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In his new role, Bradner will manage 6,000 doctors, researchers and staff in the U.S., Switzerland and Asia. Fishman, a cardiologist, who Bradner will replace, was paid about $8 million annually and will be retiring from the research center based in Cambridge. Fishman is noted for shifting Novartis’s approach from high-throughput screening, essentially throwing as many potential drug compounds at a target and seeing what works, to a more focused approach of understanding the disease in order to arrow in on potential treatments. Despite its work with CAR-T therapy, Novartis has lagged behind its competitors at Merck & Co. ( MRK ), Bristol-Myers Squibb ( BMY ) and Roche ( RHHBY ). “If he’s controversial, questioning what ‘Big Pharma’ does, then all the better,” Fabian Wenner, an analyst with Kepler Cheuvreux, told Reuters. “That can only benefit Novartis going into the next decade where we’re going to be looking at much more concentrated payer power and pricing pressures.”
In October, Novartis acquired Admune Therapeutics and signed licensing agreements with Palobiofarma and XOMA Corporation ( XOMA ), strengthening its position in immuno-oncology. Admune, located in Danvers, Mass., focuses on cytokine cancer therapies. As part of the acquisition, Novartis picked up its IL-15 agonist program, currently in Phase I clinical trials for metastatic cancer. Palobiofarma, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, works on modulating adenosine receptors. It has PBF-509 in Phase I trials for non-small cell lung cancer. XOMA, located in Berkeley, Calif., develops therapeutic antibodies. The deal with Novartis gave the Swiss company the rights to develop and commercialize XOMA’s TGF-beta antibody programs. Bradford wrote in a 2012 Atlantic Monthly article, that drug discovery was “a dark art performed behind closed doors with the shades pulled.”
Clearly Novartis is doubling down on immuno-oncology. It will be interesting to see if Bradford will shed some light on the dark art. Read at BioSpace.com
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Novartis AG Pins Immuno-Oncology Hopes on 43-Year Old Harvard Research Star

With four programs currently in clinical trials and five more expected to enter the clinic by the end of 2016, Novartis has rapidly built a robust portfolio of programs focused on stimulating the body's immune system to combat cancers. Deals add IL-15, adenosine receptor and TGF-beta inhibition programs to Novartis immuno-oncology portfolio. All three programs will be explored as monotherapies and in combination with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) technology, novel checkpoint inhibitors, STING agonists and Novartis' deep portfolio of targeted therapies. Basel, October 21, 2015 - Novartis announced today that it is broadening its portfolio of cancer immunotherapies with the acquisition of Admune Therapeutics and licensing agreements with Palobiofarma and XOMA Corporation. With four candidates currently in clinical trials and five more agents expected to enter the clinic by the end of 2016, Novartis has rapidly built a robust portfolio of programs focused on stimulating the body's immune system to combat cancers that includes novel checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) technology, myeloid cell targeting agents, and STING agonists. Currently Novartis' myeloid cell targeting program (MCS-110) and checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 (PDR001), LAG-3 (LAG525), are in phase 1 clinical trials. The CART program (CTL019) is in phase 2 clinical trials. The anti-TIM-3 program (MGB453) is expected to enter the clinic by the end of 2015 and a STING agonist (MIW815), through collaboration with Aduro Biotech, and GITR agonist are progressing toward first-in-human clinical trials in 2016. The acquisition of Admune adds an IL-15 agonist program currently in phase I clinical trials for metastatic cancer. The licensing agreement with Palobiofarma gives Novartis development and commercialization rights to PBF-509, an adenosine receptor antagonist currently in phase I clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer. The agreement with XOMA gives Novartis development and commercialization rights to XOMA's TGF-beta antibody programs. All three programs will be explored as monotherapies and in combination with therapies in Novartis' immuno-oncology and targeted therapy portfolios. "The first wave of immuno-oncology therapies has demonstrated the impact this approach can have in treating certain types of tumors, " said Mark Fishman, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. "To realize its full potential requires exploration of the complex system of biological pathways in the tumor microenvironment with agents that can stimulate the immune system to attack a wider variety of tumors. "
In pre-clinical studies, IL-15 therapies have been shown to activate CD8+, CD4+ memory T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells that play a critical role in stimulating the immune system. Adenosine and TGFß both drive immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment, which allows cancer cells to escape immune surveillance, making inhibition of these two pathways an attractive next-generation immuno-oncology approach. Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "pipeline," "programs," "expected," "will," "portfolio," "candidates," "progressing toward," "can," "potential," "next-generation," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals for the Admune Therapeutics IL-15 agonist program, PBF-509, Xoma's TGF-beta antibody programs, MCS-110, PDR001, LAG525, CTL019, MGB453, MIW815, GITR agonist, and the other investigational programs in the Novartis and Admune Therapeutics immuno-oncology pipelines, or regarding potential future revenues from such investigational programs, and potential future revenues from the acquisition of Admune Therapeutics or the licensing agreements with XOMA and Palobiofarma. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that any of the Admune Therapeutics IL-15 agonist program, PBF-509, Xoma's TGF-beta antibody programs, MCS-110, PDR001, LAG525, CTL019, MGB453, MIW815, GITR agonist or any other investigational program in the Novartis and Admune Therapeutics immuno-oncology pipelines will be submitted or approved for sale in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that the acquisition of Admune Therapeutics or the licensing agreements with XOMA and Palobiofarma will achieve any or all of their intended goals and objectives, or be commercially successful. Nor can there be any guarantee that any of the investigational programs subject to the licensing agreements with XOMA and Palobiofarma or the investigational programs in the Novartis and Admune Therapeutics immuno-oncology pipelines will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding such investigational programs, and the acquisition of Admune Therapeutics and the licensing agreements with XOMA and Palobiofarma could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected safety issues; unexpected manufacturing or quality issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2014, the Group achieved net sales of USD 58.0 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 120,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com . Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis . # # #
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Novartis broadens immunooncology pipeline with acquisition of Admune Therapeutics and licensing agreements with XOMA and Palobiofarma

