On target with last year, a total of 87% of funds recorded in 2021 through biopharma collaborations with nonprofit entities by the end of October are focused on COVID-19 pandemic efforts. The pandemic accounts for 54% of the money collected through grants, which is still a sturdy amount but down from 76% in 2020.
Travere Therapeutics Inc.’s mid-September deal with Vifor Pharma Group – a collaboration and licensing agreement for the commercialization of sparsentan in Europe, Australia and New Zealand – brought further, well-deserved attention to the dual endothelin angiotensin receptor antagonist, in the works for rare kidney disorders, specifically focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and IgA nephropathy.
Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has acquired a 73% stake of Antejin Biotech Co. Ltd. in a merger and acquisition deal worth up to ¥4.006 billion (US$626.2 million) to expand its pipeline in the field of bacterial vaccines. To kick off, Shanghai-based Fosun purchased about 32.52% equity interest in Antejin from nine shareholders for about ¥1.108 billion in cash.
PERTH, Australia – Singular Health Group Ltd. was awarded AU$50,000 (US$37,000) in funding from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization’s (CSIRO) Kick-Start program to undertake a research project to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools to automatically design patient-specific cranial implants. The AI will be integrated into Singular Health’s surgical planning software for editing before the cranial implants are 3D printed.
Antengene Corp. Ltd. has formed a partnership with Legochem Biosciences Inc. to jointly develop new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) primarily for cancer. The partners will integrate antibodies from Antengene with Legochem’s ADC technology.
Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG and Denali Therapeutics Inc. have expanded a central nervous system research partnership as the gene silencing field heats up.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has restored a rule that requires prior authorization for any mergers that affect a market that was the subject of previous allegations of attempted anticompetitive behavior. The agency’s press release on the change seems to respond to the decision by Illumina Inc. to complete its acquisition of Grail Inc. and its multicancer screening test, as indicated by the statement that the policy would address the behavior of companies that see little risk to their long-term market strategies despite FTC opposition to an acquisition.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has restored a rule that requires prior authorization for any mergers that affect a market that was the subject of previous allegations of attempted anticompetitive behavior. The agency’s press release on the change seems to respond to the decision by Illumina Inc. to complete its acquisition of Grail Inc. and its multicancer screening test, as indicated by the statement that the policy would address the behavior of companies that see little risk to their long-term market strategies despite FTC opposition to an acquisition.
Aicuris Anti-Infective Cures AG has expanded an antibacterial collaboration with Lysando AG to focus on a topical treatment for diabetic foot infections, based around technology that attacks bacteria using specially-designed molecules based on phage proteins.
Castle Biosciences Inc. is acquiring gastrointestinal (GI) diagnostics company Cernostics Inc. in a transaction valued up to $80 million. The deal marks a move from Castle’s focus on dermatology diagnostics to include GI disorders and could expand its estimated U.S. total addressable market by approximately $1 billion, the company said. Shares of Castle Biosciences (NASDAQ:CSTL) jumped 7.8% to close at $67.58 on Tuesday Oct. 19.
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