Andrew Adamovich

🧬 Weekly Investment News in Biotech & Health 🎯 🚀 Halda Therapeutics secures $126M in Series B extension, led by Deep Track Capital and others, to advance its prostate and breast cancer treatments into clinical trials. 🔬 Proto Axiom raises $20M in Series B first close to bolster Australia's biotech sector, focusing on retaining intellectual property (IP) domestically. 💡 Symbiotic Capital launches with $600M to lend to established life science companies. 🏥 Oncimmune wins a $1.5M contract with a top 10 pharma company to advance its autoantibody profiling technology for precision medicine. 💉 OCON Therapeutics closes a $10M round led by RH Capital to advance its 3D drug delivery systems for treating uterine pathologies. 📈 Prana Thoracic raises an additional $3M in an oversubscribed Series A extension, backed by cultivate(MD) and others, to accelerate its lung cancer diagnostic tool. 🔍 Moximed secures $91M in Series D funding led by Elevage Medical Technologies to commercialize its Misha knee system for osteoarthritis. 💡 4baseCare raises $6M in Series A funding led by Yali Capital to expand its genomics labs and precision oncology solutions across Asia and the Middle East. 🔬 Kano Therapeutics secures $5M in seed funding to advance its ex vivo genetic medicines and therapeutic collaborations. 📈 MeiraGTx receives a $30M equity investment from Sanofi to accelerate its riboswitch gene regulation platform and prepare for pivotal trials. 💉 Caresyntax secures $180M in Series C extension and growth debt to expand its AI-enabled surgery platform and fund strategic acquisitions. 🚀 Neptune Medical raises $97M in Series D funding, spinning out Jupiter Endovascular with $21M to advance precision catheter-based therapies. 🔬 Hexarad closes an £11.2M growth round led by MTIP to expand its radiology platform internationally. 📈 Actuate Therapeutics, Inc. scales back its IPO to $22.4M to focus on completing a phase 2 trial for its cancer drug elraglusib. 💡 ArriVent Biopharma licenses an antibody-drug conjugate from Aarvik Therapeutics Inc as part of a $100M biobuck deal to advance oncology treatments. 📈 Regenics AS raises NOK 20.4M in the first tranche of a private placement, backed by Nordic Blue, to initiate trials for its marine-ingredient wound dressings. 📈 Biden Administration pledges $150M to fund medical technologies aimed at improving cancer surgery precision. #Startups #Biotech #Medtech #LifeSciences #Investments #VentureCapital

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Progress Continues and so does the share price

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NOTWICS in continuing our work with Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) to promote the UK’s strengths as a nation to move to and scale, were on a great call with 22 excellent Australian Medtech and HealthTech founders yesterday arranged by the awesome Alon Gold. All of these businesses are considering scaling their business in the new “rule Britannia”.. where we appear to moving back in turbo tech mode post Wednesdays non ghoulish Halloween government roadshow. In our calls and events with Austrade on scaling into the UK .. Australian and international founders often ask us about the funding landscape and post Brexit more and more are showing interest in moving to Blighty and potentially converting into UK Topco’s — which is great. On that note .. we often discuss the various EIS / SEIS and VCT funding opportunities for Australian founders at NOTWICS and we wanted to flag this excellent piece today from Fred Ursell @ Pembroke VCT in Maddyness UK which explains .. “warts and all” the financial opportunities and shape of things with VCTs for UK top co businesses. Great Job Fred and Great Britain 🇬🇧 Alon Gold Annika Barton Cordelia Royds David Johnson Cordelia Meacher Tim Davis Neil Shah Elizabeth Lazell Yasmina Jebai Isabella Black Richard Jenkins Philip Shelley Anthony Lyall Christopher Hill Startup Catalyst #scaleups #startup #vc

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An excellent article on the increasingly complex role of directors and three key takeaways for directors to take into account new year. #boards #directors #governance

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Tryptamine Therapeutics Inc. CEO Jason Carroll sits down with Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to talk about the start of trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Tryptamine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is focused on developing an intravenous-infused psilocin formulation for psychedelic-assisted therapy. The company’s core programs include TRP-8803 (IV-infused psilocin formulation) and TRP-8802 (oral psilocybin). TRP-8803 aims to address the limitations of oral psilocybin, offering a faster onset of the psychedelic state, precise control of the experience, and a shorter duration, making it commercially viable. Three open-label trials in the United States using TRP-8802 for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and binge eating disorder (BED) are underway or recently completed. Watch at #Proactive #ProactiveInvestors #MentalHealth #PsychedelicAssistedTherapy #Psilocybin #Psilocin https://lnkd.in/eTYscpzf

