Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker provides a recap of the company’s efforts and pipeline.
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31/10/2023 | Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies
VolitionRx webinar: Breakthrough liquid biopsy method for cancer detection
VolitionRx (NYSE: VNRX) and Edison recently hosted a webinar, during which the company provided insights into its progress in early cancer detection screening. The presentation included updates from Volition’s Dr Jake Micallef (chief scientific officer), Mr Gael Forterre (chief commercial officer) and Dr Andrew Retter, a leading UK-based haematologist and medical consultant at Volition.
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30/10/2023 | VolitionRx
OSE Immunotherapeutics – executive interview with Nicolas Poirier, CEO
OSE Immunotherapeutics (OSE) is developing immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumours and autoimmune diseases and has established several partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies. These therapies address numerous different indications and include Tedopi, OSE-127 and OSE-279.
In this interview, CEO Dr Nicolas Poirier provides highlights of the key therapies in development for both immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation, including:
the preparation for a confirmatory pivotal Phase III trial for OSE’s lead asset Tedopi in non-small cell lung cancer;
the ongoing Phase I/II dose-escalation trial of OSE-279, an anti-PD1 monoclonal antibody ICI therapy designed for blockade of both PD-L1 and PD-L2; and
the ongoing Phase II clinical trial of Lusvertikimab, OSE’s most advanced immuno-inflammation asset.
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17/10/2023 | OSE Immunotherapeutics
SIGA Technologies – executive interview
SIGA Technologies is a commercial-stage health security company focused on the treatment of smallpox and other orthopoxvirus. It has contracts with both the US and Canadian governments for TPOXX, its treatment for smallpox, and is expanding internationally.
The company has announced the appointment of Dr Jay K Varma as executive vice president and chief medical officer, while he remains a director on the board. Leveraging his prior leadership roles managing COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, Dr Varma will have practical insights that could aid SIGA’s efforts in raising awareness of infectious diseases and could enhance the company’s global procurement and treatment strategies. We believe Dr Varma’s appointment could support efforts for generating new procurement contracts.
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09/10/2023 | SIGA Technologies
Actinogen Medical – executive interview
Actinogen Medical is a biotechnology company developing its lead compound, Xanamem, as a revolutionary new therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, major depressive disorder and other neurological diseases where reducing cortisol inside brain cells could have a positive impact. The cognitive dysfunction, behavioural abnormalities and neuropsychological burden associated with these conditions is significantly debilitating for patients, and there is a substantial unmet medical need for new and improved treatments.
In this interview, CEO Dr Steven Gourlay discusses the company’s lead programme, what differentiates Xanamem and its mechanism of action from other approaches used to treat memory loss, and the upcoming Phase IIb study assessing Xanamem in Alzheimer’s disease.
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27/09/2023 | Actinogen Medical
Creo Medical – executive interview with Craig Gulliford, CEO
Creo Medical is a UK medical device company developing minimally invasive endoscopic electrosurgical tools across its proprietary Kamaptive technology to optimise surgical outcomes. The company has developed and commercialised CE-marked devices, with five cleared by the FDA to date. These tools are complemented by Creo's fully integrated acquisition of Albyn Medical (acquired in 2020), a profitable consumables company supported by a direct salesforce in Europe.
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17/08/2023 | Creo Medical