Memo Therapeutics AG

→ Kristen Mulholland will take over for the retiring Peter Fasolo as chief human resources officer at J&J on Oct. 1. “Peter has led J&J’s talent strategy for the past 16 years including remarkable leadership through the global pandemic and the separation of our consumer health business,” CEO Joaquin Duato said in a statement . “He leaves a legacy of strong leaders, deep bench strength and an inclusive, caring and patient-focused culture.” Fasolo is a Bristol Myers Squibb HR vet who left J&J to become chief talent officer for KKR , only to return in 2010. Mulholland started at J&J in 2005 and has spent nearly five years as head of human resources, global total rewards & enterprise HR functions. → Just do it: Amgen technology chief David Reese said in a LinkedIn post that the pharma giant has appointed Sean Bruich as SVP of artificial intelligence and data. Bruich moves into the pharma world after an 11-year run with Nike , where he vaulted to global VP, insights, data science & analytics. This is the second high-level AI hire by a major pharma in as many weeks — Pfizer just welcomed Berta Rodriguez-Hervas as its new chief AI and analytics officer. → In its biggest personnel news since Doug Williams ’ resignation , Sana Biotechnology has poached Dhaval Patel from UCB as the Seattle biotech awaits data readouts for its CD19-targeted allogeneic CAR-T therapy in a host of indications. Patel had a 10-year career with Novartis before he held the CSO post at UCB for nearly seven years, and he’ll have the same responsibilities at Sana under CEO Steve Harr . Sana said in its second-quarter update that the goal is to reveal data for SC291 in B cell malignancies — and such autoimmune diseases as lupus nephritis, extrarenal lupus and ANCA-associated vasculitis — sometime this year. “His expertise in immunology and autoimmune diseases make[s] him ideally suited to help advance our clinical pipeline,” Harr said in a statement . → Brian Di Donato , the CFO and head of strategy at Immunocore since May 2020 , is stepping down “at the end of the year” to take the CEO job at an unnamed San Diego biotech. Di Donato was the finance leader for Achillion when Alexion scooped it up for $930 million, and he’s also a board member at Jim Wilson joint iECURE , where ex-Achillion chief Joseph Truitt is CEO. → Telix Pharmaceuticals has separated its business into four separate entities: Telix Therapeutics , Telix Precision Medicine (diagnostics), Telix Lightpoint (medtech, from its acquisition of Lightpoint Medical ) and Telix Manufacturing Solutions . With these changes in place, Telix has tapped Richard Valeix as CEO of Telix Therapeutics, Kevin Richardson as Telix Precision Medicine’s chief executive, and Raphael Ortiz as CEO of Telix International . Christian Behrenbruch ’s title has been slightly modified to group CEO. Telix had hoped to join the Nasdaq in June with an IPO around the $200 million mark, but the Melbourne biotech made a gametime decision to pull those plans . → Cambridge, MA-based neuro player Cognito Therapeutics has promoted Christian Howell to CEO. Brent Vaughan had been running Cognito since 2020 after co-founding and leading the autism diagnostic specialist Cognoa , and he hired Howell as his chief commercial officer last October. Howell had a long career with Medtronic and then joined Aetion , where he was elevated to SVP and general manager of the emerging channels group (medical device, diagnostics, digital health, and government) in April 2023. → Elsewhere, Endo is also losing its president and CEO Blaise Coleman . Board member Scott Hirsch will serve in the interim as the company searches for a permanent successor. Hirsch joined Endo’s board in April, around the same time that the company sued the FDA over its approval of a generic version of Endo’s drug Adrenalin . Hirsch is the former CEO of Solta Medical and also held the roles of president of Ortho Dermatologics and CBO of Bausch Health / Bausch + Lomb . → Thomas Bock has handed in his resignation as CEO of Notable Labs , and CSO Joseph Wagner will take over the top spot on an interim basis. This isn’t uncharted territory for Wagner: He’s the former CEO of Oncocyte (2011-15) and Canadian