Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) has announced the acquisition of 51% of Immuneering Corporation, a privately-held genomic-analysis company based in Cambrige, Massachusetts. Immuneering uses advanced proprietary techniques to identify hidden signals and biological insights across an array of genetic, genomic, and proteomic data that can direct research for enhanced discovery, development and clinical success.
Teva and Immuneering have worked together over the past several years to unlock significant findings into genetic biomarkers, therapy-specific gene expression signatures and breakthrough work in characterizing non-biological complex drugs (NBCDs). Teva’s majority holding in Immuneering will provide right of first refusal in projects relating to the company’s stated objective of developing, personalizing and improving treatment of disorders of the Central Nervous System (CNS).
“Immuneering brings together state-of-the-art analytics know-how with expertise in integrating multiple biologically- and clinically-relevant inputs,” said Michael Hayden, President, Teva Global R&D, and Chief Scientific Officer. “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 optimizes 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.”
“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,” said Ben Zeskind, Ph.D, CEO and Co-Founder of Immuneering. “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.”
This latest Teva acquisition comes exactly one week after the Israeli company announced the acquisition of the generics division of Allergan for $40.5 billion. it demonstrates that Teva is also committed to developing branded drugs as well as consolidating its position as the world's biggest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 3, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 3, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015