Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

Vector Laboratories, a US-based supplier of labeling and detection reagents for biomedical research, has closed a $124 million cash buyout to accelerate its expansion into protein detection, the company announced on Sept. 7, 2021. The buyout was backed by private equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners.

With the new funding, Vector Laboratories will initiate acquisitions and accelerate the commercialization of labeling and detection technologies for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, glycobiology, and bioconjugation. The buyout gives the company the flexibility of a well-funded startup combined with a product portfolio that has already been market-tested. The buyout also gives the company resources for research by academic, industrial, and clinical researchers globally.

In addition to the closeout, Vector Laboratories launched VectaMount Express, a novel mounting medium for immunohistochemistry applications designed to improve laboratory productivity and reduce chemical solvent waste. The mounting formulation enables specimens to be directly mounted following staining with no need for lengthy dehydration or clearing washes. This benefit saves time while also retaining image quality, according to a company press release. VectaMount Express is compatible with horseradish peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme substrates. It is also compatible with commonly used counterstains, which preserves the intensity, localization, and clarity of staining in the specimen.

Lisa V. Sellers, Vector Laboratories’ former chief operating officer, has been appointed CEO. She previously served as vice-president of marketing at 10x Genomics and has held leadership roles overseeing the global reagent and instrumentation businesses for Applied Biosystems, Life Technologies, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

"For over 40 years, Vector Laboratories' products have been trusted by disease and therapeutic researchers to accelerate their lab processes and improve productivity. Now, as a newly private company, we are able to nimbly innovate to rapidly take advantage of the unparalleled growth we're seeing across the life sciences sector," said Sellers in the press release. "This wouldn't have been possible without the financial and strategic support of Thompson Street Capital Partners, who share our vision for an agile, forward-thinking company that can help drive biological discovery to new heights and support the thriving biotech and pharmaceutical industries."

"Our mission is to drive innovation to accelerate lab processes and improve productivity for our customers," said Pamela James, senior director, R&D and Operations, Vector Laboratories, in the press release. "Mounting is a critical step to protect and preserve biological specimens and optimize imaging. VectaMount Express will considerably shorten this time-consuming process, reducing both costs and waste."

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Vector Laboratories has completed a $124 million cash buyout backed by Thompson Street Capital Partners and will begin an acquisition strategy to expand protein detection capabilities.

Vector Laboratories Closes $124 Million Buyout

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has announced that eight leaders from the patient and health charity sector have been chosen to join its new Patient Advisory Council.

According to a Sept. 7, 2021 press release, the industry body started searching for new council members in June 2021. The aim of the council is to steer and broaden the association’s strategic thinking by bringing together industry and patient advocates. New members of the council are Charlotte Augst from National Voices, Emily Crossley from Duchenne UK, Jane Lyons from Cancer52, Tom Nutt from Meningitis Now, Hilary Reynolds from the Association of Medical Research Charities, Jayne Spink from Prostate Cancer Research, Bob Stevens from the MPS Society, and Neil Tester from the Richmond Group.

“We have had an overwhelming response to our search for a new Patient Advisory Council, and we are really proud to name these eight passionate experts as our inaugural members,” said Colette Goldrick, executive director of Strategy, Research & Partnerships at the ABPI, in the press release. “Each is a leader in their community, and we are really looking forward to hearing what they have to say and how we can work together towards meaningful change.”

“The council was formed with the sole purpose of ensuring the association, our board, and the industry at large has a greater understanding of the patient experience, and how our work can help improve the lives of patients and their families,” added Ben Osborn, president of the ABPI. “We’re excited to get started.”

ABPI has announced that eight leaders from the patient and health charity sector have been chosen to join its new Patient Advisory Council.

Eight Patient Leaders Join ABPI Advisory Council

UK-based biotechnology company, ILC Therapeutics, has successfully closed a £3.5 million (US$4.9 million) pre-initial public offering (IPO) funding round, it was announced in a Sept. 6, 2021 press release.

The funds raised will be used to accelerate the development of the company’s lead hybrid interferon, Alfacyte, which has been designed to combat viral infections, including COVID. Additionally, the company has strengthened its board with three new appointments.

“We are very pleased to complete this important funding round and to strengthen the [b]oard with the appointment of Robert Kopple, Professor David Harrison, and Chris Brinsmead,” said Peter Bains, chairman of ILC Therapeutics, in the press release. “With this funding in place, ILC Therapeutics is now well positioned to strengthen its novel technology platform and to advance its lead candidate, Alfacyte, through [investigational new drug] enabling studies in preparation for clinical trials as an anti-viral therapeutic for COVID-19.’’