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Over the last few weeks, I have discussed how I expect a big year in Australia's Life Science companies in 2025. In this Executive Interview, Hashan De Silva, CFA, Founder and Managing Partner of KPRX, a specialist healthcare VC firm, shares his insights into the unique advantages of the Australian and New Zealand healthcare sectors. https://lnkd.in/eR48W-4E

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🚀 Exciting News for New Zealand Startups! 🚀 The New Zealand government is taking significant steps to support early-stage companies, especially in the tech sector. The new Taxation Bill proposes increasing the tax-exempt thresholds for employee share schemes, adjusting for inflation and providing a buffer against future inflation. Certainly a good start. https://lnkd.in/gKHSTq_5 **Key Highlights** Increased Share Value: Maximum value of shares offered to employees will rise from $5,000 to $7,500 per year. Higher Discounts: Maximum discount on market value of shares will increase from $2,000 to $3,000. These changes aim to boost recruitment and help startups succeed, contributing to the growth of New Zealand’s tech sector, which added $22.56 billion to GDP in 2023. 🌟 #Innovation #Startups #TechSector #NewZealand #EmployeeBenefits #EconomicGrowth

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ALS is the most common form of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) and causes the progressive loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in the loss of muscle control and eventual death. Currently, there is no cure to reverse damage to motor neurons or to cure the disease.  Our team at Uniseed is incredibly excited to work with Celosia Therapeutics, a biotech spinout from our partner university (Macquarie), to make a difference in the lives of ALS patients and their families.

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Recent Funding: Mithradote Bio (San Diego) has secured $1 million in an oversubscribed seed round, co-led by Taho Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Vickers Venture Partners. The funding will support the development of M-101, a sublingual antidote targeting a range of "date-rape" drugs. This innovative solution addresses the global issue of drug-facilitated sexual assault, providing a self-administered option for those who suspect they have ingested harmful substances. Recent Layoffs: Turnstone Biologics (San Diego) is restructuring, cutting its workforce by 60% and focusing on its Phase 1 TIDAL-01 program, a Selected Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for solid tumors. The restructuring aims to extend the company’s cash runway into Q2 2026 as Turnstone pivots resources toward advancing TIDAL-01 in trials for colorectal #cancer, head and neck cancer, and uveal #melanoma. M&A, Deals, Partnerships: Lundbeck has announced plans to acquire Longboard Pharmaceuticals (San Diego) for $2.6 billion, gaining access to its lead asset, bexicaserin, a promising treatment for rare #epilepsies such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. The acquisition aligns with Lundbeck's strategy to strengthen its #neuro-rare disease portfolio, with bexicaserin entering a global Phase III trial. Expected to launch by 2028, bexicaserin holds blockbuster potential with estimated peak sales between $1.5 to $2 billion. IPOs: Upstream Bio (MA) raised $255 million through its #IPO to advance its lead drug, verekitug, which targets TSLP, a protein driving #inflammatory responses in #respiratory diseases. The drug is in Phase 2 trials for chronic rhinosinusitis and #asthma, and Upstream expects results by 2025. This IPO success reflects investor enthusiasm for immune drug research, with #immunology-focused biotechs seeing the most IPOs outside #oncology this year. FDA Approvals: Pfizer’s Hympavzi, a once-weekly injectable treatment for #hemophilia A and B, has been approved by the #FDA. Unlike traditional factor replacement therapies, Hympavzi reduces an anticoagulatory protein (TFPI), helping prevent bleeding. This expands Pfizer’s hemophilia portfolio, which now includes three treatment classes: anti-TFPI, gene therapy, and recombinant factor therapies. Other Interesting News: Gritstone bio (SF) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure and seek strategic alternatives. The biotech, which develops next-generation vaccines and #immunotherapies, aims to secure a stalking horse bidder and continue advancing key programs like its neoantigen immunotherapy GRANITE. The restructuring will allow Gritstone to maintain operations, minimize disruptions, and focus on its mission to deliver innovative treatments for #oncology and #infectious diseases. Denali Therapeutics' (SF) disclosed that Sanofi has discontinued the Phase 2 study of oditrasertib (SAR443820/DNL788) for multiple sclerosis. The decision came after the drug failed to meet its primary and key secondary endpoints.

