Immuno-oncology is a key area for biological drug development and activity has exploded over the past decade. Today, IO therapies represent a third of the biologics pipeline, and antibody development remains the focus.

The gene therapy specialist's CEO Sheila Mikhail tells Scrip she is excited to be getting access to the German group's late-stage clinical and operational expertise while keeping AskBio's entrepreneurial culture and carrying on as an autonomous company on an arm’s-length basis.

Dietmar Hopp, 80% shareholder of German mRNA company CureVac, has rejected the possibility that the company would sign an exclusive deal with the US for its investigational coronavirus vaccine.

While some companies rushed into gene therapy and exited after a single setback, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical quietly advanced its programs, identifying challenges and overcoming them one at a time. Now, it's ready to advance multiple programs into the clinic.