I/O biotech BriaCell Therapeutics (2015-16). Notable Labs merged with VBL Therapeutics in February 2023 and will start enrolling patients in its Phase 2 study of the ex- Boehringer Ingelheim drug volasertib for acute myeloid leukemia “in the coming months,” the company said in July. → Delfi Diagnostics marked the beginning of the year with a new CEO it hired away from Illumina . Now, the competitor to Grail has brought on Thomas Russo as finance chief. Russo served in the same role at Icosavax and Assembly Biosciences . During his time at Icosavax, Russo helped with the company’s growth until its $838 million upfront acquisition by AstraZeneca . → Marea Therapeutics , the Third Rock upstart led by ex- Graphite Bio CEO Josh Lehrer , has selected Ian Clements as CFO. Clements resigned from the same post at Livmarli maker Mirum Pharmaceuticals in May 2023 after four years overall with the company, and he’s the ex-VP of investor relations for Dermira . Marea launched in June with $190 million in “combined Series A and B” funding, testing an ex-Novartis monoclonal antibody that targets ANGPTL4 in adults with metabolic dysfunction. → With ex- Synlogic CEO Aoife Brennan at the controls, a seemingly rejuvenated Eliem Therapeutics has named Brett Kaplan as COO and Nishi Rampal as SVP, clinical development. Kaplan had been president and chief financial & corporate development officer for epigenetic editing upstart Chroma Medicine , and he was also the finance chief at Prevail until Eli Lilly bought the gene therapy biotech for $1 billion. An Alexion vet, Rampal also handled the role of global development and strategy lead for the neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) treatment Uplizna as an executive director with Horizon /Amgen. Eliem’s hunt for strategic alternatives ended with the acquisition of Tenet Medicines and its anti-CD19 antibody budoprutug , once known as TNT119 . → Backed by RA Capital and Forbion , Navigator Medicines disclosed its $100 million Series A this week and the recruitment of Dana McClintock as CMO. McClintock spent six years in the same position at Alladapt Immunotherapeutics and was global head of the Office of I2O Innovation for Genentech . Navigator also said that Forbion general partner Wouter Joustra and RA Capital managing director Andrew Levin have made their way to the board of directors. → Alex Bastian has been named VP, commercial strategy at Swiss-based Memo Therapeutics , reuniting with CEO Erik van den Berg . Toward the end of van den Berg’s tenure as CEO of AM-Pharma , Bastian was the Dutch biotech’s VP, commercial & patient access. He also worked for Galapagos as VP, head of value & market access. → Structure Therapeutics , one of many biotechs developing a GLP-1 drug for obesity, has elected ex- Shire CEO Angus Russell to the board of directors. The 68-year-old Russell has chaired the board at Daxxify maker Revance Therapeutics since 2014 and has a board seat at Lineage Cell Therapeutics . → Ex- Vividion CEO Jeff Hatfield has joined the board of directors at Gate Bioscience , a California drug developer that launched last November with a $60 million Series A from several blue-chip investors. Hatfield chairs the board at Vividion and Rome Therapeutics . → Opna Bio has made room for Inozyme co-founder and former CEO Axel Bolte on the board of directors. The South San Francisco biotech also announced that it had dosed the first patient in a Phase 1 trial of its multiple myeloma candidate OPN-6602 and appointed Myeloma Investment Fund managing director Stephanie Oestreich as a board observer.

▎药明康德内容团队编辑从病毒蛋白质组中发现新疗法，新锐获5000万美元助力著名风投机构Flagship Pioneering今天推出了Prologue Medicines，这是一家利用病毒蛋白质组的治疗潜力来开发创新药物的公司。为了加速发展，Flagship承诺投资5000万美元，用以推进其DELVE平台，并利用其潜力开发针对免疫、肿瘤和代谢疾病的广泛药物管线。Prologue正在通过其DELVE平台革新药物发现过程，该平台结合了计算和高通量生物学技术，持续探索庞大的病毒蛋白质组。这一探索过程识别出病毒蛋白和它们的独特特征，并评估它们调节人体生理功能、治疗疾病的潜力。该平台包括已知最大的病毒蛋白结构数据库之一，并整合了来自已知人类蛋白的详细数据，以及通过Prologue专有计算模型对以前未表征病毒蛋白进行分析。通过解码病毒自然进化的规则，Prologue设计了具有多种功能的增强型治疗蛋白，这些功能中有些是病毒特有的，扩展了人类蛋白的功能界限。治疗多种自身免疫性疾病，2亿美元助力CD19靶向双功能抗体开发Zenas BioPharma宣布成功完成2亿美元的C轮优先股融资。获得的资金将用于公司主要候选疗法obexelimab的中后期临床开发。Obexelimab是一种双功能单克隆抗体，旨在同时靶向CD19和FcγRIIb，以抑制B细胞、浆母细胞和表达CD19的浆细胞的活性。Obexelimab的临床开发计划包括正在进行的针对IgG4相关疾病的3期注册性临床试验，计划在多发性硬化和系统性红斑狼疮患者中开展的两项2期随机对照试验，以及正在进行的针对温暖型自身免疫性溶血性贫血的2期开放标签试验。Obexelimab已经在五项包括198名受试者的临床试验中显示出显著的临床疗效和安全性，尤其是在自身免疫性疾病方面。在这些研究中，obexelimab抑制了B细胞功能，但不会耗竭这些细胞，从而为多种自身免疫性疾病的患者带来了令人鼓舞的治疗效果。开发抗感染抗体疗法，Memo Therapeutics完成4500万瑞士法郎C轮融资Memo Therapeutics公司宣布在C轮融资中额外筹集到2000万瑞士法郎，使本轮融资总额达到4500万瑞士法郎。获得资金将加速该公司中和BK病毒的单克隆抗体AntiBKV的临床开发。正在进行的2期临床试验将扩展至剂量评估阶段，用于治疗肾脏移植患者中的BK病毒感染。2期试验的初步数据预计将在2025年上半年公布。BK病毒感染通常发生在儿童时期，并在健康个体中处于潜伏状态。然而，由于移植患者接受免疫抑制药物，肾脏移植后的BK病毒感染对移植器官的生存以及患者健康构成重大风险。约40%的肾脏移植患者会出现病毒再激活，其中20%会经历全身性病毒暴露，最终有多达10%的患者会发展为BK病毒相关肾病，这是移植器官丧失的主要原因。额外的资金也将用于扩大该公司的产品管线，利用其B细胞筛选平台，筛选出针对其他病毒感染和肿瘤的优化人源化抗体。▲欲了解更多前沿技术在生物医药产业中的应用，请长按扫描上方二维码，即可访问“药明直播间”，观看相关话题的直播讨论与精彩回放参考资料：[1] Flagship Pioneering Unveils Prologue Medicines to Unlock the Therapeutic Potential of the Viral Proteome. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240507928628/en/Flagship-Pioneering-Unveils-Prologue-Medicines-to-Unlock-the-Therapeutic-Potential-of-the-Viral-Proteome[2] Zenas BioPharma Announces Upsized $200 Million Series C Financing to Advance Mid- and Late-Stage Immunology-Focused Clinical Development Programs. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://zenasbio.com/news/zenas-biopharma-announces-upsized-200-million-series-c-financing-to-advance-mid-and-late-stage-immunology-focused-clinical-development-programs/[3] MEMO THERAPEUTICS INCREASES SERIES C FINANCING TO CHF 45 MILLION. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://memo-therapeutics.com/newsarchiv/memo-therapeutics-increases-series-c-financing-to-chf-45-million.html免责声明：药明康德内容团队专注介绍全球生物医药健康研究进展。本文仅作信息交流之目的，文中观点不代表药明康德立场，亦不代表药明康德支持或反对文中观点。本文也不是治疗方案推荐。如需获得治疗方案指导，请前往正规医院就诊。版权说明：本文来自药明康德内容团队，欢迎个人转发至朋友圈，谢绝媒体或机构未经授权以任何形式转载至其他平台。转载授权请在「药明康德」微信公众号回复“转载”，获取转载须知。分享，点赞，在看，聚焦全球生物医药健康创新

PRESS RELEASE Memo Therapeutics increases Series C financing to CHF 45 million Additional CHF 20 million raised from new investors Ysios Capital and Kurma Partners as well as from existing investors Proceeds will be used to expand Phase II of best-in-class anti-BK Virus antibody to become the largest study ever conducted for BK virus infection in kidney transplantation Schlieren / Zurich, Switzerland, 7 May, 2024 – Memo Therapeutics AG (or “MTx”), a late-stage biotech company developing a best-in-class BKV-neutralizing antibody for BKV infection in kidney transplantation, today announces that it has successfully raised CHF 20 million as part of an extension of its Series C financing, bringing the total amount raised in the funding round to CHF 45 million. The new funding will be used to bolster the clinical advancement of MTx’s lead asset, AntiBKV, expanding the Phase II trial with a dose evaluation extension to be the largest BK viremia therapeutic study ever conducted in kidney transplant recipients. The disease represents a potential market in excess of $1 billion and is caused by the BK virus, which can become reactivated in immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients leading to severe complications. Initial data from the Phase II trial is expected in the first half of 2025. The funding will further support the development of MTx’s pipeline by leveraging its B-cell screening platform to select best-in-class humanized antibodies in other viral infections and oncology. Erik van den Berg, CEO of Memo Therapeutics, commented: “This financing provides further external endorsement of the potential of our highly potent anti-BK virus mAb and our clinical strategy to bring it to patients as quickly as possible. There are more than 100,000 kidney transplants worldwide each year and 20,000 of these are at risk from developing BK virus associated nephropathy. With no disease modifying therapies available, there is an urgent need for a treatment. With FDA fast track status already obtained for the product, we look forward to rapidly progressing the development of AntiBKV.” New investors Ysios Capital and Kurma Partners participated in the extension round, joining existing Series C round investors including Pureos Bioventures, Swisscanto, Vesalius Biocapital, Adjuvant Capital, Verve Ventures, Schroders Capital, GF Group, Fresenius Medical Care Ventures and Red Alpine. Thomas Harth, Principal at Ysios Capital stated: “We