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Novartis said today it has acquired Admune Therapeutics for an undisclosed price, in addition to licensing agreements signed with Palobiofarma and XOMA—all deals intended to broaden the pharma giant’s immuno-oncology pipeline. Novartis said its pipeline will grow with the addition of Admune’s lead compound heterodimeric IL-15:IL-15Ra (hetIL-15 or IL-15) agonist program, now in Phase I clinical trials for metastatic cancer. That trial is being conducted through the NIH’s National Cancer Institute, and began in June. In pre-clinical studies, IL-15 therapies have been shown to activate CD8+, CD4+ memory T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells that play a critical role in stimulating the immune system, Novartis noted. Admune has said that IL-15 holds potential for broad applications for cancer immunotherapy in combination with immune checkpoint blockers and / or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The IL-15 program joins a Novartis pipeline that now consists of four candidates in clinical trials, with five more candidates expected to enter the clinic by the end of 2016. The number of candidates will also grow following Novartis’ licensing deals with Palobiofarma and XOMA. Novartis has licensed from Palobiofarma exclusive global development and commercialization rights to PBF-509, an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist currently in Phase I clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer. By stimulating A2A receptors, adenosine can stop T-cells within the immune system from proliferating and reduces their ability to destroy cancer cells. Blocking A2A  receptors can therefore promote the anti-cancer response of T-cells within the tumor microenvironment, Palobiofarma reasons. Additionally, Novartis will get access to several adenosine-related patents from Palobiofarma related to the role of adenosine in immunotherapy, Palobiofarma said in a separate statement. Novartis has agreed to pay Palobiofarma $15 million upfront, with Palobiofarma also eligible for near-term payments tied to clinical, development and commercial milestones on successful projects, as well up to double-digit tiered royalties on net sales. Palobiofarma is a Spanish biotechnology company founded in 2006 and focused on the discovery and development of new medicines based on the modulation of the adenosine pathways. Three of the most well-known Spanish venture capital firms have invested in the company: Inverready, Fitalent and Sodena. “This agreement represents one of the best agreements ever signed in the history of the Spanish Biotechnology, and we are very proud of it. We have good reasons to believe that the current agreement is just the start of a successful research and development collaboration between the two companies,” Palobiofarma CEO Julio Castro said in a statement. Earlier this month, XOMA said it had licensed to Novartis global development and commercialization rights to its anti-transforming growth factor-beta (TGFb) antibody program, in a deal that could generate up to $517 million-plus for XOMA. That sum includes the $37 million that XOMA will receive upfront, and up to $480 million in payments tied to achieving development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. In addition, XOMA said October 1, it is eligible to receive royalties on product sales that range from the mid-single digits to the low double digits. The Admune, Palobiofarma, and XOMA candidates will be studied for their ability to fight cancer as monotherapies and in combination with therapies in Novartis' immuno-oncology and targeted therapy portfolios, Novartis added.

