FarmaKology Newsletter - Issue #41

Apr 10, 2020

Today's Startup

Alector

Alector ,We are pioneers.We are unified around a common goal of creating disruptive change in the way the world treats neurodegenerative disorders. is based in South San Francisco, CA. We were founded in 2013 by thought leaders in biotechnology, neuroscience, and antibody drug discovery.

News

American Lung Association Commits $25M to address COVID-19 and Emerging Respiratory Viruses

As the nation’s leading voluntary lung health organization, the American Lung Association is launching a $25M initiative to end COVID-19 and defend against future respiratory virus pandemics. The COVID-19 Action Initiative will be used to expand the Association’s ongoing respiratory research program, enhance key public health measures, and establish an advanced network to stop future respiratory virus pandemics.

Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 contact tracing technology

Apple and Google are jointly building software into iPhone and Android devices to help track the spread of coronavirus by telling users if they contacted an infected person and are potentially sick themselves. The new project is slated for release in May.

Global Pharma Giant Eisai Leads a $6M Series Seed Investment Round in Darmiyan to Expedite its Clinical Market Entry

Darmiyan, Inc. is pleased to announce the initial closing of a $6M Series Seed investment round led by the pharmaceutical giant Eisai, creating a major business collaboration opportunity between the two companies, one focused on advanced brain diagnostics, and the other focused on Alzheimer's therapeutics. IT-Farm and Y-Combinator (YC) also participated in the round.

CHINA’S CANSINO PREPARES TO ADVANCE COVID-19 VACCINE CANDIDATE INTO PHASE II

Chinas’s CanSino Biologics is advancing its COVID-19 vaccine candidate into Phase II, putting the company ahead of others in the race against the novel coronavirus.In a filing with the Hong Kong Securities Exchange on Thursday, the company said that based on preliminary safety data from its Phase I clinical trial for a Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Disease Vaccine, the company is planning to initiate a mid-stage trial in China soon.