believe Memo Therapeutics has developed a very powerful antibody that can address the growing concern of BKV infections in kidney transplant recipients. By being able to preserve the kidney and ensure graft outcome, this antibody could offer a tremendous benefit to patients. Deriving antibodies in screening of the B-cell repertoire offers a route to best-in-class antibody medicines for multiple diseases. We believe MTx has one of the best engines to do so within the industry. We are encouraged to support MTx in its mission to address the unmet medical need of BK viremia and beyond. MTx fits strongly with the investment strategy at Ysios to support breakthrough medicines.” Hadrien Bouchez, Partner at Kurma Partners added: “MTx has an exceptional leadership team with a proven track record of success. We are very excited to support the development of AntiBKV, an agent which has a unique efficacy and safety profile. Our investment underscores our commitment to supporting companies that are poised to make a significant impact on global healthcare.” Thomas Harth, Principal at Ysios Capital and Hadrien Bouchez, Partner at Kurma Partners will join the Memo Therapeutics Board of Directors. Alongside AntiBKV, Memo Therapeutics is developing a panel of pre-clinical assets in cancer and viral infections. These are based on the ability of MTx’s antibody discovery platform DROPZYLLA®, to interrogate the antibodyomes of elite controllers of infection and cancer. -Ends- Contacts Memo Therapeutics AG info@memo-therapeutics.com ICR ConsiliumAmber Fennell, Ashley Tappmemotx@consilium-comms.com+44 (0)20 3709 5700 About Memo Therapeutics AGMemo Therapeutics AG (“MTx”) is a late-stage biotech company developing best-in-class therapeutic antibodies to transform the lives of patients with viral infections and cancer. MTx’s lead program, AntiBKV, is a highly effective and safe neutralizing antibody to treat BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients. This infection can lead to nephropathy, loss of kidney function, as well as organ failure and rejection. MTx’s pipeline consists of additional candidate therapeutic antibodies focusing on infectious diseases, such as cytomegalovirus (“CMV”), immuno-oncology targets alone and in partnership with Ono Pharmaceutical. MTx is a private company located in Schlieren / Zurich, Switzerland. About BK VirusBKV infection occurs mostly in childhood and remains dormant in healthy individuals. However, BKV infection poses a significant threat following kidney transplantation, with serious adverse effects on graft function, kidney failure and ultimately patient survival. Due to the immunosuppressive drug regimen transplant patients receive, reactivation of BKV is triggered in approx. 40% of kidney transplant recipients, with 20% experiencing systemic virologically exposure. Up to 10% then progress to BKV associated nephropathy, which is the leading cause of graft loss. There is currently no disease modifying therapy available to treat BKV infection; it can only be addressed by lowering immunosuppression. However, this significantly increases the risk of a graft rejection reaction, also leading to impaired functionality and longevity, or graft failure. About Ysios Capital Ysios Capital is a leading Spanish venture capital firm that provides private equity financing to early- and mid-stage, highly innovative life science companies bringing life-changing treatments to patients, with a focus on indications with high unmet need. They have a diverse international team in San Sebastián and Barcelona, driven by science, with the ambition to transform capital into medical breakthroughs. Ysios Capital was founded in 2008 and has over $450 million in assets under management through its three funds. About Kurma Partners Kurma Partners is a key European player in the financing of innovation in Healthcare and Biotechnology, from pre-seed to growth capital, in particular through its funds Kurma Biofund I, II, III, IV, Kurma Growth, Kurma Diagnostics and Kurma Diagnostics 2, as well as the links the company has forged with a network of prestigious research institutes and hospitals. Kurma Partners was founded in July 2009 and is based in Paris and in Munich.