Merck Serono has formed a global agreement with Chinese biotechnology company BeiGene to license, co-develop and commercialise an innovative cancer drug.

BeiGene-283, a second-generation BRAF inhibitor, is expected to enter clinical trials next year; it could be used to treat a number of human cancers.

BeiGene, who discovered the drug, will develop and commercialise it in China and Merck Serono will develop and commercialise it (as BGB-283) in the rest of the world.

The Beijing-based company will receive an upfront payment, and is eligible for both clinical development and commercial milestone payments and up to double-digit royalties on net sales.

BRAF inhibitors target the BRAF protein, a component of the MAPK signalling pathway, which promotes cancer cell growth.

Dr Susan Jane Herbert, Head of Global Business Development and Strategy at Merck Serono, said: “Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to forge strategic partnerships in China with companies focusing on innovation.

“The collaboration with BeiGene brings together two teams with a common interest in finding solutions in the battle against cancer.”

“We are very much looking forward to collaborating with Merck around BeiGene-283,” commented John Oyler, CEO of BeiGene.

“Our collaboration will accelerate the global development and commercialisation of this novel, China-discovered oncology innovation, something we could not have achieved alone.”

BeiGene is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercialising innovative cancer drugs. German-based firm Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck.

A programme to test cancer patients for 97 genes that increase cancer risk will be piloted at a London hospital and funded by the Wellcome Trust.

The tests, which will start with women who have breast or ovarian cancer in 2014, aim to make genetic risk testing a standard feature of NHS cancer treatment.

The results will be used to select targeted drugs, and could influence other treatment decisions such as the extent of surgery.

Knowledge of genetic risks could also affect the health decisions of relatives of cancer patients.

The testing programme, which will be run by the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, is the first attempt to use mass genetic risk testing as a core aspect of cancer treatment.

Genetic mutations are responsible for 15% of ovarian cancers and around 2% of all cancers. The BRAC gene mutation in women increases the risk of breast cancer to as high as 80%.

The genetic tests were developed by biotechnology company Illumina.

According to Prof. Nazneen Rahman, lead investigator of the programme, knowledge of genetic risk factors “allows more personalised treatment, so for example such people are often at risk of getting another cancer and may choose to have more comprehensive surgery, or may need different medicines, or extra monitoring.”

Prof. Peter Johnson, chief clinician at Cancer Research UK, said: “This exciting new initiative will help embed genetic testing into routine NHS cancer care, and hopefully allow more cancer patients to benefit from genetic testing – and more personalised care – in the future.”

Immunocore Ltd, an Oxfordshire-based biotechnology company, has appointed Eva-Lotta Allan as Chief Business Officer.

The role has been newly created to strengthen the company’s management team as it develops and commercialises innovative treatments for serious diseases, based on its immunity-strengthening drug platform.

Ms Allan brings two decades’ worth of experience in business development with successful biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

Immunocore’s ImmTAC platform is a T cell receptor technology that uses the body’s immune system to identify and kill diseased cells.

The company is developing a portfolio of drugs from this platform to treat cancer, diabetes and chronic infectious diseases. Its melanoma drug IMCgp100 is undergoing clinical trials in the UK and the US.

Ms Allan joins from biotech company Ablynx NV, where she has served as Chief Business Officer since 2006, contributing to its growth from a small private platform company to a significant public company.

As CBO of Ablynx, Ms Allan closed deals with leading pharmaceutical companies worth over €160m.

Previously, Ms Allan was Senior Director of Business Development and Site Operations (Europe) at Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

James Noble, CEO of Immunocore, said: “I am pleased to welcome Eva-Lotta to our senior Management team and Board of Directors at this critical point for Immunocore as we expand and develop our pipeline of products. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in business development.”

“I am delighted to be joining Immunocore at this exciting time,” commented Ms Allan. “I have been impressed by the quality of the science and unique and broad application of ImmTACs in cancer. I look forward to working with the Immunocore team and to establishing strategically important collaborations.”

Four UK pharmaceutical and biotechnology SMEs have won the opportunity to promote their innovations at BIO 2013 in Chicago (22–25 April).

The winners of the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Innovation Competition are Abcodia, Critical Pharmaceuticals, Nanomerics and PsiOxus Therapeutics.

The companies will receive £1,500 towards flights and accommodation, and a year’s free membership of the BioIndustry Association (BIA).

The UKTI Innovation Competition, open to life science SMEs in the UK, highlights excellence in groundbreaking technologies for a global audience.

As the world’s largest biotechnology event, attended by delegates from more than 65 countries, the BIO Convention represents a major opportunity for small UK companies to make contacts.

