Nordic Life Science 1
TOP STORIES BUSINESS ACQU I SITIONS // AGREEMENTS
// COLLABORATIONS Michael Engsig, CEO, and Agnete Fredriksen, CSO, Nykode 3 x R&D 1. QureTech Bio granted European patent QURETECH BIO has been granted a patent by the European Patent Office for GmPcides, a new class of synthetic antibacterials. “The patent ensures strong B U S IN E S S Nykode’s CEO, CSO, and CFO have withdrawn their resignations Michael Engsig, CEO, Agnete Fredriksen, CSO and co-founder, and Harald Gurvin, CFO, have withdrawn their recent resignations (announced in March) and will continue with Nykode. “WITH THE SIGNIFICANT changes in Nykode’s board, and with a common understanding regarding the level of ambition for our clinical oncology assets and the tolerance platform, we are exceptionally pleased to continue the important work at Nykode,” says Michael Engsig, CEO, Nykode. “The focus will now be on restoring trust in Nykode from our important stakeholders, as well as creating value for our shareholders and other stakeholders. I believe that we are in an excellent position to do just that.” DENM A R K New national gateway to health data A DKK 200 million grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation will enable a new national “one point of entry” gateway to health data to be established in Denmark. “MUCH MORE INVESTMENT in research and innovation is essential for Denmark to successfully tackle the challenges of the future. A key part of this is improving access to data, and researchers will now have more rapid, easy and efficient access to health data – along with optimal opportunities to analyze them,” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation. The national health data infrastructure will include a single point of access – a new portal will be the focal entry point for health data in Den14 | NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG mark. This will streamline application processes and ensure that requests for access to data across public authorities are more consistently managed. The infrastructure will also include a national analysis platform – a unified information technology platform will be designed to provide secure access to health data within dedicated analysis environments. It will also support the use of supercomputing capacity – including Gefion – enabling advanced analysis, describes the Novo Nordisk Foundation. NLS 3. EU approves Leqembi for treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease BIOARCTIC'S partner Eisai’s application for Marketing Authorization of Leqembi (lecanemab) in the European Union (EU) has been granted by the European Commission. This is the first therapy targeting an underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to be granted a Marketing Authorization in the EU. NLS In March it was also announced that Nykode had received notices of resignation from Martin Nicklasson, Chair of the Board, and Elaine Sullivan and Anne Whitaker, members of the Board. It is the intention of the company to expand the Board with additional, professional, high-quality members, including a new Chair of the Board, it stated. The nomination committee has proposed that Susanne Stuffers be elected as Chair of the Board via a vote at the coming Extraordinary General Meeting on April 23, 2025. NLS protection for GmPcides, which is crucial in our industry, and is a significant step toward making our compounds available to patients in need of effective treatment for drug-resistant bacteria,” says Markus Thor, CEO, QureTech Bio. 2. Anocca to start first in-human trial in advanced pancreatic cancer ANOCCA has announced the approval of its Clinical Trial Application (CTA) from the regulatory authorities in four European countries under the European Union’s (EU) harmonized framework, for VIDAR-1, with Germany acting as the reference state. “Our highly skilled team is focused on discovering, optimizing, and manufacturing innovative next-generation treatments that harness T-cell immunity. ANOC001 is the first of many products that will advance to the clinic in the coming years,” says Reagan Jarvis, CEO, Anocca.