Deals and M&A

Roche inks $793M immunometabolism deal with Rheos Medicines

December 19, 2019

Roche Holding AG took an interest in immunometabolism specialist Rheos Medicines Inc. even before its March 2018 launch. Now, less than two years later, it has tapped Cambridge, Mass.-based company, founded by Third Rock Ventures, to identify and develop an undisclosed number of new therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory disease.

$120M up front: Takeda makes a big bet on Turnstone’s preclinical vaccinia immunotherapy platform

December 19, 2019

By Cormac Sheridan

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Turnstone Biologics Inc. has found a major backer for its preclinical vaccinia-based oncolytic virus platform for cancer immunotherapy. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is paying $120 million in up-front, near-term milestones and equity investment and could pay $900 million more in development, regulatory and commercial milestones to enter a strategic alliance with the New-York-based firm.

Fujifilm buying Hitachi’s diagnostic imaging-related business for $1.6B

December 18, 2019

By Jihyun Kim

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HONG KONG – Fujifilm Corp. has entered an agreement with Hitachi Ltd. to acquire Hitachi Ltd.’s diagnostic imaging-related business to further expand Fujifilm’s health care business. Prior to the acquisition, Hitachi will found a new company and implement an absorption-type company split whereby the new company will absorb the business.

Syros, GBT in multimillion-dollar deal to treat sickle cell, beta-thalassemia

December 18, 2019

By Lee Landenberger

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Syros Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Global Blood Therapeutics Inc. (GBT) agreed to a discovery, development and commercialization deal to treat sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia. GBT, of South San Francisco, Calif., will pay Syros $20 million up front and fund up to $40 million in preclinical research for at least three years, with the goal of identifying targets and discovering drugs to induce fetal hemoglobin.

Quratis sells TB vaccine worth $1.1B to Indonesia’s state-run company

December 17, 2019

By Jihyun Kim

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HONG KONG - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Quratis Inc. and Indonesia’s state-run company, Bio Farma PT, have entered a term sheet agreement to develop and commercialize Quratis’ tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, QTP-101, for adults and adolescents.

Neurotrauma Sciences exercises an option with Emory University

December 12, 2019

By Lee Landenberger

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Neurotrauma Sciences LLC and Emory University’s Institute for Drug Development entered a license agreement for patents and technology invented at the school, enlarging a deal the two cut about a year ago.

Enzyre, Takeda team up to develop home diagnostic device for hemophiliacs

December 12, 2019

By Nuala Moran

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LONDON – Dutch startup Enzyre BV is teaming up with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to complete development of a home diagnostic device that aims to make it as easy for hemophiliacs to self-test their coagulation status as it is for diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels.

Sunshine’s better on the other side

Numab banks $15M equity investment in 3Sbio immuno-oncology pact

December 12, 2019

By Cormac Sheridan

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DUBLIN – Numab Therapeutics AG is banking an equity investment of CHF15 million (US$15.2 million) from its latest Asian partner, Sunshine Guojian Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., as part of a broad alliance to develop up to five multispecific antibodies from three programs based on Numab’s Match platform.

AI startups merge to form Vocalis, get $9M to advance vocal biomarkers for disease screening

December 11, 2019

By Stacy Lawrence

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A pair of Israeli health tech companies, Beyond Verbal and Healthymize, plan to merge to form Newton, Mass.-based Vocalis Health. The company will be focused on developing vocal biomarkers, which track voice patterns via phone calls or smart devices to screen for various voice-indicating ailments including chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions, as well as depression. Vocalis has raised a $9 million financing led by Israeli health tech and life science venture firm Amoon to accumulate additional clinical data and enhance its voice database.

Quratis sells TB vaccine worth $1.1B to Indonesia’s state-run company

December 11, 2019

By Jihyun Kim

No Comments

HONG KONG - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Quratis Inc. and Indonesia’s state-run company, Bio Farma PT, have entered a term sheet agreement to develop and commercialize Quratis’ tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, QTP-101, for adults and adolescents. The total amount of the deal is around ₩1.2 trillion (US$1.1 billion), according to the Seoul-based company.