Hey fly-fighters,
This week’s buzz: biotechs are swatting malaria with fresh vaccines, clinical candidates and gene-editing that targets the parasite; Novartis takes on a billion-dollar cardiovascular challenge; Amgen plants a new California HQ; 1,000 workers urge RFK to hang up his boots; and Wave Life Sciences posts a mixed RNA-editing readout.
Mind the mozzies!
Dodo
If there’s anything you’d like to see in future editions of Biotech Dodo, send us a message.
Discover 🔍
🦟 How are biotechs tackling malaria? (LabioBiotech): Malaria still hits infants and children hardest, especially in Africa. Recent breakthroughs include Novartis’s Coartem Baby – the first malaria medicine approved specifically for infants under 5 kg – plus new low-cost vaccines, engineered antibodies, RNA approaches and mosquito gene drives. Resistance looms, but the pipeline has never been more diverse.
Our take: Malaria’s fight is at a pivotal moment. The approval of infant-tailored medicines closes a critical treatment gap, while other biotech innovations form a bold, multi-pronged approach against this ancient killer. The challenge now is staying ahead of resistance and scaling access.
🤑 Novartis returns to Argo for multifaceted $5B cardiovascular collab (Fierce Biotech): Big pharma’s heart still beats strong. Novartis’ multi-billion dollar deal with Argo Bio – securing rights to its ANGPTL3 siRNA drug for dyslipidemia, plus a pipeline of RNA-based therapies – doubles down on siRNA innovation. The pharma giant’s building a slick, innovative RNAi-driven cardio franchise that’s set to reshape heart disease treatment worldwide.
Our take: With this deal, Novartis is positioning itself as the RNAi front-runner in cardiology. By securing early-stage molecules and global rights beyond China, it’s betting that RNA technology will do for heart disease what PCSK9s once promised – but at a far greater scale.
🏢 Amgen to Invest $600 Million in California Headquarters for Science and Innovation Center (AInvest): California dreaming just got real: Amgen is making a serious splash with the cash by building a cutting-edge science and innovation hub in Thousand Oaks. Set to break ground in Q3 2025, the new hub will use advanced automation and digital tech to fast-track breakthrough therapies. The company has already invested more than $40 billion in manufacturing and R&D since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Our take: In an era of supply-chain shakeups and reshoring pressures, Amgen is signalling that US biotech can still scale big at home. This move strengthens US biotech leadership, creating hundreds of jobs and boosting long-term growth. Beyond infrastructure bragging rights, this is a hedge against global uncertainty and a bold flex of US R&D ambition.
🇺🇲 More than 1,000 health workers urge Kennedy to quit over anti-vax policies (The Guardian): Over 1,000 current and former HHS staff have signed a letter calling upon Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign, citing vaccine misinformation, CDC leadership changes, and the replacement of experts with “political ideologues”. HHS has responded that reforms and personnel changes are needed to fix long-standing CDC problems and restore trust. The row follows recent FDA moves on Covid-19 vaccine eligibility and ongoing debate over the agencies’ direction.
Our take: When those who’ve dedicated careers to public health break ranks, trust is at breaking point. The exchange highlights a deepening bipartisan dispute over health policy and public safety – with concerns voiced by staff who’ve served under both Republican and Democratic administrations. These tensions weaken public-health readiness; rebuilding trust requires transparent data, clear risk communication and cross-party backing for evidence-based policy.
And finally…
🔬 Wave shares sink on new study results for RNA editing drug (BiopharmaDive): Wave Life Sciences’ RNA editing therapy WVE-006 continues to show it can safely boost production of the protective protein alpha-1 antitrypsin in patients with AATD. The latest data confirms “therapeutically relevant” protein levels with monthly dosing and no serious side effects. However, protein increases were modest – only slightly better than single-dose results last year – disappointing investors and triggering a ~20% share slump.
Our take: As a first-mover in RNA editing, Wave Life Sciences shoulders outsized expectations. The therapy shows clinical promise and meets regulatory thresholds, but protein gains to date remain incremental and fall short of investor hopes. Bridging the gap between scientific progress and market enthusiasm remains a key challenge in translating RNA editing into commercial success.
Tune in 🎧
🎙️John Maraganore and Clive Meanwell are coming out of stealth: The two biotech luminaries join Endpoints Executive Editor Drew Armstrong to discuss the launch of Corsera Health to prevent cardiovascular disease, and what’s next for company building in 2025.
☢️ Using Targeted Radiotherapies to Treat Challenging CNS Cancers: Plus Therapeutics catheter-delivered radiotherapy approach delivers higher doses directly into tumours while sparing healthy brain tissue – aiming to expand treatment options for difficult CNS cases.
🫀 Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes With Immediate Therapeutics' Atul Deshpande, Ph.D: Atul shares how his team is partnering with US cities to run clinical trials during ambulance rides, aiming to protect heart function and cut mortality in acute cardiovascular events.
Apply ✍️
🧬 Director Business Development, Ori Biotech: Drive adoption of the IRO® CGT manufacturing platform across North America: own the full sales funnel (lead gen to close), and build strategic relationships with CDMOs, biotechs and big pharma.
🦠 Director of Machine Learning - Antibodies, Alchemab Therapeutics Ltd: Excited to transform antibody therapeutics? Lead multimodal and generative foundation-model work on one of the world’s largest antibody datasets – advancing ML that rethinks antibody discovery and optimisation.
🔬 Scientist / Senior Scientist (Bioscience), Sygnature Discovery: Eager to drive drug discovery? Develop bespoke biological screening assays and drive integrated projects across diverse targets and indications. Ideal for recent PhDs or experienced scientists seeking broad platform exposure in a collaborative, innovative setting.
📣 Director, Consumer Strategy & Marketing, Takeda: Lead the consumer launch of a new dermatology product. Own the patient journey, brand positioning and omnichannel campaigns, while steering patient programmes, analytics, budget, agencies and team development.
RSVP 📆
🇬🇧 7-11.09 | Emerging Medtech Summit Europe | London, UK: Now in its fourth year, the LSI Europe event in London is a cornerstone for the global Medtech and Healthtech community, bringing together leading startups, venture capital, private equity investors, and strategic partners.
🚨 17–18.09 | The Emergency Tech Show | Birmingham, UK: Meet 8,000+ emergency service pros, explore 150+ exhibitors, and get hands-on with tech across AI, comms, drones, robotics, data, and more.
🧭 18.09 | From Idea to Market – Strategic Planning for Innovation and Growth | Online: This IBIC webinar explores how to build a three-to-five-year strategic roadmap, avoid common planning pitfalls, and align short-term actions with long-term biotech growth.
We’re SomX – a communications and creative agency trusted by biotech, pharma and healthtech pioneers. We craft strategy, content, PR and design that translate complex biology into compelling stories and investor‑ready excitement. Get in touch to amplify your science beyond the lab bench.