Mar 10, 2023

Destiny Pharma Clinical-stage biotech Destiny Pharma based in the UK, develops novel approaches to the prevention of life-threatening infectious diseases . The Alternative Investment Market (AIM) traded firm’s diversified pipeline targets a broad range of indications. It has two Phase 3 clinical trial ready assets addressing areas of high unmet medical need with significant, billion-dollar, potential global commercial opportunity in addition to a range of earlier research programmes. Destiny’s flagship assets include XF-73 nasal gel , derived from its proprietary XF Platform, for the prevention of post-surgical Staphylococcus aureus infections, and the biotherapeutic product NTCD-M3 for the prevention of recurring C. difficile gut infections, the leading cause of hospital acquired infection in the US. In line with its strategy of finding partners to join up with on Phase 3 development and lead commercialization, the Company recently inked a $570 million co-development deal with the U.S.-based Sebela granting the GI specialist the North American rights to the treatment while leading and financing clinical development and commercialization activities in the region. Destiny CEO Neil Clark said that the company was “[..] very pleased to have reached this agreement,” noting that GI specialist company Sebela has the necessary clinical development and commercialisation expertise to take NTCD-M3 through to launch. A Phase 3 study is expected to start in 2024. With development plans for its Phase 3 studies for its second late-stage clinical asset, XF-73 Nasal, finalized, the company has also expanded its partnering activities targeting to secure a commercialization partner in 2023. “Our aim is to end 2023 having secured partners for both of our lead assets to complete their final Phase 3 clinical studies, registration and approval in key markets – especially the United States,” said Clark. Heidelberg Pharma At the forefront of developing innovative antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), Germany-based Heidelberg Pharma specializes in the development of the toxin amanitin for the treatment of cancer. In this unique approach, amanitin is linked to antibodies using the company’s proprietary ATAC technology and used to inhibit RNA polymerase II, a novel treatment concept in oncology . Heidelberg Pharma intends to overcome tumor resistances and kill even dormant tumor cells with these so-called ATACs. The biopharma’s lead candidate HDP-101 is in a clinical phase I/IIa study for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma patients. Other drug candidates in the mix include HDP-102, which targets non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and HDP-103, which is being developed to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer; both of these ATACs are in their preclinical trial stages. The newest addition to the preclinical pipeline, HDP-104, targets a molecule overexpressed by a range of gastrointestinal tumors. Last year, the company announced that it had struck a $1 billion deal with Chinese pharma company Huadong Medicine for the commercialization of its pipeline in large parts of Asia. The company has also partnered with Japan-based Chiome Bioscience and multinational pharma Takeda for the development of ATACs. Adrenomed Established in 2009, Adrenomed is a German biopharma that focuses on precision medicine, incorporating a biomarker-guided approach in the treatment of sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection. The clinical-stage company’s lead drug candidate Adrecizumab addresses the loss of vascular integrity and endothelial barrier function, an important causal pathophysiology of septic shock. The non-blocking monoclonal antibody targets the vasoprotective peptide Adrenomedullin, an essential regulator of vascular integrity. A pre-specified biomarker analysis of the company’s clinical phase 2 trial in septic shock illustrated that treatment with Adrecizumab after ICU admission resulted in a rapid and sustained improvement of systemic organ function (SOFA score). Subsequently, the relative mortality was reduced by more than 30% after day 28. The positive effect on survival persisted over 90 days. Affecting around one in five deaths worldwide, sepsis accounts for around 11 million deaths annually, where the body’s immune response attacks its own tissues and organs. As a result, the company aspires to achieve global registration of Adrecizumab as it prepares for phase 3 clinical trials. Adrenomed has already received favorable feedback on the proposed study design, both from the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Explore Related Topics: