A Toolkit for Emerging Biotechs

Emerging biotechs are a force to be reckoned with. In 2018, approximately 70% of clinical pipelines belonged to emerging biotechs, who were also responsible for nearly 64% of new active substances approved by the FDA. In other words, 38 out of 59 approved therapies were patented by emerging biotechs last year. These numbers prove that biotechs are leveling the playing field and are leading innovation in the drug discovery and development space.

Spotlight

Ultivue, Inc.

Ultivue is an early stage life sciences tools company based in Cambridge MA. Ultivue seeks a better way to see the world – the ultimate view. Ultivue is producing reagents that enable researchers to obtain unprecedented resolution in microscopic images that vastly improve our understanding of biology and medicine.

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MedTech

How to Choose a Reliable Biotech Clinical Trial Management System?

Article | July 11, 2022

Introduction The medical and life-science industries are experiencing a robust transformation with the increasing prevalence of various types of diseases, including infectious diseases, chronic disorders, and acute conditions around the world. As a result, a significant rise in demand for more effective therapeutic drugs and bionics is being witnessed, leading to a swift increase in the number of clinical trials. For a successful trial, it is important for biotech companies to ensure the data submitted to regulatory bodies regarding clinical trials is accurate, reliable, and definitive from an ethical point of view. A reliable clinical trial management system plays a vital role in collecting, monitoring, and managing clinical data. The availability of high-quality clinical data also helps clinical research institutions make efficient treatment decisions and provide proper patient care. Hence, a number of biotech companies and research organizations are focusing on leveraging innovative clinical trial management solutions to handle a large amount of data, particularly in multi-center trials, and generate reliable, high-quality, and statistically sound data from clinical trials. However, selecting the most appropriate and reliable clinical trial management system is vital for the clinical trial's success. Let's see some of the steps that will assist these firms in choosing the right CTMS. Key Steps for Selecting Right Biotech Clinical Trial Management System Prioritize Study Needs Considering and prioritizing study needs is a crucial step in choosing the most reliable clinical trial management system for biotech companies. Prioritizing helps them to identify a solution that improves the study's quality and removes uncertainty for researchers when faced with difficult choices. Hence, biotech and life-science organizations should choose a clinical trial system that is simple to use, well-organized, and suitably designed to minimize the number of clicks required to complete a task. Select CTMS with Multiple Integrations Integrated clinical trial management systems provide the best value for the companies’ funds as they guarantee the smooth functioning of research protocols. In addition, integrations are necessary to fully understand the importance and advantages of clinical trial management software for ensuring smooth transitions between site management and data collection. Biotech and clinical research should look for CTMS platforms that can integrate with electronic medical record (EMR) platforms and clinical research process content (CRPC) billing grids. This will allow them to use the same billing designations and ensure compliance while minimizing the need for duplicate processes. Ensure System Compliance and Security Clinical research organizations need to adhere to a plethora of complex regulations in order to ensure compliance with one of the most challenging environments of principles, which is information security and privacy. Security and system compliance are vital aspects of choosing the right CTMS solutions for biotech firms as they assist in building trust and form a part of the system’s duties. While selecting CTMS systems, it is essential for companies engaged in clinical research to ensure that these platforms are able to configure both, group and individual permissions, along with having a data backup and recovery plan for hosted systems. This will allow companies to assess the privacy and security implications of research and anticipate complications that may arise in each phase of the project. Assess the Scalability Choosing a scalable CTMS that can accommodate various types of fluctuations and expansions enables biotech and clinical firms to quickly adapt to fast-changing trends and demand spikes while reducing maintenance costs and enhancing user agility. As scalability also means secure and expanded data storage, these businesses should instead use SaaS solutions than manually manage an ever-growing collection of hard drives. The right CTMS ensures accommodating the firm’s availability requirements without incurring the capital costs associated with expanding a physical infrastructure. The Closing Thought A well-executed and successful clinical trial involves multiple stages and processes. Several quality controls and stringent adherence to regulations are essential for the steps, along with efficient cross-departmental processes and procedures. Incorporating the right CTMS paves the way for paperless data collection, regulatory filing, and fiscal management tools for biotech researchers and administrative personnel.

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MedTech

Advancement in Genomics Accelerating its Penetration into Precision Health

Article | July 13, 2022

Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology emphasizing the structure, editing, evolution, function, and mapping of genomes. It is creating deeper inroads across the precision health domain with the increasing introduction of advanced technologies such as quantum simulation, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and precise genome manipulation. As precision health focuses on providing the proper intervention to the right patient at the right time, genomics increasingly finds applications in human and pathogen genome sequencing in clinical and research spaces. Rising Hereditary Diseases Burden Paving the Way for Genomics in Precision Health In the last few years, a significant surge in the prevalence of diseases and ailments such as diabetes, obesity, baldness, and others has been witnessed across the globe. A history of family members with chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, hearing issues, and heart disease, can sometimes continue into the next generation. Hence, the study of genes is extensively being conducted for predicting health risks and early treatment of these diseases. It also finds use in CRISPR-based diagnostics and the preparation of precision medication for the individual. In addition, ongoing advancements in genomics are making it possible to identify different genetic traits that persuade people to more widespread diseases and health problems. The Emergence of Genomics Improves Disease Understanding Genomics refers to the study of the complete genetic makeup of a cell or organism. Increasing scientific research in the area substantially contributes to increasing knowledge about the human genome and assists in improving the ability to understand disease etiology, risk, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. On account of these improvements, innovative genomic technologies and tools are being developed to enable better precision health not only for the individual but for various regional populations as well. The Way Forward With growing preference for personalized medicine and an increasing need for more accurate pathogen detection and diagnostics, genomics is gaining huge popularity across the precision health domain. Also, increasing research activities for developing novel high-precision therapeutics and rising importance of gene study in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of infectious and genetic diseases will further pave the way for genomics in the forthcoming years.

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Medical

Biotech in 2022

Article | July 14, 2022

The robust global channel of more than, 800 gene and cell curatives presently in trials will produce clinical readouts in 2022, revealing what lies ahead for advanced curatives. The impact will be felt in 2022, no matter how you slice it. Eventually, how well industry and non-supervisory bodies unite to produce new frameworks for advanced therapies will shape the year 2022 and further. Pacific Northwest talent will continue to contribute to the advancement of gene and cell curatives in both the short and long term, thanks to its deep pool of ground-breaking scientific developers, entrepreneurial directorial leadership, largely skilled translational scientists, and endured bio manufacturing technicians. We may see continued on-life science fund withdrawal from biotech in 2021, but this can be anticipated as a strong comeback in 2022 by biotech industry, backed by deep-pocketed life science investors who are committed to this sector. A similar investment, combined with pharma's cash-heavy coffers, can result in increased junction and acquisition activity, which will be a challenge for some but an occasion for others. Over the last five years, investment interest in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest has grown exponentially, from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Oregon. The region's explosive portfolio of new biotech companies, innovated out of academic centres, demonstrates the region's growing recognition of scientific invention. This created a belief that continued, especially because Seattle's start-ups and biotech enterprises are delivering on their pledge of clinical and patient impact. Talent and staffing will continue to be difficult to find. It's a CEO's market, but many of these funds' return, and are not rising in proportion to the exorbitant prices they're paying to enter deals. This schism has become particularly pronounced in 2021. Hence, everyone in biotech is concerned about reclamation and retention.

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2 Small-Cap Biotech Stocks You Haven't Heard of, But Should Know About

Article | April 17, 2020

With everything that's going on with the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare companies have grabbed plenty of spotlight during these challenging times. At the same time, a number of otherwise promising businesses have slipped under the radar. That's especially true for small-cap biotech stocks that aren't actively involved in developing tests, vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. Vaccine developers, protective equipment producers, and healthcare service providers are all attracting plenty of attention during this pandemic, but there are just as many promising biotech stocks that aren't involved in these areas. Here are two such companies that you might have missed, but they deserve a spot on your watch list.

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Spotlight

Ultivue, Inc.

Ultivue is an early stage life sciences tools company based in Cambridge MA. Ultivue seeks a better way to see the world – the ultimate view. Ultivue is producing reagents that enable researchers to obtain unprecedented resolution in microscopic images that vastly improve our understanding of biology and medicine.

Related News

European Biotechs Showcase Multiple Sclerosis Treatments in Stockholm

Labiotech.eu | September 17, 2019

Genmab, GeNeuro and other companies presented their latest data on next-generation treatments for multiple sclerosis at a conference in Stockholm. The European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) gathered experts and companies working on multiple sclerosis in Sweden this year. Companies such as Genmab and GeNeuro revealed the progress of their treatments, with Genmab’s drug at the verge of reaching the market. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the cells that keep nerve cells healthy, causing neurodegeneration and eventual disability. Its has received attention from the biotech industry because the condition has no cure, and there are limited drugs approved to slow the progression of the disease. In particular, many companies aim to stop relapses in the most common form of the condition, known as relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The Danish antibody developer Genmab presented results from its drug ofatumumab, which is licensed to Novartis. In two phase III trials, the ability of the antibody drug to prevent relapse was compared to that of teriflunomide, an oral drug routinely used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Patients given Genmab and Novartis’ antibody had an annualized relapse rate of around 0.1 in the two trials, which is less than half of those given teriflunomide in both trials, with an annualized relapse rate of around 0.22.