“We are living through the most rapidly evolving viral environment the world has seen. Catalyzed by the global COVID crisis, governments and markets alike are recognizing the critical need for effective and safe antiviral medicines, both to meet the immediate challenges of today and the inevitable new threats of tomorrow. ILC Therapeutics Hybrid interferon platform technology is well positioned to address these needs, and Alfacyte, our lead candidate, has the potential to become an important antiviral treatment in the ongoing global fight against Covid-19, and future pandemic threats,” said Alan Walker, CEO, ILC Therapeutics, in the press release.

ILC Therapeutics, has successfully closed a £3.5 million (US$4.9 million) pre-initial public offering (IPO) funding round.

ILC Therapeutics Successfully Closes Pre-IPO Funding Round

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson has revealed that the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has reconsidered its decision on Erleada (apalutamide), issuing two positive final appraisal determinations (FADs) on the therapy.

According to a Sept. 8, 2021 company press release, the FADs released by NICE are for the recommendation of apalutamide in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as a treatment for prostate cancer in adult patients. NICE reported in a release on the same date, that the positive recommendations followed an improve discount on the price of the therapy offered by the company.

The therapy in combination with ADT is indicated for two treatment options within its marketing authorization: either as an option to treat hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer (mHSPC) in adults when docetaxel is not suitable or cannot be treated; or as an option for treating hormone-relapsed non-metastatic prostate cancer (nmHRPC) that carries a high risk of metastasizing in adults.

“Despite significant advances in treatment options through research in advanced prostate cancer management, unfortunately in some patients the prognosis can be poor,” said Professor Amit Bahl, consultant clinical oncologist and uro-oncology research lead at Bristol Hematology & Oncology Centre, in the company press release. “The addition of apalutamide to the treatment pathway provides eligible prostate cancer patients with a therapy option with significant survival benefit as shown in clinical trials. It is a vital step towards improving outcomes in prostate cancer and enabling patients to have a better prognosis.”

“[The] positive recommendation for apalutamide marks a significant milestone in our mission to bring new therapeutic options to patients with mHSPC and nmHRPC,” added Sarah Scanlon, business unit director, Oncology, Hematology, and Pulmonary Hypertension, Janssen, in the press release. “We are delighted that NICE has given the green light for apalutamide for both indications and look forward to seeing these groups of patients benefit from a new treatment option.”

NICE has reconsidered its decision on Janssen's Erleada (apalutamide), issuing two positive final appraisal determinations (FADs) on the therapy.

Janssen’s Erleada is Reconsidered by NICE, Gaining a Positive Recommendation

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) of the United Kingdom has issued its final draft guidance recommending that tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Pfizer) be used as an option for treating active polyarticular juvenile arthritis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis in patients aged two years and older. NICE’s decision was announced in a Sept. 9, 2021 press release.

Caveats for the recommendation of the treatment include making it available for young people whose arthritis has not responded well enough to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Furthermore, tofacitinib should only be used if the patients are not suited for or their condition is not sufficiently controlled by treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor, and only if the company provides the therapy according to the commercial arrangement.

“I am very pleased NICE has been able to recommend tofacitinib for young people with this form of arthritis. Tofacitinib has the potential to help young people with this condition be more able to take part in some physical activities and sports, which will significantly help improve their quality of life,” said Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at NICE, in the press release. “I am also pleased the company worked with NICE and our independent appraisal committee to supply evidence, which meant we could not only make a positive recommendation, but one which fast-tracks access for this group of people in the NHS [National Health Service].”

NICE has recommended tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Pfizer)as an option for treating active polyarticular juvenile arthritis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis. 

NICE Issues Recommendation for Pfizer’s Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Treatment

Sterling Pharma Solutions, a global contract development and manufacturing organization, has completed the initial phase of investment to create a center of excellence for research into commercial applications of continuous flow chemistry at its site in Dudley, United Kingdom.

The investment, which was announced in a Sept. 8, 2021 press release, follows on from the appointment of Professor Ian R. Baxendale as a team leader for a group of chemists and engineers that are dedicated to continuous flow chemistry. A focus for the team will be on the rapid and successful development of processes to kilogram scale initially with a view to future industrialization. The installation of multiple flow chemistry platforms into a research laboratory at the Dudley site has been completed to allow for the investigation of a wide range of chemical processes.

“Flow chemistry has the potential to open up applications within commercial pharmaceutical manufacturing that are currently used only within research and development or academic applications,” commented Mark Muldowney, head of technology and innovation at Sterling, in the press release. “We are seeing significant interest in continuous flow development and production from customers and our goal is to provide scale-up expertise to leverage the benefits this technology has to offer in terms of efficiency, safety, and economics.”

Sterling Pharma Solutions has invested in a center of excellence for research into commercial applications of continuous flow chemistry at its site in Dudley, UK.