Top recent stories from Italian pharma, including Angelini’s EUR 150 million EU collaboration for European health startups, Chiesi’s new deals for enzyme replacement therapies and gene editing, and why Menarini is setting its sights on the US.
European Union teams up with Angelini to funnel €150M to European health startups (Fierce Biotech)
The European Union has launched a new funding initiative to support healthcare startups across the continent. The EU’s investment arm, the European Investment Bank (EIB), is teaming up with Italian conglomerate Angelini Industries to funnel 150 million euros (about $174.3 million) into biotech, medtech and digital health companies over the next six years.
Chiesi and Aliada sign licence deal for enzyme replacement therapies (Pharmaceutical Technology)
Aliada will receive upfront, sales-based payments, while Chiesi funds all development and commercialisation activities.
Chiesi has entered an exclusive licence agreement with Aliada Therapeutics, a subsidiary of AbbVie, to develop enzyme replacement therapies using blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing technology for lysosomal storage disorders.
The partnership is aimed at addressing challenging disease areas with unmet clinical needs.
Arbor partners with Chiesi Group in gene editing deal with potential $2B future payments (Endpoints, paywalled)
Chiesi Group is getting into CRISPR. The Italian drugmaker on Monday announced a deal with Arbor Biotechnologies to license and develop its gene editing therapy.
Italy’s pharma spending and competitiveness: the risks of new burdens (Decode 39)
A new plan under discussion at the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) — a mechanism that would automatically reduce drug prices when company profits rise — could have far‑reaching implications for the sustainability of Italy’s healthcare system, as well as for the competitiveness of a sector worth over 2% of national GDP.
In an analysis published today on Formiche, our sister website, Stefano da Empoli and Thomas Osborn warn that the real risk is not to penalise companies, but to address the structural drivers behind rising expenditure.
Menarini, a bridge with US against the deadliest diseases (Italpress)
A leading international pharmaceutical group, present in 140 countries with almost 18,000 employees, 18 manufacturing sites, and 9 research centers worldwide, Menarini demonstrates a clear international vocation in a context where geographical distances are diminishing and the pace of innovation is accelerating by the day . For this reason, research and development is a key pillar “at the heart of our company,” explains CEO, Elcin Barker Ergun, and one of the reasons why Menarini has decided to bolster its presence and strengthen its partnerships, particularly in the United States.
