Novo Holdings invests in MATR Foods’ expansion within plant-based fungi food

Novo Holdings on Monday announced an initial investment in Danish food-tech start-up MATR Foods (‘MATR’) to support the scaling-up of its production of sustainable meat alternatives.

Established in Copenhagen in 2021, Matr Foods specialises in developing organic innovative plant-based meat alternatives using traditional fungal fermentation techniques. Locally sourced organic ingredients like oats, split peas, lupins, beetroots, and potatoes are transformed into patties and mince with a juicy texture and meaty flavour, offering a nutritious and sustainable alternative without the need for additives or heavy processing.

Mission Therapeutics awarded $5.2m from The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson’s UK to advance potential disease-modifying treatment MTX325

Mission Therapeutics , a clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class therapeutics targeting mitophagy, has been awarded $5.2 million from The The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) and Parkinson's UK . The funding, announced on Tuesday, will help advance Mission’s potential disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s, MTX325.

MTX325 is a potent, selective, small molecule drug which is designed to protect dopamine-producing neurons in the brain by improving mitochondrial quality and function. The funding will support a 28-day dosing of MTX325 in patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD), as part of Mission’s ongoing MTX325 Phase I program. Patient dosing is expected to start early in 2025.

Calliditas Therapeutics’ partner Viatris Pharmaceutical G.K. launches phase III clinical trial in Japan with Nefecon

Calliditas Therapeutics AB on Thursday announced that its partner Viatris Pharmaceutical Japan G.K. has initiated a phase III clinical trial in Japan with Nefecon, named VR-205 in the Japanese market, in Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

The clinical trial is a bridging study requiring a limited number of Japanese patients to participate in a study similar in design to that of the global NefIgArd trial.

4SC, developer of a new treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), featured on Optimum TV

Don’t miss the latest episode of Optimum TV! Find out more about our client 4SC AG , and its development of resminostat (Kinselby), which is being reviewed as a therapy for CTCL by the European Medicines Agency following a Marketing Authorisation Application in February.

📺 Catch more episodes of Optimum TV on Optimum's YouTube channel!

Optimum’s clients set the tone at New Horizons for Bio Innovation

As proud supporters of the event, Optimum was thrilled to attend the New Horizons for Bio Innovation conference organised by One Nucleus on Thursday in Cambridge, UK #ONHelix24.

The sold-out event featured a panel about new modalities where our client Resolution Therapeutics discussed its ground-breaking macrophage therapy, in Phase I/II clinical development for decompensated liver cirrhosis.

In a discussion about how to bring the UK into the global market, our client STORM Therapeutics Limited spoke about the difference between Boston, Massachusetts, and the UK, concluding more investment is needed to get to the level of activity seen across the Atlantic.

Register your interest for Optimum’s 16th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference

Don’t miss out on your chance to join us at our Annual Healthcare Investor Conference on Thursday 10th October 2024!

This prestigious event brings together top executives and business leaders from the life sciences and investment communities. Find out more and register your interest here!

Who’s on the move this month?

Check out the latest moves in the life sciences sector with our monthly round-up of new funds and the biggest job changes, including analysts, bankers, and healthcare journalists.

That’s all folks! We hope you are enjoying Optimum’s weekly round-ups; subscribe today so you never miss an edition.