Abcodia (London) discovers and validates biomarkers for the early detection and screening of cancer. Critical Pharmaceuticals (Nottingham) is developing a pipeline of recombinant protein and peptide therapies, using patented drug delivery technologies. Nanomerics (London) is a speciality pharmaceutical company that uses patented nanotechnology to boost the performance of known drugs. PsiOxus Therapeutics (Oxfordshire) is developing novel therapies for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Gareth King, CEO of Critical Pharmaceuticals, said: “We have recently announced the results of a second clinical study on our intranasal growth hormone product demonstrating clinical proof of concept, and look forward to meeting with commercial partners at BIO 2013 to progress the product into phase 2/3 clinical development.”

“Nanomerics is delighted to be able to showcase to a global audience its Molecular Envelope Technology, which boosts the activity of drugs and gets them where they need to be,” explained Andreas Schatzlein, CEO of Nanomerics. “In a time of undiminished medical need and increasing economic pressure it is crucial that we make the most of the drug compounds that we already understand.”

The new Patent Box tax break, active from 1 April, has been welcomed by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as a boost to innovation.

By setting a corporation tax rate of 10% on profits earned from patents and supplementary protection certificates, the Patent Box is expected to strengthen life science R&D in the UK.

The tax break, which extends to royalty and milestone payments, comes together with the introduction of a special 10% rate of R&D tax credits.

The special 10% tax rate is a major cut from the current corporation tax rate of 23%, which falls to 21% in 2015. It will be phased in over four years, with 60% available this year.

The Patent Box was developed by the Office for Life Sciences under the previous government as a way to strengthen the UK’s ‘knowledge economy’.

HM Treasury estimates that it will save UK businesses £1bn in tax, differentially rewarding innovation and encouraging investment in the UK’s R&D base.

Leading UK pharma company GSK, which was involved in the Treasury working group that advised on the policy, has since invested in a new £350m manufacturing facility in Cumbria.

Paul Belsman, National Head of Tax at accountancy consultant RSM Tenon, commented: “Combined with the research and developments tax credits system, this should provide strong fiscal incentive for companies and arguably attract inbound investment into the UK.”

The BioIndustry Association, which represents the UK biotechnology industry, has welcomed the opportunities within the Patent Box.

Steve Bates, CEO of the BIA, said the Patent Box would combine with “the improvements to R&D tax credits and reduction in corporation tax, the Government’s Strategy for UK Life Sciences and programmes such as the Biomedical Catalyst” to establish the UK as “a globally competitive location for life science companies”.

CoCo Therapeutics, a new biotech company specialising in dementia treatment, has appointed Dr Steve Butcher as its Chief Operating Officer.

The London-based company has also appointed five clinical and scientific advisors, including Dr Butcher and Professor Jonathan Corcoran, the company’s founding scientist.

CoCo is developing innovative therapies for Alzheimer’s disease based on a novel target: the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR-alpha) gene.

Dr Butcher was Scientific Director of the Fujisawa Institute of Neuroscience before holding executive positions in pharma (Pharmacia) and biotech (BioImage and TopoTarget).

Raj Parekh, CoCo Chairman and General Partner at Advent Venture Partners, said: “We are pleased that an individual of Steve’s calibre is now leading the programmes at CoCo Therapeutics. The Board looks forward to working closely with Steve to evaluate RAR alpha agonists in Alzheimer’s disease.”

In addition to Dr Butcher, CoCo has made four appointments to its Clinical and Scientific Advisory Group:

• Professor Clive Ballard – Co-Director of the Biomedical Unit for Dementia at the Institute of Psychiatry, Co-Director of the Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases, Kings College London and Director of Research for the Alzheimer’s Society.

• Professor Jonathan Corcoran – Director of the Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases, Kings College London.

• Roy Lobb – consultant to the biotechnology industry, specialising in early drug discovery research.

• Andrew Wood – Venture Partner at Advent Venture Partners, formerly involved in R&D and business development at Eli Lilly.

CoCo’s RAR-alpha agonist drug development programme is based on research by Professor Corcoran’s laboratory at King’s College London that implicated the RAR-alpha gene in Alzheimer’s disease.

Natalie Douglas, CEO of UK drug access specialist Idis, has joined the Board of Directors of the Global Genes | RARE Project.

Douglas’ experience with Idis has made her a valued addition to the Project, a patient advocacy organisation for people with rare and genetic diseases.

For 25 years, she has led Idis in working with pharma and biotech companies and healthcare providers to develop managed access programmes for drugs in areas of unmet medical need.

“We are honoured to have Natalie join our Board of Directors; her passion and commitment to rare disease and its community is more than evident in all she does both personally and professionally,” said Nicole Boice, President, Global Genes | RARE Project.

Douglas commented: “Addressing the unmet medical needs in the rare disease community is especially challenging. The Global Genes | RARE Project has created a much-needed voice for these patients and their families.”

The Project offers programmes to educate and support patients, advocates, foundations and other organisations concerned with rare and genetic diseases.

