Nordic Life Science 1
TOP STORIES ACQU I SITIONS // AGREEMENTS // COLLA
BORATIONS Jukka Rantanen, Professor University of Copenhagen, Project Leader, Nordic POP BIOTECH Hansa Biopharma in EUR 115 million licensing agreement with SERB PHARMACEUT ICALS NORDIC RESEARCH ON PERSONALIZED PHARMACEUTICALS A large-scale Nordic collaboration has led to researcher training and mobility, new patient-oriented products, new technologies, and startups. IN 2018, Nordic POP set out to develop infrastructure and enhance knowledge on personalized pharmaceuticals. Interdisciplinarity was one of the core structures and the project has explored a variety of pharmaceuticals in different forms; tablets, creams, inhalable products, and injectables. This large-scale collaborative initiative between ten universities in the Nordics has focused on building networks across the countries and providing mobility opportunities for both MSc and PhD students. Several startups have also been founded through the project. Project leader Jukka Rantanen, Professor, University of Copenhagen, and his colleagues are currently working on a new NordForsk-funded research project called Nordic Pharmaceutical Translation and Innovation (NordicPharmaTrain). “Our ambitions were predominantly scientific in Nordic POP. With NordicPharmaTrain we aim to take one step further towards translation from science to industry and hospitals. We want to build a stronger interface with industrial collaboration,” says Rantanen. NLS The exclusive licensing agreement concerns development and commercialization of IDEFIRIX in the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and MENA regions. HANSA WILL receive an upfront payment of EUR 110 million and a EUR 5 million payment upon acceptance of the filing for full approval of IDEFIRIX by the EMA. Hansa will fully support SERB in the filing and EMA review process following the reporting of the Post Authorization Efficacy Study topline data. SERB will assume responsibility for the long-term PAES follow-up and the ongoing paediatric study upon obtaining Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH). “This agreement allows patients NEW MARKET Lundbeck receives orphan drug designation in Japan The orphan drug designation has been granted for asedebart for the treatment of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Cushing’s disease. "THE INVESTIGATIONAL program for asedebart demonstrates Lundbeck’s commitment to deepen our efforts in rare diseases and endocrinological conditions with links to brain function. This program also illustrates our approach to directly target underlying disease 12 | NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG biology. As one of our focus markets, we are especially pleased to receive ODD for asedebart in Japan and the opportunity this provides to address significant unmet needs for people living with these diseases,” says Johan Luthman, EVP and Head of R&D, Lundbeck. NLS in the region to benefit from a partner with an established commercial footprint and proven growth track record in Europe. At the same time, it crystallizes the value of the franchise and significantly strengthens our financial position assuring an optimized US launch and a pathway to profitability, subject to a 2026 US approval, as well as the continued pursuit of our R&D pipeline,” says Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO, Hansa Biopharma. NLS SEK 8 MILLION … … has been raised by ProteomEdge in a second funding round led by Navigare Ventures. PHOTO LISBETH LASSEN, UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN