On January 10, 2023 Helsinn Group ("Helsinn"), a fully integrated, global biopharma company with a track record of over forty years of commercial execution and a strong focus in oncology and rare diseases, following the announcement of the newly appointed CEO, Dr Melanie Rolli, reported a financing agreement with Oberland Capital Management LLC ("Oberland Capital") (Press release, Helsinn, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626145]).

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Guided by its core values of respect, integrity and quality, Helsinn’s strategy focuses on being the partner of choice as a commercial-stage enterprise with a strong focus in oncology and rare diseases, able to reach patients worldwide through its integrated CMC/manufacturing/supply and commercial platform complemented by scientific and technological expertise.

Riccardo Braglia, Executive Chairman of Helsinn, commented: "Helsinn has partnership agreements with over 40 long-standing partners worldwide in 190 countries, and is a partner of choice for the biotech and pharma sector due to its expertise and late-stage development and commercialization of oncology and rare disease products. With its strong position which supports the integrated CMC, manufacturing, supply and commercial platform complemented by scientific and technical expertise, Helsinn is positioned to get more products to patients worldwide."

Dr Melanie Rolli, recently appointed Chief Executive Officer at Helsinn, said: "I am pleased that we have secured this funding from Oberland Capital which will allow us to expand the portfolio of late- and commercial-stage oncology and rare disease products. With an underlying stable business and this additional financial strength, we are well positioned to identify and partner with companies that share our focus on extending and improving the lives of people with cancer all over the world."

William Clifford, Partner at Oberland Capital added: "We are excited to partner with Helsinn and support its strategy of in-licensing or acquiring oncology and rare disease products that address unmet medical needs. Our flexible investment structure is designed to enable Helsinn to expand its robust commercial platform and to generate significant operating leverage."

On January 10, 2023 Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: ARMP) ("Armata" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company focused on pathogen-specific bacteriophage therapeutics for antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, reported that it has closed a secured convertible credit agreement (the "credit agreement") with Innoviva Strategic Opportunities LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Innoviva, Inc. (Nasdaq: INVA) (collectively, "Innoviva"), Armata’s largest shareholder (Press release, AmpliPhi Biosciences, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626144]). The gross proceeds to the Company from the transaction are $30 million, before deducting estimated transaction-related expenses payable by the Company.

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Armata intends to use the net proceeds from this transaction to continue clinical development of AP-PA02 and AP-SA02. Additionally, these funds will finance the completion of an advanced biologics cGMP manufacturing facility with the technology and capacity to support production of complex multi-component phage therapeutics. When completed, Armata’s new manufacturing facility is expected to enable the Company to execute late-stage and registrational trials and create strategic partnership opportunities leveraging the Company’s core strength in advanced biologics manufacturing.

The credit agreement provides for a one-year term loan facility in an aggregate amount of $30 million at an interest rate of 8.0% per annum. Pursuant to the credit agreement, the balance on the loan, including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will convert into shares of Armata’s common stock upon the occurrence of a qualified financing. Any portion of the balance on the loan, including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, may also be converted into shares of Armata’s common stock at Innoviva’s option once a registration statement covering the resale of such securities has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of Armata and its domestic and foreign material subsidiaries. Armata has not issued any warrants in connection with the agreement.

On January 10, 2023 Abbvie presented its corporate presentation (Presentation, AbbVie, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626143]).

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On January 10, 2023 AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), and Anima Biotech (Anima), reported a collaboration to discover and develop mRNA biology modulators for three targets across Oncology and Immunology (Press release, AbbVie, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626142]). Anima will use its mRNA Lightning platform to discover novel mRNA biology modulators against the collaboration targets providing AbbVie exclusive rights to license and further develop and commercialize the programs.

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"This collaboration will give AbbVie access to Anima’s leading technology platform and deep expertise in mRNA biology and will help further strengthen AbbVie’s world class capabilities in discovering and developing drugs to make a difference in patient’s lives," said Jonathon Sedgwick, Ph.D., vice president and global head of discovery research, AbbVie. "Modulating mRNA biology with small molecules is a new approach and has the potential to address ‘undruggable’ targets with implications across multiple therapy areas."

"Anima’s differentiated approach in the field of small molecule mRNA drugs combines phenotypic screening with AI-driven elucidation of the mechanisms of action. The power of our mRNA Lightning platform is validated by our multiple partnerships and a growing internal pipeline," said Yochi Slonim, co-founder and chief executive officer, Anima. "We are excited to partner with AbbVie, a recognized global leader in Oncology and Immunology, and are looking forward to start working with their excellent scientific team in a close collaboration."

Under the terms of the agreement, Anima will receive an upfront payment of $42 million and may be eligible to receive up to $540 million in option fees and research and development milestones in the aggregate across the three targets, with potential for further commercial milestones as well as tiered royalties on net sales. AbbVie has an option to expand the collaboration with up to three additional targets under the same terms as the initial collaboration, which may increase the potential value of the collaboration.

On January 9, 2023 LinKinVax, a clinical-stage biotechnology company reported capital funding for a total of €7,3 M from several individual tech executive investors including the co-founder André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé and its newest investor In-Q-Tel, Inc. (IQT), the non-profit strategic investor which delivers cutting-edge and critically needed technology capabilities that contribute to the national security of the United States and its allies (Press release, LinKinVax, JAN 9, 2023, https://ennodc.com/linkinvax-just-completed-a-new-round-of-financing-initiated-in-2022-for-a-total-of-e73-m-supporting-its-next-series-a-round-up-to-e-50-m/ [SID1234648590]).

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This investment contributes to a first capital funding supporting LinKinVax next series A round up to €50 M. It signals that LinKinVax has huge capabilities to accelerate the clinical development of its innovative protein-based vaccine platform, which can be tuned to address multiple pathogens with adaptability to mutations including viral or bacterial infectious diseases and cancer treatments – HIV, SarsCov2, HPV, papillomavirus-related cancers, chlamydia.
LinKinVax’s innovative technology directly targets dendritic cells ("DC"), which play a crucial role in the immune system, stimulating and regulating immune responses. It is predicated on work by the Vaccine Research Institute/Inserm (VRI) in which Inserm, University of Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), and the Mondor Institute of Biomedical Research (IMRB) participate. Thanks to the potential of its technology platform and the advances in its portfolio (Phase I/IIa on a first indication), LinKinVax aims to make a decisive contribution to the global public health challenges of infectious diseases and cancer.

J.D. Englehart, Director, IQT International Ltd UK:

"We are impressed by LinKinVax’s team and its vision for developing world-class vaccine technology. Their work demonstrates great potential for a robust vaccine portfolio to combat emerging and existing infectious diseases."

André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé, CEO and co-founder of LinKinVax commented:

"We are grateful that our breakthrough vaccine technology, designed to respond to high and growing global need, generated interest from In-Q-Tel. Based on the unprecedented potential of our protein-based vaccine platform, In-Q-Tel is supporting us in our next series A round up to €50 Million, allowing to push ahead the next stages of our ambitious clinical program. Our objective is to provide effective vaccines as rapidly as possible to help address the public health challenges linked to the various pathogens we are targeting."

LinKinVax has already risen to prominence in the French sector, with Bpifrance granting it €31 Million under a Covid-related PIA PSCP program and Government "Plan Relance". This new financing, completed in December 2022, includes a seed funding from private shareholders, beginning of 2022.