#49 - Moo-ve over, milk’s got a biotech makeover
The coffee break biotech roundup, by SomX.
Howdy readers,
We’ve seen a moo-mentus shift in the biotech industry this week with the revelation that a Brazilian biotech is able to produce milk proteins that are genetically identical to traditional milk without a cow in sight. Outside these bovine endeavours, we’ve witnessed new therapies to slow the progression of brain cancer, major investments from Merck and Sir Christopher Evans, and plummeting biotech funding due to market turmoil.
Who knew biotech was so udderly innovative!
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Discover 🔍
🧠 Dual-target CAR T-cell therapy slows growth of aggressive brain cancer (Penn Medicine): A Phase I trial led by Penn Medicine has shown early promise for glioblastoma (GBM), an area where progress is rare and relapse is near-certain. 62% of patients saw tumour shrinkage after receiving CAR T cells engineered to hit both EGFR and IL13Rα2. Crucially, these cells were delivered into the cerebrospinal fluid, giving them direct access to the brain’s most hard-to-reach malignancies.
Our take: GBM is a master of disguise – unpredictable, patchy, and almost always back for more. By targeting two antigens at once, this method gives the therapy a better shot at catching what single-antigen approaches miss. Then, by administering it directly into the fluid surrounding the brain, it constitutes another layer of attack. Brainy stuff!
🤑 Merck held talks to buy Swiss biotech MoonLake for more than $3bn (Financial Times): Merck, bracing for the 2028 patent cliff on its cancer blockbuster Keytruda, made a very healthy offer for the Swiss biotech – and got turned down. At the heart of the bid was MoonLake's sonelokimab, which targets hidradenitis suppurativa (a chronic skin condition) and psoriatic arthritis (inflammatory joint pain). Talks reportedly stalled over valuation, but even so, MoonLake’s shares leapt 18%, suggesting this chapter may not be closed.
Our take: MoonLake’s lead candidate is built on nanobody technology licensed from Ablynx (now part of Sanofi). These compact antibody fragments are gathering momentum in inflammatory and respiratory disease, prized for their precision and durability. A Merck acquisition would have been a headline endorsement for nanobodies in autoimmune settings. Even without a handshake, the spotlight alone could raise the tide for platforms with similar credentials.
👑 Biotech king Evans lands $50m injection for Ellipses cancer drugs (Sky News): Sir Christopher Evans’ Ellipses Pharma has closed its final pre-IPO round at an $800m valuation, pulling in fresh capital from heavyweight investors across Asia and the Middle East. The company has begun clinical trials in the UAE and is now preparing for a listing in Hong Kong. With Mubadala, Sir Tom Hunter and others already on board, the pace and scale are starting to match the ambition.
Our take: Ellipses is taking a deliberate, low-drama approach to building value. It backs early-stage science with conviction, draws on deep oncology expertise, and spreads risk across a broad pipeline rather than chasing a single moonshot. The model is tuned for pharma appetite – late-stage, de-risked, and ready to move. In a sector still drawn to volatility, this appears to be something steadier, more durable, and built to last.
📈 Biotech funding plummets as Trump policies unnerve investors (BioPharma Dive): Funding has taken a rather nasty tumble of 57% in May to $2.7B, with investors spooked by plans to slash NIH budgets, restructure the FDA, and meddle in drug pricing. Public market financing now trails industry burn rates by a frightfully wide margin. Jefferies warns that uncertainty across key agencies will stall investment, as boards face pressure to pause development, liquidate assets, or pursue strategic exits.
Our take: The funding decline reflects more than short-term investor anxiety. Restructuring at the FDA, proposed NIH cuts, and shifting drug pricing policies have introduced too much uncertainty at once. Companies can’t make confident decisions when timelines, review standards, and public research support all seem unstable. Capital hasn’t disappeared, but it’s holding back until the direction of US life sciences policy becomes clearer.
And finally…
🐮 Biotech uses fermentation to produce milk proteins without cows (Phys.org): Brazilian startup Future Cow is shaking up the dairy industry by making real milk proteins without cows, using precision fermentation. By inserting cow DNA blueprints into yeast, they brew milk proteins in tanks, resulting in animal-free ingredients that are molecularly identical to traditional dairy but free from hormones, lactose, and antibiotics. Their process slashes greenhouse gas emissions by 97% and water use by 99% compared to conventional dairy.
Our take: Future Cow’s bold leap into cow-free milk protein production is a glimpse into the future of food – one where sustainability, technology, and necessity converge. With global resources stretched and the environmental toll of traditional dairy mounting, precision fermentation offers a compelling alternative that could reshape the $800 billion dairy market.
Tune in 🎧
🪸 Revolutionising the production of biologics with algae: Lumen Bioscience CEO shares how the company is engineering spirulina to produce oral medicines, and the potential to make advanced therapies affordable and accessible globally.
🫰The state of biotech finance and fundraising in Q2 2025: While it's difficult to accurately predict biotech investment trends in such a volatile market, Roel Meers from Baker McKenzie makes it his business to know where the market is headed
🧠 Tiny expeditions season: A podcast about genetics DNA, and inheritance: The series explores what makes a brain healthy, what can go wrong, and how cutting-edge science is fighting diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and more.
Apply ✍️
🤖 Biomedical Researcher, Haut AI: Want to help people love the skin they’re in? This is a unique opportunity for a candidate with a strong biomedical background and a passion for translating scientific knowledge into practical applications for the beauty and wellness industry.
👀 Senior Researcher, Bentham Science: Is peer review your idea of a good time? The Open Biomedical Engineering Journal is currently seeking editorial board members to contribute to the development and growth of the journal.
🧑🔬 Principal Scientist / Associate Director, Biology, Transition Bio: Thrive on taming complex biology? This position requires an individual with extensive practical knowledge in cell biology and proven ability to oversee CROs performing in vivo PK/PD and efficacy studies.
RSVP 📆
🇨🇭 10-12.06 | Where Antibody and Protein Innovation is Driven to Commercial Success | Basel, Switzerland: Join the leading antibody event in Europe to discuss and explore discoveries, engineering advancements, and therapeutic developments for diseases such as neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders, autoimmune conditions.
🇺🇲 16-19.06 | The BIO International Convention | Boston, USA: Join 20,000 leaders to discuss how biotech is building a better future. The convention promises valuable discussion, connections and relationships.
🇩🇪 16-18.06 | 5th BIOTECH Conference 2025 | Freiburg, Germany: This year's conference will focus on bioprocess development and manufacture with single-use technology for biotherapeutics, cell- and gene therapeutics and cellular agricultural products.
🇬🇧 18-19.06 | London Biotechnology Show | London, UK: The focus of the event is on expediting the progress of biotechnology for revolutionising the medical & healthcare sectors in the region and across the globe.
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