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After an incredibly popular $5M capital raise on the VentureCrowd platform two years ago, this amazing Australian cancer therapeutic has gone from strength to strength, locking in manufacturing and distribution partnerships across Southeast Asia, successfully completing a clinical trial in the US and securing FDA fast-track approval. Today, EnGeneIC's pathway to market (and exit) is clearer than ever before. Could this be the company that cures cancer? ❤️ We are thrilled to welcome EnGeneIC back to the VentureCrowd platform as they close the final allocation of bridging capital on their journey to commercialisation and a likely sale to big pharma. 🚀 Jennifer MacDiarmid Himanshu Brahmbhatt John Bacon Kerry Chikarovski Jason Kennewell Johnny Quattro Jacob Lecinski Michael Lancaster Greig King Diego M. Elle Georgiou

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What’s happening in healthtech? 💊🎉 🧬 exteRNA, a Melb biotech raised $11M to develop new treatments to selectively target and modulate RNA processing pathways to treat difficult cancers 🌟 Valion Health was acquired by We Lysn to enhance virtual mental health across Aus 💸 UQ’s UniQuest & Molecule to Medicine partnered to launch biotech startup Lucia Bio with $1M to develop advanced anti-inflammatory treatments 🏆  NanoCube Health secured a $3M grant to advance its AI-driven nanotech to detect, monitor and target pancreatic cancer 🏆 Updoc has hit 200% compounded annual growth with their offer of faster doctor access with a Netflix-style subscription model nabbing some awards 🏥 The ACCC approved the $8.8B merger of Chemist Warehouse & Sigma Healthcare, with conditions to attempt to protect competition & customer choice 💊 Chemist Warehouse’s retail media revenue declined by $150M >2 years as it grapples with a tougher ad market and rising competition from Woolies & Coles 📉 Aus life expectancy has lowered for the 2nd consecutive year, with a drop of 0.2 years for women & 0.1 years for men 📱 Aus is officially going to ban under-16s from social media - stirring a global debate  :us: The US has a new president-elect - but what will that mean for health? TBC, but Trump did “promise to shake up public health institutions, reshape federal health programs, and slash high costs across the system.” 💔 Forward Health, known for its AI-driven “doctor-in-a-box” CarePods, is shutting down and laying off its entire 200-person staff 🩻 Elon challenged everyone to submit medical images to Grok for analysis… another entrant in the radiology AI wars Keen for the links & delicious deets?? 🍩🙌 Take a gander at last week's newsletter in the comments below👇😊 --- PS - if you liked this and are keen to join >8700 legends getting health tech and innovation news dropped directly to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter, What the Health, linked in the comments below! 💜 📩 #healthtech  #health  #healthcare  #digitalhealth  #medtech  #biotech

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This pod is a great, quick summary of how Cauldron Ferm will deliver a new manufacturing platform that's good for the planet - capable of producing commodity goods like dairy, fibres, fuels, materials that makers can make a profit from creating. If you are interested in what is possible with synthetic biology, Karl Schmieder, MS MFA is your guide on his #groweverything pod.

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📢 Top performing ASX companies ASX-listed life science companies report a new market capitalisation of $252 billion, with Singular Health Group Ltd (ASX:SHG) topping return rankings for Q1, while Biome Australia Ltd (ASX:BIO) and Arovella Therapeutics ASX: ALA lead in earnings for 2024. AusBiostock data (March 2024) reveals the 178 ASX-listed life science companies have grown the market capitalisation by $21 billion over the past six months from $231 billion to $252 billion, highlighting the life science sector’s growing economic contribution to the Australian economy. The data also shows seven percent of listed companies have a market cap of more than $1 billion, while 30 percent of companies are worth more than $100 million. Identified as a key metric in AusBiotech’s Biotechnology Blueprint decadal strategy, the proportion of biotech companies achieving market valuations greater than $100 million measures the industry’s ability to create companies of significant future value. Biome Australia is reported as the top earner for the year, with.... https://lnkd.in/g7VaSRT7

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📖 Great read for my Life Sciences network! (link to article in the comments) Biotech Rebounds: Implications for the Australian Market 📈 After a turbulent few years, the biotech industry is bouncing back, with venture capital investment stabilizing at pre-COVID levels. Here’s what this means for Australia: 💸 1. Investment Stability: U.S. biotechs raised $3.8 billion in Q1 2024, reflecting renewed confidence. This could signal similar trends for Australian biotechs. 🤔 2. Selective Funding: Venture firms are now more discerning, favoring clinical-stage companies with experienced management. Aussie biotechs can focus on maturing quickly and building strong leadership teams. 🤝 3. M&A Over IPOs: There may be a shift towards mergers and acquisitions and pharma partnerships rather than IPOs. This opens new paths for Australian companies seeking strategic growth. 💲 4. Big Players Engaged: With giants like Regeneron's venture arm and Goldman Sachs first life sciences fund increasing investments, there’s strong faith in the sector’s future. Australian biotechs can align with this global momentum to attract interest from major venture funds. 💡 5. Innovation and Agility: Emphasizing clinical-stage advancements and strategic positioning can make Australian biotechs globally competitive. By capitalizing on these trends, Australian biotechs can enhance their global presence and drive significant advancements in the industry. #Biotech #VentureCapital #LifeSciences #Australia #Innovation #Investment #Growth #Pharma

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For those interested, in what 4DS Memory Limited and Elsight - UAV & UAS Connection Confidence are all about. and some other very interesting stories.

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