A new command center is setting out to promote the development of domestic vaccines through creation of a more supportive research and funding environment.
Daiichi Sankyo, Clover Biopharmaceuticals and Insilico Medicine made our news this week. (Google)
Amid a big cancer push, Daiichi Sankyo lured Kite Pharma exec Ken Takeshita to lead its R&D work. China s Clover Biopharmaceuticals secured $230 million in an oversubscribed series C to help advance its COVID-19 vaccine program and expand manufacturing capabilities. In several firsts for artificial-intelligence-based drug discovery, Insilico Medicine discovered a novel target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, designed a new molecule and validated it in preclinical models in 18 months. And more.
Daiichi Sankyo, on its way to becoming a major cancer player, has poached Ken Takeshita, M.D., from Gilead Sciences’ cell therapy unit Kite Pharma to be its new global head of development and interim head of research, effective April 1. He takes over from Junichi Koga, Ph.D., who will retire after 12 years. The Japanese pharma has said it intends to develop seven new molecular entities fro