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Fund for Late-Stage European Biotechs Closes Final Round With 120M Euors

labiotech.eu | June 25, 2019

The Luxembourg-based investor Vesalius Biocapital III has completed the final closing of a €120M fund to boost late-stage life science companies. Around 10-15 companies will receive investments from the fund, including specialists in drug development, med-tech, and diagnostics. Three companies have become beneficiaries so far, including the Finnish women’s health drug company Forendo Pharma, German prosthetics company Mecuris, and US digital therapy company SWORD Health. Vesalius Biocapital has secured more than €65M for the first closing of a new fund targeting European biotechs in late stages of development. Vesalius Biocapital has announced today the first closing of its third fund, VBC III, which will be aimed at biotech companies developing not only drugs and diagnostics, but also medtech and digital health products. Unlike the first two funds, VBC III will focus the investments on companies at late stages of development and closer to the market. The first closing has secured Vesalius over €65M. Over the following 18 months, the investment firm is aiming to reach €150M for the final closing. This objective is way higher than for previous funds, but the number of companies invested in, 10 to 15, will not increase; late development stages require bigger injections.

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Ocular Biotechs Histogenics, Ocugen Announce Stock-For-Stock Merger

Histogenics Corporation | April 08, 2019

Histogenics Corporation and privately held Ocugen announced a merger Monday that will create a new, Nasdaq-listed company aiming to develop novel ocular gene therapies and biotherapeutics under the Ocugen name. The agreement calls for Ocugen stockholders to become the majority owners of outstanding Histogenics common stock upon closing. The deal is a stock-for-stock transaction. Upon closing, the combined company will be headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania and will operate under Ocugen's present leadership, the companies said. No Histogenics employees will remain employed by the combined company, according to Monday's announcement.

Read More

European Biotechs Showcase Multiple Sclerosis Treatments in Stockholm

Labiotech.eu | September 17, 2019

Genmab, GeNeuro and other companies presented their latest data on next-generation treatments for multiple sclerosis at a conference in Stockholm. The European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) gathered experts and companies working on multiple sclerosis in Sweden this year. Companies such as Genmab and GeNeuro revealed the progress of their treatments, with Genmab’s drug at the verge of reaching the market. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the cells that keep nerve cells healthy, causing neurodegeneration and eventual disability. Its has received attention from the biotech industry because the condition has no cure, and there are limited drugs approved to slow the progression of the disease. In particular, many companies aim to stop relapses in the most common form of the condition, known as relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The Danish antibody developer Genmab presented results from its drug ofatumumab, which is licensed to Novartis. In two phase III trials, the ability of the antibody drug to prevent relapse was compared to that of teriflunomide, an oral drug routinely used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Patients given Genmab and Novartis’ antibody had an annualized relapse rate of around 0.1 in the two trials, which is less than half of those given teriflunomide in both trials, with an annualized relapse rate of around 0.22.

Read More

Fund for Late-Stage European Biotechs Closes Final Round With 120M Euors

labiotech.eu | June 25, 2019

The Luxembourg-based investor Vesalius Biocapital III has completed the final closing of a €120M fund to boost late-stage life science companies. Around 10-15 companies will receive investments from the fund, including specialists in drug development, med-tech, and diagnostics. Three companies have become beneficiaries so far, including the Finnish women’s health drug company Forendo Pharma, German prosthetics company Mecuris, and US digital therapy company SWORD Health. Vesalius Biocapital has secured more than €65M for the first closing of a new fund targeting European biotechs in late stages of development. Vesalius Biocapital has announced today the first closing of its third fund, VBC III, which will be aimed at biotech companies developing not only drugs and diagnostics, but also medtech and digital health products. Unlike the first two funds, VBC III will focus the investments on companies at late stages of development and closer to the market. The first closing has secured Vesalius over €65M. Over the following 18 months, the investment firm is aiming to reach €150M for the final closing. This objective is way higher than for previous funds, but the number of companies invested in, 10 to 15, will not increase; late development stages require bigger injections.

Read More

Ocular Biotechs Histogenics, Ocugen Announce Stock-For-Stock Merger

Histogenics Corporation | April 08, 2019

Histogenics Corporation and privately held Ocugen announced a merger Monday that will create a new, Nasdaq-listed company aiming to develop novel ocular gene therapies and biotherapeutics under the Ocugen name. The agreement calls for Ocugen stockholders to become the majority owners of outstanding Histogenics common stock upon closing. The deal is a stock-for-stock transaction. Upon closing, the combined company will be headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania and will operate under Ocugen's present leadership, the companies said. No Histogenics employees will remain employed by the combined company, according to Monday's announcement.

Read More

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