Richard Middleton

Halozyme knocks on door of Evotec with $2 Bn, Evotec doesn't answer. So Halozyme tells the world about it. Highly unusual for a company to broadcast an offer publicly as a statement letter, just because no one at the target company is willing to engage in a private discussion. Now the offer has been withdrawn by Halozyme, what did Evotec miss? As a publicly traded company, Evotec's board, which holds fiduciary responsibility, will need to justify to shareholders why they refused to consider a $2 Bn offer for their company that is worth $1.5 Bn or 33% premium. Halozyme up 15%, Evotec down 18%. Interesting open letter from Halozyme about this event.

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Bye, Bye LinkedIn - Now is the time.. to relax and to enjoy wonderful places & people at the Côte d‘Azur and Sicily. Time to clear up my mind Time to slow down Time to wonder Time for me Time for us Wish you all the best! I'll be back. #biotechnology #entrepreneurship #startup ————————— I am Philipp - founder, CEO & business angel. My bootstrapped company NanoTemper is a global leader for biophysical tools for biotech. Like my content? Click my name + follow + 🔔

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𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘇𝘆𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 €𝟮 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰 𝗦𝗘 Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire Evotec SE (NASDAQ: EVO) for €11.00 per share in cash, valuing the German pharmaceutical company at €2.0 billion. The proposed transaction aims to create a global leader in drug discovery and development, combining Evotec's expertise and Just - Evotec Biologics' manufacturing capabilities with Halozyme's ENHANZE® drug delivery technology. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 Halozyme's proposition to acquire Evotec seeks to create a global leader in innovative services for the biopharmaceutical industry by combining each company's strengths. This acquisition aims to achieve diversified revenue and EBITDA growth that will endure for at least the next decade. The proposed acquisition would make the combined Halozyme-Evotec entity a major force in the biopharmaceutical services market. 𝗜𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘇𝘆𝗺𝗲'𝘀 €𝟮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀? Mergers inherently involve unforeseen challenges that can arise during the integration process. Unexpected issues related to technology transfer, intellectual property, or unforeseen market shifts can pose significant hurdles. However, the combined entity holds immense potential to accelerate drug discovery and development, solidifying their position as a biopharma powerhouse. It will be intriguing to observe how competitors, including Catalent, Recipharm, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Charles River Laboratories, WuXi AppTec, and Eurofins Scientific, will adapt their drug delivery and discovery strategies in light of this merger. https://lnkd.in/eCVvQsxe #Halozyme #Evotec #acquisition #biopharma #drugdiscovery #drugdevelopment #ENHANZE

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Interesting case study on negotiation/reputation/deal making Thanks Vincent Ling for sharing

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💥 𝗧𝗵𝗲 $𝟯𝟬𝟬𝗕 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗨𝗽: 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿? 🚨 Nearly 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴𝘀 are losing patent protection—including 𝟲𝟵 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. This time it’s biologics-heavy, and biosimilars are the game-changer. 🔮 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴? 💸 𝘼 𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙈&𝘼: Smaller biotechs with innovative pipelines will become billion-dollar battlegrounds as Big Pharma scrambles for survival. ⚗️ 𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: Pharma giants must disrupt or be disrupted. 🌍 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨: Biosimilars could reshape global healthcare. This could mean a shuffling of the deck. The industry is entering a $300B showdown, where only the bold and the strategic will shape the next era and thrive. 👀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝘂𝗽?

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You can still register for this webinar, demonstrating the Quantum-Aided Drug Design (#QuADD) platform.

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**Challenging Times for Pharma CROs** Since January, the preclinical contract research sector has faced significant challenges, with companies like Evotec, Wuxi Apptec, and Gingko Bioworks experiencing a sharp decline in their stock prices, ranging from 60% to 80%. Amidst this downturn, Charles River has managed to maintain stability. It is noteworthy that despite the well-publicized challenges faced by Wuxi Apptec, it has outperformed both Evotec and Gingko Bioworks, which are grappling with their own set of issues. This dramatic decrease in share prices appears to be linked to the broader contraction in big pharma headcount and layoffs. Reduced orders have led to diminished revenue and a slowdown in research activities, raising concerns about a potential vicious cycle for the contract research lab industry.

