The latest news from the Dutch pharma, biotech and healthcare industries, including the bullish comments of Argenx CEO Tim Van Hauwermeiren following the successful launch of its Vyvgart product; cancer diagnostic firm Agendia’s decision to withdraw from a US IPO; and the latest on cross-border travel and vaccines in the Netherlands.

 

As Vyvgart launch gains steam, Argenx CEO says his company can achieve ‘standalone’ success (Fierce Pharma)

Armed with “pipeline in a product” efgartigimod, approved in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) as Vyvgart, Argenx is confident it can triumph on its own.

In fact, Argenx chief Tim Van Hauwermeiren thinks his company could serve as a “role model” for future biotech innovators amid an era of midsized biopharma buyouts. But in gMG, the budding company will need to prove its merit against a much larger rival in AstraZeneca’s Alexion.

 

Pleco Therapeutics raises €17.3M to develop AML product (LABIOTECH.eu)

Pleco Therapeutics BV, a specialty biopharmaceutical company in the Netherlands developing novel treatments designed to detoxify the cancer micro-environment has raised total funds of €17.3 million ($17.2 million) in series A financing.

The funds will be used to complete development of, and to commercialize, the company’s novel lead Plecoid product, PTX-061, to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

 

Cancer Diagnostics Company Agendia Withdraws IPO Filing (Market Watch)

Agendia NV withdrew its filing for a U.S. initial public offering on Friday, saying it no longer wishes to conduct the offering.

The cancer diagnostics company had filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in late October, after having postponed an IPO plan in 2011. Agendia’s stockholders included Norgine Ventures, Athyrium Capital Management and Korys Investments.

 

Half of Netherlands won’t get repeat Covid vaccination (NL Times)

About half of adult Netherlands residents see no need to get another jab against the coronavirus, NOS reports based on a survey by I&O Research. The new round of coronavirus vaccinations, using the renewed vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna to better protect against the Omicron variant, starts in the Netherlands today.

The researchers expect that the adults who didn’t get the booster shot (36.1 percent of the adult Dutch population) will also not get the repeat shot. Of those who did get the booster, 17 percent said they wouldn’t or probably wouldn’t get the repeat shot. 67 percent of people who got the booster will also get the repeat shot.

 

Netherlands Has Finally Removed All COVID-19 Travel Restrictions (SchengenVisaInfo.com)

As of last Saturday, September 19, the Dutch government has scrapped all remaining Coronavirus entry restrictions, for all incoming travellers, including here those coming from non-European Union countries.

The decision has been announced by the Government of the Netherlands through a statement issued on Friday, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.