Companies To Watch

“We are a vaccine company,” says CEO Mei Mei Hu. “We’re developing a new class of vaccines for endogenous proteins, leveraging a commercially successful technology platform in which we’ve invested more than 20 years.”

Acceleron has four drugs in development in the hematology, neuromuscular, and pulmonary disease areas. Its lead drug luspatercept has completed Phase 3 trials for treating myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

This French company is addressing vertigo and hearing loss inside the inner ear.

Our company to watch this month is Landos Biopharma, which is aiming for better targeting and better delivery of treatments for GI and other autoimmune diseases.

CytoDyn’s expressed ambitions seem bold but reasonably free of hyperbole. It is only natural to hope for the best possible outcome here, considering the obvious need for new HIV and other immunological therapies.

AmpliPhi Biosciences is pushing bacteriophage-therapy development for drug-resistant infections — not to replace, but possibly to augment antibiotics.

We check in with the companies we profiled from this section in 2017 to see what has changed … if anything.

This month’s Company To Watch is 10-person Zavante, which is challenging drug resistance with a retooled antibiotic and a broad mechanism of action.

Bridging to commercialization of women’s reproductive health products — starting with a novel contraceptive.

With 24 employees, Paris-based Abivax is in Phase 2 clinical development of its lead drug candidate, which is a potential functional cure for HIV infection.  It has also recently spawned an early clinical program in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals is taking on NASH and other liver diseases by targeting the thyroid hormone beta receptor. The company expects to begin seeing top line Phase 2 trial results in late 2017, with more released in 2018.

By early 2016, Arena’s board decided to remake the company, beginning with new management and a new strategy. Since then, the company has evolved back to a core drug development platform.

ProMIS Neurosciences believes inaccurate targeting of mAbs is to blame, in fact, for lack of progress against Alzheimer’s disease.

Outside skepticism about GeNeuro’s scientific concept has made fund-raising even harder than usual for a startup. But the Swiss company has found considerable support in Europe.