Novartis Buys Admune; Licenses Palobiofarma, XOMA Compounds

Reprint
Novartis ( $NVS ), developing cancer treatments that tap the power of the immune system, signed a pair of agreements to pad its pipeline of new oncology therapies, planning to test them alone and in tandem with in-house assets. The Swiss drugmaker acquired a Massachusetts firm called Admune Therapeutics for undisclosed sum, getting its hands on an early-stage treatment that boosts the cytokine interleukin-15, or IL-15, to stimulate an immune attack on cancer. In a separate agreement, Novartis is paying $15 million up front to Spain's Palobiofarma for the global rights to a Phase I asset that blocks the body's adenosine receptors to unblind immune cells to cancerous growths. The agreements come a few weeks after Novartis agreed to a deal with Xoma ( $XOMA ) worth up to $517 million, licensing an antibody for TGF-beta that similarly aims to take the brakes off of the immune system. With these latest additions to its pipeline, Novartis now has four immuno-oncology candidates in clinical trials and another 5 on deck to enter Phase I by the end of next year, the company said. Leading the way is the Phase II CTL019, a so-called CAR-T treatment that rewires a patients own immune cells to attack blood cancers. Playing catch-up with rivals Merck ( $MRK ) and Bristol-Myers Squibb ( $BMY ), Novartis has moved into Phase I with an antibody targeting the immune checkpoint PD-1. Also in Phase I is a treatment targeting myeloid cells and an antibody aimed at the immune-related protein LAG-3. Another program targeting the checkpoint TIM-3 is slated for clinical trials by year's end, Novartis said, and a pair of programs designed to boost the STING and GITR receptors are on tap for 2016. The broader plan, Novartis said, is to mix and match its many projects in clinical trials with hopes of hitting upon some winning combinations, adding traditional targeted therapies to at once bolster the immune system and intervene in cancer's growth. "The first wave of immuno-oncology therapies has demonstrated the impact this approach can have in treating certain types of tumors," Novartis R&D chief Mark Fishman said in a statement. "To realize its full potential requires exploration of the complex system of biological pathways in the tumor microenvironment with agents that can stimulate the immune system to attack a wider variety of tumors. "

Novartis inks a string of deals to widen its immuno-oncology arsenal

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DANVERS - A Massachusetts drug research company is being acquired by Novartis, the world's biggest drugmaker by revenue. Reuters reported the Swiss based company announced today that it would acquire Admune Therapeutics. The acquisition is seen as a nod to a lucrative future in the field of biotechnology for treatments that address ways to help the body's immune system prevent the growth of cancer cells. This cancer immunotherapy or immuno-oncology is an evolving field of research and development. Admune has a collaborative agreement with the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute to do clinical studies in humans of its lead compound, heterodimeric IL-15:IL-15Ra, for cancer immunotherapy. The trial is being conducted through the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. A recombinantly engineered human protein, hetIL-15 is said to boost the ability of the body's white blood cells  to attack cancer cells that may go undetected by the body's immune system. On its site, Novartis notes the trend toward target therapies for individualized cancers and the need to advance such treatment. "To realize its full potential requires exploration of the complex system of biological pathways in the tumor microenvironment with agents that can stimulate the immune system to attack a wider variety of tumors. " said Mark Fishman, president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, in reference to the purchase of Admune and licensing agreements with two other companies.

Swiss drug giant to acquire Massachusetts research company

Acquired

Admune Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on the development and delivery of cytokine therapy drugs for the treatment of various cancers. The company's goal is to provide effective pharmaceutical products that improve the quality of life for oncology patients with metastatic cancers including melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and others.

Date	10/21/2015
Round	Acquired
Amount
Investors	Novartis
Valuation	$XXM
Revenue	0 FY undefined
Sources	1

First funding	10/21/2015
Last Funding	10/21/2015
Investor	Novartis
Rounds	1 Acquired
Board Seats
Type	Corporation
Location	Switzerland

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