💊 Health Futures #44

Happy Monday 👋

Zai Lab and Argenx announced that China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved VYVGART Hytrulo for treating chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in adults. Densitas launched IntelliMammo, an AI-driven platform for managing high-risk breast cancer patients. The platform integrates AI tools to streamline data analysis, track risk factors, and help healthcare providers prioritize patients' needs. Flare Therapeutics launched a strategic research collaboration with Roche to develop new treatments targeting previously undrugged transcription factors. In health funding, Geron secured $375M in financing to advance its development of imetelstat, a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, through clinical trials for myelofibrosis and acute myeloid leukemia.

What's new?

HolonIQ’s new Green Skills Map and Workforce section reveal industry-wide sustainability skills and jobs, as well as workforce development initiatives, supporting upskilling for a sustainable economy.

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🎯 Targeted Chronic Disease Management

⚕️ Zai Lab and Argenx received NMPA approval to treat chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in China. VYVGART Hytrulo's approval is significant due to its first therapy in China approved for this immune-mediated neuromuscular disorder.

🎗️ AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo withdrew their application for dato-DXd in Japan.  The companies decided to retract the application for dato-DXd, an advanced lung cancer treatment after Japan’s health regulators requested additional data to verify safety and effectiveness. 

🧑‍⚕️ Diabetes Singapore partnered with GSK to address the risk of viral infections. The partnership will focus on spreading awareness about vaccination as a critical tool in reducing infection risks for diabetic individuals.   

🌐 AI in Health

🤖 Densitas launched IntelliMammo. IntelliMammo is an AI-driven platform that is designed to support healthcare providers in identifying and managing individuals at elevated risk of breast cancer.

🩺 Formation Bio partnered with Sanofi and OpenAI to launch Muse. Muse is designed to address challenges in the patient recruitment process by utilizing AI to analyze and match patients to clinical trials, leading to earlier access to new treatments for patients.

🦾 GE Healthcare partnered with RadNet.  RadNet which is a subsidiary of DeepHealth focuses on combining DeepHealth's software with GE Healthcare's advanced 3D mammography technology to improve breast cancer screening accuracy and early diagnosis. 

🧬 Biotechnology

🧪 Flare Therapeutics partnered with Roche. The collaboration seeks to address the challenges of targeting these undrugged transcription factors, which play critical roles in cellular processes and disease development.

🔬 Ginkgo Bioworks expanded its collaboration with Merck. The first stage of the partnership is completed, and the companies plan to use Ginkgo’s synthetic biology platform and Merck’s manufacturing expertise to optimize biologic drug production. 

🏥 Affinia Therapeutics and Forge Biologics have entered into an AAV cGMP manufacturing partnership. The collaboration focuses on developing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for Affinia's pipeline, aimed at treating rare genetic diseases.  

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

With reskilling and upskilling playing a key role in closing workforce gaps, HolonIQ is now tracking these impactful initiatives shaping the health industry. Read on for this week’s insights, and discover more in HolonIQ's latest Skills newsletter.

🩺 Healthium Medtech Partners with HSSC to Enhance Healthcare Workforce under "Skill India" Initiative. Healthium Medtech, a global medical device company, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC), a non-profit organization backed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). This partnership aligns with the "Skill India" initiative, which seeks to strengthen India’s workforce. Together, the organizations plan to develop training programs for healthcare professionals and is set to conduct continuous training sessions year-round to improve the skills of the healthcare workforce.

👨‍⚕️ Delhi Strengthens Healthcare System with Major Recruitment of Nurses and Paramedics. The Delhi government has approved hiring 1,463 healthcare professionals, including 701 nurses and 762 paramedics, to strengthen the city's healthcare system. This decision comes as part of efforts to address staffing shortages highlighted by the Dr. S K Sarin Committee, following a directive from the Delhi High Court to improve healthcare services. The recruitment will be facilitated under relaxed regulations, allowing hospitals to hire through public sector undertakings to reduce the burden on existing medical staff.

🩹 HEI and US Consulate Partner to Equip Nigerian Youth with Life-Saving Emergency Skills. This initiative addresses the rising concerns of cardiovascular diseases and road traffic accidents, aiming to shift the culture from passive bystanders to active responders in emergencies. By training cohorts in various regions, the partnership seeks to enhance Nigeria's emergency response capabilities and create lasting systemic change in public health safety.

HolonIQ has also launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated for the purpose of cataloging, evaluating, and contextualizing the different components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

💰 Deals of the Week

💉 Geron secured $375M in financing to advance its development of telomerase-based cell therapies.

🧬 TA Associates acquired a majority stake in Vee Healthtek for $250M. This acquisition strengthens TA Associates' presence in the healthcare IT sector and positions Vee Healthtek for continued growth 

💊 Alentis Therapeutics raised $181.4M in Series D funding for developing breakthrough treatments for CLDN1+ tumors.

🩹 Evommune secured $115M in Series C financing to advance their pipeline of treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases.

🧫 Trace Medicine launched with $101M in funding to tackle amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

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Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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