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ViroCell Biologics, a leading CDMO specializing in GMP viral vector manufacturing, successfully closed an oversubscribed convertible note offering to support its growth. New investor First Light Asset Management LLC led the funding round, joined by existing investors Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A. and Dorset Opportunity Fund LP. The proceeds will fuel ViroCell's growth, meeting the rising demand for its viral vector design and manufacturing expertise. The company provides pre-clinical and clinical viral vector services, supporting the development of innovative cell and gene therapies. With regulatory approval from the UK's MHRA, ViroCell's services are in high demand, resulting in a substantial Master Services Agreement with a prominent US cancer center. CEO John W. Hadden II expressed gratitude to investors, especially First Light Asset Management LLC, for their confidence in the company's market position and growth potential. Matt Arens, CEO and Founder of First Light Asset Management LLC, emphasized the team's dedication to supporting ViroCell's ambitious growth journey. This investment will enhance the CDMO's services for cutting-edge CGT research organizations globally. ViroCell Biologics aims to be the preferred partner for entities developing CGT therapies, leveraging its expertise to streamline the clinical development process. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dSkMGaQn Farzin Farzaneh, PhD John W. Hadden II Todd Davis

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Fantastic drug-development panel & discussion yesterday hosted by the Italian Embassy, organized by the PIB - Italian Professionals in Boston, and sponsored by ARENSIA Exploratory Medicine GmbH. Thanks to Giovanni Abbadessa for the invitation. There were common aspects that guided near-term prioritization for pharma, biotech, & investors. • Antibody Drug Conjugates are hot. There’s optimism that the strong progress (and increasing valuations) in this space is only “cracking open the door” and there’s great opportunities to innovate, e.g., replacing the chemo payload with degraders, radioligands, etc.   • Oncology remains a key therapeutic area. Better understood mechanisms and having well-defined metrics and endpoints that provide cleaner signal and do not require as large or long of clinical trials. There’s substantial unmet need in neurology as well, but it’s much more expensive to design larger, noisier trials. There has been tremendous innovation in obesity, but that field is getting a bit crowded. • Across therapy areas, there will be increasing investment in Women’s Health, e.g., $100M from ARPA-H, more from VCs. To date, women are “... dramatically underrepresented in scientific and health research, including when it comes to coronary and autoimmune issues,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. This leads to significantly worse outcomes. • Confidence in the regulatory paths to market is very important, innovating in areas with “well-trodden clinical development paths” substantially de-risks the investment. Overall, the FDA is an extraordinary organization, and the system works. The data tells the story – a well-designed trial and clearer results will get through. • Early diagnosis and prevention are drawing a lot of interest. This is a more challenging clinical trial to design, but progress in ctDNA and MRD monitoring are aspects that help prove endpoints. • The IRA legislation is a move in the right direction to improve healthcare access and affordability for the US population. However, there’s some clauses that came in late that are problematic and have unintended consequences of more expensive development, different standards for small molecules vs biologics, and longer-timelines for therapies getting to patients. • Interestingly, AI was not a focus. There’s strong interest and in some cases substantial investments made – but so far, the ROI is still TBD. AI serves as a catalyst but is more impactful when paired with mechanistic models and/or quality data. Similarly, there was minimal discussion of real-world data. 

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Our team is this week presenting new data on our programmable, tunable, stable and specific gene silencing platform at Europe’s largest cell and gene therapy conference the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy 31st Annual ESGCT Congress 2024 in Rome. Led by COO Tom Payne, Laverock’s team of scientists will be presenting three posters covering the technology platform and its application to CAR T cells and tumour microenvironment (TME) responsive macrophages for oncology. The data demonstrates the broad utility of the gene silencing technology for the development of differentiated therapeutic products. Over the last year we have generated a complete set of data in human cells demonstrating the unique features of our technology – namely its ability to silence genes in a programmable, tunable, stable and highly specific manner across a number of target genes and cell types. We believe this will enable the development of safer, targeted cell therapies by engineering human cells that exhibit gene silencing of the right genes, in the right cell, and at the right time. Laverock’s product- focused posters demonstrate tunable, multiplex silencing of checkpoint pathways in primary T cells and use of phenotype-specific miRNA expression patterns to control macrophage function in response to TME cues. Poster presentations: P: 0653. Anna Klucnika et al Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS®) - A new technology to transform advanced therapies by programmable gene silencing. (Thursday 24.10.24 14:15 – 15:30). P: 0694. Ben Houghton et al Programmable, multiplex CAR T cell engineered with Genome Editing induced Gene Silencing (GEiGs). (Thursday 24.10.24 18:00 – 19:30). P:0780. Vishal Menon et al Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS) technology to develop TME-responsive macrophages for solid tumour immunotherapy. (Thursday 24.10.24 18:00 – 19:30). Read our release here: https://lnkd.in/eU5_HAVb To meet up get in touch via email at [email protected] #cellandgenetherapy #genesilencing #advancedtherapies #drugdiscovery #oncology #raredisease #ESGCT

