Teva buys majority stake in genomic analysis firm
pharmafile | August 4, 2015 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | CNS, Immuneering, Teva, central nervous system, genetic analysis
Teva has agreed to by a 51% equity share of genomic-analysis company Immuneering to advance treatments for diseases of the central nervous system.
Massachusetts-based Immuneering uses genetic analysis to identify hidden genomic signals and biological insights across an array of genetic, genomic, and proteomic data. The firm is using its technology to develop, personalise and improve treatments for central nervous system diseases – on which Teva will have first refusal.
Teva said the transaction underscores its ‘personalised medicine’, also known as precision medicine, which pharma companies are exploring to tailor their treatments to the individual characteristics, needs, and preferences of a patient during all stages of care, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
Teva and Immuneering have collaborated in recent years, achieving success in research into genetic biomarkers, therapy-specific gene expression signatures and the characterisation of non-biological complex drugs (NBCDs).
Michael Hayden, president, Teva global R&D, and chief scientific officer, says: “Immuneering brings together state-of-the-art analytics know-how with expertise in integrating multiple biologically and clinically-relevant inputs. Their ability to cut through, link and interpret enormous and disparate data-sets is outstanding.
“This capability is invaluable in capturing difficult-to-find signals, confirming them in follow-up experiments, and informing decision-making that de-risks and optimises development of therapeutic approaches. Simply put, by intensifying the relationship between Teva’s team, led by Dr Iris Grossman, and the MIT-trained Immuneering team, we will be closer to helping match the right patient to the right medicine at the right time.”
Ben Zeskind, chief executive and co-founder of Immuneering, comments: “Patients who suffer from CNS diseases urgently need better medicines. Immuneering is pioneering new ways to use gene expression and genomic data to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying both the development of disease, and the effectiveness of medicines.
“Combining Immuneering’s technology platform and expertise with Teva’s world-class scientific knowledge, intensity, and devotion to patient benefit is a logical next step to build on the success of the Teva/Immuneering collaborations to date. This partnership represents an unprecedented and exciting new approach to improving the lives of patients with CNS diseases.”
Joel Levy
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