Hesham A. Abdullah, MD, MSc

Servier is all in with AI drug discovery: 1) In Silico Medicine x Servier: $888M partnership 2) Iktos x Servier: €1B+ multi-target partnership This is only in January! Servier is owned by Servier Foundation, which allows bolder bets on disruptive tech and aims for longer / riskier reward timelines.

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*** Further Biotech Funding News in October *** ◾ Recent biotech funding highlights showcase major investments in #France and the #USA, with Adcytherix securing €105M to advance next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in oncology, and Peptilogics raising $78M to develop anti-infective therapies targeting medical device infections. ➡️ Adcytherix 💵 Raised: €105 million (Series A) 🧬 Therapeutic area: Oncology (developing antibody-drug conjugates “ADCs” targeting novel cancer antigens) ◾ Country: France (Paris) ➡️ Peptilogics 💵 Raised: $78 million (Series B2) 🧬 Therapeutic area: Anti-infectives (developing therapies for medical device infections, including lead compound zaloganan/PLG0206 for prosthetic joint infections) ◾ Country: USA (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

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Technology is only meaningful in pharma if it puts patients first. This piece on Servier caught my eye as a few things stand out: ✅ Scaling tech in parallel with organizational growth ✅ 60 AI use cases prioritized by feasibility and impact ✅ Patient engagement platforms that connect patients, caregivers, and providers in real time At Axonal.AI, we see the same truth every day: ✅ Data only matters when it flows across silos ✅ AI only works when it solves real bottlenecks ✅ Engagement only delivers when it’s a two-way loop That’s why we built our Commercial OS for Pharma, powered by workspace-based AI agents that help brands know faster, plan smarter, execute compliantly, and optimize continuously. Every week saved in the process is a week closer to a patient who needs treatment. 👉 How are you balancing big AI ambitions with practical implementation in your org? #Pharma #LifeSciences #AI #DigitalHealth https://lnkd.in/e2-vY9iG

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Wrapping up an incredibly inspiring week at the World ADC Congress in London! 🇬🇧🧬 Following up on my previous post, I wanted to share my top strategic takeaways for the future of targeted therapies: 💡 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: With an increasingly crowded landscape, relying on standard payloads is no longer enough. The highest risk today is irrelevancy; overcoming resistance requires true innovation and novel mechanisms of action. 🔬 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: To tackle complex clinical hurdles like tumor heterogeneity and off-target toxicity, we must continue pushing the boundaries of advanced linker-payload designs. ⚙️ 𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗠𝗖 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹: Outstanding science requires flawless execution. We cannot compartmentalize manufacturing—integrating CMC strategy directly with discovery and clinical development from day one is the blueprint for success. Beyond the great presentations, this congress was an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and extend my network with dedicated partners across the bioconjugation ecosystem. The future of targeted therapies relies on strong collaborations! #WorldADC #AntibodyDrugConjugates #Oncology #Biotech #CMC #Innovation #Networking

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Listen in on this podcast, if you want to be prepared for JCA (Joint Clinical Assessment) during your Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) procedure in the EU. R.E.A.C.T! Reassess your pipeline and development strategies in light of JCA. Enhance your capabilities in areas like real-world data collection. Adapt your regulatory strategy and market access strategies Consider the implications for global vs. EU-focused development programs. Take action! Be proactive, not reactive.

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Shares in Belgium’s UCB soared to a record, while MoonLake lost most of its value, after the latter announced late-stage trial data for an experimental skin disease drug that analysts said failed to demonstrate superiority to one of UCB’s most important medicines. UCB’s market value now exceeds €44 billion, while MoonLake has a capitalization of about $400 million. Read my story here: https://lnkd.in/eZDrpVN7 #markets #stocks #biotech #ucb #moonlake #hidradenitissuppurativa

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Last week, on September 7, the fourth completed JCA report was published. Novartis' onasemnogene abeparvovec (Itvisma®), for the treatment of 5q spinal muscular atrophy, was assessed by the highly experienced HTA bodies NCPE (Ireland) and HAS (France). The JCA report had been endorsed by the HTACG on July 16, and, as you may have seen in my previous post, NCPE also concluded its national-level rapid review last month. This was the first national assessment completed for a medicinal product with a JCA. As the number of completed JCAs increases and the first national assessments of these products are being conducted, our knowledge base continues to evolve as new insights accumulate. Together with my Lumanity colleagues, we have been sharing these insights through thought leadership, webinars, and conferences, while also building on our experience supporting clients with their JCA preparations and full dossier submissions since 2022. I am absolutely thrilled to share that, over the past few months, we have been working extensively on a new way to share and apply these learnings: an expert-curated, AI-assisted intelligence platform that synthesizes JCA methods and precedent with global HTA and payer evidence across completed assessments! Our platform is designed to do three things: 💡Early uncovering and interpretation of methodological patterns: which PICOs are being requested; how indirect comparisons are being handled; how real-world evidence is being treated; and where gaps in scope and completeness have led to discontinuations 💡 Connect what changes downstream: as pricing and reimbursement decisions remain at the national level, we examine what the legally required “due consideration” means in practice. We link JCA findings to associated Member State HTA and payer decisions, so teams can anticipate where scrutiny will amplify across the EU and beyond, supporting their launch preparations. 💡 Accelerate expert judgment: AI retrieves and pattern-matches across the evidence base at speed. Together with my HEOR colleagues, we then translate those signals into decision criteria and stress-tested recommendations, delivered as direct advisory rather than raw data. Everything in the platform is built to move teams closer to a decision, not just give them more to read. More on what this means in practice will come soon. If you are interested in piloting this product with us then please let me know! #JCA #EUHTA #MarketAccess #HEOR #EUHTARegulation

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