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What's behind the huge growth in biomanufacturing? 👨‍⚕️Philip Boehme recently highlighted how Just - Evotec Biologics saw a remarkable +383% revenue growth in Q1. Explore more details in our financial publications on the www.evotec.com website. As we approach the end of the second quarter, it's a fitting moment to reflect on our collective journey and accomplishments. Our recent numbers highlight the significant strides we've made together. 🚀 Over the past decade, we've successfully commercialized the leading Continuous Manufacturing platform. It's inspiring to witness others, like Sanofi-Sartorius, following suit, affirming that Continuous is a lasting innovation! 🤝 Recent years have seen us establish key partnerships with top biotechs, Sandoz, the Department of Defense, and other innovative firms. Our impressive trajectory and increasing demand showcase our commitment to excellence. 🌍 Exciting news as we prepare to open our second site in Toulouse this fall. With a dedicated team in place, projects are progressing well, and we are actively seeking new partnerships to expand access to vital medicines. Together, let's keep pushing boundaries and working towards achieving global access! 💪 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eKPfM9yW

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Pharma is a number game. Right? - - Hundred thousand compounds in, a couple of candidates out. In between more than a decade and a couple of billions. if you wouldn't build your home on sand and need a flexible partner for your HBS, let's have a chat! ————————— I am Davide - Founder & CEO of Sellomics . With my life science company I bring innovative cell biology solutions to European researchers in #Pharma, #Biotech, and #IVD. Like my content? Click my name + follow + 🔔

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Your cells are a living medicine

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Are you a #biotech or #healthinnovation company looking to raise funds? Can you be in #London on 4th December 2024?? Are you interested in meeting a mixture of qualified US and European Investors??? If you answer yes, please read on! #RESILondon24 is the most cost-effective opportunity to attend such a high-quality, high-engagement and high-value event full of investors. What's more, it's in the #UK, so for many of our #AgileLeaders network, not too far to travel. The folks at Life Science Nation are world-renowned for their #RESI investment conferences. This #RESILondon investor conference is in collaboration with One Nucleus's Genesis conference. The #RESILondon event merges with the #GenesisLondon24 at 4.30 pm on the 4 December for further networking. The venues are less than 5 minutes walk away from each other at The King's Fund on Cavendish Square and the Royal Society of Medicine at 1 Wimpole Street respectively. This activity is terrific for #lifesciences in the #UK and we expect #RESILondon will help to boost #earlystage investment for the UK community. What's more, by using the discount code AgileLeaders15 you get 15% off these already great attendance rates!!! Qualified Investors go for free, so go to the RESI website to register for free if you're a qualified investor - no investment consultants or non-qualified non-professional investors need to apply. Stringent vetting is applied to all free investor applications. What #RESI do exceptionally well, compared to other investor conferences, is have qualified information on all their #investors attending so you can tell on the partnering system if they are potentially the right investor for you or not. Typically these #RESI events have a 50:50 ratio of investors to #innovationcompanies, and this London event will be no exception. If you are a #drug, #device, #diagnostic or #digitalhealth #innovation company visit the #RESILondon website now to get this great 15% off deal using the AgileLeaders15 discount code. You won't get a better deal anywhere else. Space is limited, so I suggest you book your ticket ASAP to avoid any disappointment: https://lnkd.in/eSEnayPD If you have any questions about #RESILondon or #GenesisLondon24 and how they work together, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm already looking forward to 4 December. Will we see you there, too? #lifesciences #medtech #diagnostics #biotechbuddies #raisingcapital #investorcollisions #showmethemoney

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 Interesting insight into the history of EQALM and its evolution over time!

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Last post from #ISCT2024 I promise! Summary of some of my key takeaways (some of the below just personal opinion/feeling) from the overall conference: ⭐ Overall cautiously optimistic outlook: Great energy all around - while the capital environment remains difficult for the CGT space, still great enthusiasm all around for the science and patient impact ⭐ Decentralised manufacturing and point-of-care manufacturing in the spotlight: Since I did my PhD looking at decentralised manufacturing a few years ago, things have definitely progressed (I'll probably save the details for another post). An array of key enabling technologies from mobile cleanrooms such as Germfree, to various end-to-end and automated manufacturing platforms moving closer (yet still a long way to go) to lights-out manufacturing ⭐ Platform, Platform, Platform!: With the new draft guidance on platform designation published, leveraging learnings across clinical programs to speed up future similar programs has become more realistic than ever - this means we need to understand not just the product and technology, but all the knowledge around the technology. This means better and more structured data collection across all programmes and understanding the data collected is more important than ever. "Data is power", appropriately leveraging data can mean waiving certain studies where the risk and process are well understood, essentially speeding up future product development and speed to realising patient impact. ⭐ REALLY exciting new and improved technologies: New launches in technology platforms such as the Ori Biotech, Cytiva, BioThrust's bionic bioreactor and CellFE platforms. The improvements in gene editing accuracy and progress in-vivo cell therapies, gene-edited iPSCs and better targeted gene therapies are looking particularly hot 🌡 Massive thanks to the ISCT, International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy committee for organising such a great conference! Lastly, thank you to friends new and old for such an enjoyable conference!! Let's continue the discussions and work together to make more of these life-saving therapies for patients :) #celltherapy #genetherapy #CGT #conferenceselfies #ISCT2024 PA Consulting

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