Matthew explains, “At Immunome, we believe that the antibodies that these B cells are making have an ability to see the different types of tumor antigens, or the specific epitopes on infectious disease. Our platform allows us to see that disease through the lens of the human B cell. We can interrogate what those antibodies are binding to, and we can use that information to help other patients.”

TFF Pharmaceuticals has leased a plant in Austin, Texas to expand development of its thin film freezing technology, which it says could increase the bioavailability of large molecule drugs.

Recce Pharmaceuticals is developing a new class of synthetic anti-infectives that it says can overcome the hyper-cellular mutation of bacteria and viruses. 

Dr. Judy Chou is the President and CEO of AltruBio which is developing novel immunomodulators to treat immunological diseases such as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Their first-in-class agnostic antibody has a unique mechanism to regulate T cell homeostasis. Currently, there is a clinical trial for SR-aGVHD, steroid-refractory acute graft-host disease and an investigation is underway into using their second-generation molecule to treat ulcerative colitis.

Jeff Cleland is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Ashvattha Therapeutics, initially focusing on demonstrating the ability to deliver drugs that cross tissue barriers like the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier to attack inflammation.

Portage Biotech — which is led by two Bristol Myers Squibb vets, CEO Ian Walters and CSO Robert Kramer — is buying out New York’s Tarus Therapeutics in a $21 million all-stock deal that gives it $3 million worth of liabilities on top of four adenosine receptor antagonists, two of which are already in Phase I/II trials.

Pennsylvania-based Immunome, Inc. said its antibody cocktail, dubbed IMM-BCP-01, “retained activity” against the BA.4/5 and BA.2.12.1 subvariants in pseudovirus testing.

While the psychedelic approach to mental health has recently achieved some clinical and regulatory validation, executives in the space warn the drugs cannot cure all and barriers to market remain.