Based in Weybridge, Idis partners with drug companies to provide access to medicines for patients with unmet medical needs, outside the formal approval and commercial routes but in compliance with regulations.

In 2012, Idis helped more than 720,000 patients, including many with rare diseases, gain access to drugs. The company works to make drugs available to patients at various stages of their life cycle, including pre-approval, post-market exit and during production shortfalls.

Biotechnology giant MedImmune has appointed Bahija Jallal, its current Executive Vice President for R&D, as its new President.

The former President of the Maryland-based company, Peter Greenleaf, will take over leadership of parent company AstraZeneca’s (AZ) Latin American business.

The transition accompanies the formal designation of MedImmune as the global biologics division of AZ, which acquired it for $15.6bn in 2007.

Bahija Jallal is a former researcher at the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany. While VP of Drug Assessment and Development at Chiron, she was headhunted by MedImmune in 2006, becoming its Head of Translational Science.

Commenting on that appointment, Jallal said: “I was struck by MedImmune’s history of innovation. And I looked at who they had on their board of directors and their executives. There were more women than you would see at other companies.”

The fortune paid by AZ to acquire MedImmune surprised many in the industry. The acquisition was followed by investment in its R&D capability, including the development of a new site in Cambridge, England, and the merger of the UK group with Cambridge Antibody Technology.

According to MedImmune spokesman Mike O’Brien, the biotech company’s commercial operation now formally belongs to AZ’s North American business, while its manufacturing operation is part of AZ’s global operations.

“The driver for these changes is not cost but even faster decision-making in key areas of the business and a need to reduce complexity,” he said.

Through MedImmune, AZ plans to deliver an average of one new biologic drug per year from 2013.

MedImmune’s past successes include two innovative vaccines: the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA for use against an infectious disease (Synagis, used to prevent the childhood lung disease RSV); and the first intranasal vaccine against influenza (FluMist).

Andrea Rappagliosi, Sanofi Pasteur MSD’s Vice President of Market Access, Health Policy & Medical Affairs, has been appointed President of Vaccines Europe.

Rappagliosi, who has held senior roles in EuropaBio and Vaccines Europe, is one of the new management team appointed by Jean Paul Kress when he became President of Sanofi Pasteur MSD in 2011.

The appointment reflects the importance of Sanofi Pasteur MSD as a major partnership between firms, and the only company in Europe to develop and manufacture only vaccines.

Vaccines Europe represents vaccine manufacturers within the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), including Sanofi Pasteur MSD, AstraZeneca, Novartis, GSK, Crucell, Pfizer, Abbott and Baxter.

Rappagliosi joined Sanofi Pasteur MSD from GlaxoSmithKline in 2012, where he was Vice President of European Government Affairs.

He has 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and has served as Vice President of Vaccines Europe and Chairman of biotechnology trade association EuropaBio.

Jean-Paul Kress, President of Sanofi Pasteur MSD, said: “Andrea's expertise will boost Vaccines Europe’s advocacy focus whilst highlighting Sanofi Pasteur MSD’s profile as a clear leader in vaccines in Europe.”

Sanofi Pasteur MSD is an alliance between Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, and MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme), combining the R&D capability of both companies to focus exclusively on vaccines.

Roche has abandoned its attempt to take over US biotech company Illumina after a year of increasingly bitter argument.

The pharmaceuticals and diagnostics giant has seen an increased cash offer and an attempt to take over the gene sequencing company’s board of directors fail.

Roche’s Chairman, Franz Humer (pictured), has indicated that Roche is interested in discussions with other biotech companies that have similar platforms.

Roche’s pursuit of Illumina has been likened by industry observers to Gollum’s doomed quest for his “precious” ring.

It began at the start of 2012, with Roche offering $5.7bn to acquire the US company – an offer described by Illumina as “grossly inadequate”.

Roche extended its deadline by two months and then increased the offer to $6.8bn, citing a positive “market reaction”.

The pharma giant urged Illumina’s shareholders to support the deal by electing Roche representatives to the biotech company’s board of directors.

“As a standalone company, Illumina’s future is far from certain,” commented Roche’s CEO, Severin Schwan, at that time.

However, the Illumina board’s annual meeting did not elect a majority of Roche supporters, and Illumina CEO Jay Flatley called the bid “opportunistic”.

Despite the predictions of industry experts that a deal would be struck, Humer has announced that Roche is no longer pursuing the biotech firm.

The Illumina takeover was a “nice to have”, not a “must have”, he claimed, and Roche was considering other specialists – such as Life Technologies and Oxford Nanopore Technologies – to provide its diagnostics division with a less costly gene sequencing platform.

Meanwhile, Illumina reports 20% revenue growth in the last quarter. It plans to expand into the increasingly profitable field of cancer diagnostics and targeted drugs.