Weekly Pharma & Life Science News Round-Up: 13th – 17th February 2023

A round-up of the latest news from the Pharma & Life Science industry; including news from the Pharmaceutical, Clinical Research, Biotechnology and Medical Device sectors from 13^th – 17^th February 2023.

Fluor Selected for Agilent Life Sciences Facility Expansion in Colorado

Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announces that its Advanced Technologies & Life Sciences business was selected by Agilent Technologies, Inc., to expand its oligonucleotide therapeutics manufacturing facility in Frederick, Colorado, just north of Denver.

M2GEN and Zephyr AI Announce Partnership to Better Identify Treatments and Cures for Patients with Cancer

M2GEN and Zephyr AI, Inc. announce a multi-year strategic partnership that will accelerate drug discovery and expanded use investigations for cancer treatments.

Charles River and Flagship’s Pioneering Medicines Enter Agreement Leveraging AI-Powered Logica with Aim of Creating Novel Therapies for Unmet Medical Needs

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) announce a multi-program agreement with Pioneering Medicines, a strategic initiative of Flagship Pioneering, that gives Pioneering Medicines access to Logica™.

Lonza Completes Expansion of Conjugation Facility in Visp (CH)

Lonza, a preferred partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and nutraceutical markets, announces that a planned expansion of its bioconjugation facility in Visp (CH) is complete.

Charles River and Purespring Therapeutics Announce Gene Therapy Manufacturing Collaboration

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) and Purespring Therapeutics, a pioneering gene therapy company focused on transforming the treatment of kidney diseases, announce a plasmid DNA contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) collaboration.

Celanese Announces a Research Agreement with Johns Hopkins University to Advance Sustained Ocular Drug Delivery to the Suprachoroidal Space

Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global specialty materials and chemical company, announce an agreement with Johns Hopkins University Department of Ophthalmology to collaborate on a study of sustained drug delivery to the suprachoroidal space in the eye.

Viz.ai Collaborates with Johns Hopkins to Expedite Patient Enrollment in Brain Injury Trial

Viz.ai announce a collaboration with BIOS Clinical Trials Coordinating Center (BIOS CTTC) at Johns Hopkins University, to expedite patient enrollment for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Biomarker and Edema Attenuation in IntraCerebral Hemorrhage (BEACH) study1.

Ryne Biotechnology Awarded $4 Million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Ryne Biotechnology, Inc. announce that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded the company a $4 million Clinical Stage Research Program (CLIN1) grant.

Altasciences Expands Laboratory Capabilities in Columbia

Altasciences’ laboratory facilities in Columbia, MO, are undergoing a significant expansion, with completion expected this year. The new 8,000-square-foot space will mirror Altasciences’ current bioanalytical laboratory in Laval, Québec.

ACI Group launches Oomph to help solve data visibility challenges for SMEs

Leading UK distributor, ACI Group, has announced that it has launched its software technology platform, Oomph, to improve data visibility, flexibility and speed to market for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust Renews Partnership with Clinical Informatics Provider Epro

Leading healthcare informatics provider Epro will continue to partner with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, following the success of its existing work with integration and interoperability with existing systems.

FSD Pharma Launches A New Research and Development Program Targeting Unmet Medical Needs for Alcohol Misuse

FSD Pharma Inc. announce the launch of a new research and development program focused on unmet medical needs for alcohol misuse.

Landmark New England Journal of Medicine publication reinforces potential of GSK’s respiratory syncytial virus older adult vaccine candidate

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announce the publication of positive phase III trial results for its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) older adult vaccine candidate in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Astex and Cardiff University Medicines Discovery Institute Announce New Drug Discovery Collaboration on Neurodegenerative Diseases

Astex Pharmaceuticals (UK) and The Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University (“MDI”) announce that they have entered into a multi-year, multimillion pound drug discovery research collaboration, aimed to identify new drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases. 

Sanofi announces change in R&D leadership

Sanofi announce that Dr. John Reed, its Global Head of R&D, will be leaving the company to pursue a new opportunity outside Sanofi. The company warmly thanks Dr. Reed for his leadership over these last years.