ALCMI, ALCF and Scancell partner; Sun unloads Ohm Labs plants; Takeda and Ovid join; Guardant and MD Anderson collaborate; Glooko and Ascensia integrate

ALCMI, ALCF and Scancell partner to evaluate SCIB2 cancer vaccine for NSCLC

The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) have collaborated with UK-based Scancell to assess SCIB2 cancer vaccine to treat patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCIB2 is Scancell’s second ImmunoBody cancer vaccine platform currently under development. It stimulates the immune system to potentially treat and prevent cancer. Scancell has successfully completed a Phase I / II clinical trial with SCIB1 cancer vaccine by using it on patients suffering from melanoma. Along with having the ability to complement existing treatments, SCIB2 can also work in cases where current treatments either do not work or are not available.

Sun looks to unload Ohm Labs New Jersey plants in manufacturing consolidation

The Indian company is reportedly looking to sell New Jersey plants as part of a manufacturing consolidation. The facilities have been on the market for a couple of months and are expected to fetch about $100 million. Sun Pharma got the solid-dose, prescription and OTC manufacturing facilities in its 2015 buyout of Ranbaxy Laboratories, and is slimming down its manufacturing operations since the buyout, last year selling plants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Aurora, Illinois, to CDMO Frontida BioPharm. Before that, it struck a deal to sell a formulation plant in Bryan, Ohio, to Nostrum Laboratories, a Kansas City, MO-based generics maker, and announced the closure of a plant in Tipperary, Ireland.

Takeda and Ovid join forces to co-develop Drug for Rare Pediatric Epilepsies

In January 2017, Takeda and Ovid Therapeutics announced an agreement to co-develop a drug for rare pediatric epilepsies. Takeda’s compound, TAK-935, is at the heart of this agreement, with its continued development and commercialization in the US, Europe, Canada, and Israel being conducted by Ovid. Takeda will be developing the drug in Japan and other Asian markets. This unusual agreement also allows the companies to share the development and commercialization costs 50/50, and in the event of a successful launch to share profits equally as well.

Guardant and MD Anderson collaborate for liquid biopsy deal

Guardant Health and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have struck a multiyear deal to push comprehensive liquid biopsy into the standard of care in cancer treatment. The commercial, research and development agreement will see Guardant helping MD Anderson build multiple liquid biopsy centers on site, according to a statement. The company launched its Guardant360 test in 2014 and says it is the most validated and sensitive liquid biopsy on the market.

Glooko and Ascensia integrate their offerings to boost diabetes management

In its second partnership announced this month, Glooko is teaming with Ascensia Diabetes Care to connect the latter’s blood glucose monitoring systems to its diabetes data management platform. Under the partnership, the pair will integrate Ascensia’s Contour Next One and Contour Plus One systems into Glooko’s platform. The goal is to improve diabetes data management and analytics for patients and physicians. Earlier this month, Glooko and Novo Nordisk joined forces to develop “digital health solutions” for diabetes management.