Spero Therapeutics Inc. has come out swinging after a U.S. FDA rejection for its oral antibiotic, tebipenem Hbr, picking up a potential $600 million licensing deal with pharma giant GSK plc after agreeing on a plan with the regulator to revive the drug.
Merck KGaA has struck a collaboration and option-to-license deal with Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl centered around NMS-293, a next-generation PARP-1 inhibitor already in early clinical development for brain tumors. Merck is making a play for the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor market, first opened up in December 2014 by Astrazeneca plc, when Lynparza (olaparib) was first approved in advanced ovarian cancer, going on to become a blockbuster through a partnership with Merck & Co Inc.
About four months after starting its search for strategic alternatives, Sesen Bio Inc. disclosed an all-stock merger with privately held cell-therapy specialist Carisma Therapeutics Inc., a move that sent shares (NASDAQ:SESN) down 22 cents, or 32.7%, to close at 45 cents. Sesen stockholders are expected to own about 41.7% of the combined firm, and Carisma the remainder.
Abpro Corp. and Celltrion Healthcare Inc. entered a global partnership valued at up to $1.75 billion involving ABP-102, a bispecific antibody targeting HER2-positive cancers, a move Abpro CEO Ian Chan said would help “accelerate this type of therapy for patients in need.” With ABP-102 in preclinical development, Abpro decided to start looking for a partner. HER2 is “one of the biggest targets in biotech, mostly relevant for breast, colorectal and gastric cancers,” Chan told BioWorld. “Celltrion happened to have a lot of experience in the space.”
Shares of Renovacor Inc. (NYSE:RCOR) closed at $2.18, up 28 cents, or 14.7%, on word that Rocket Pharmaceuticals Inc. is acquiring the firm in an all-stock transaction valued at $53 million. Rocket, of Cranbury, N.J., said “compelling” preclinical data generated by Cambridge, Mass.-based Renovacor validates an AAV-based transgene replacement strategy for BLC2 athanogene 3 dilated cardiomyopathy.
Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd., having advanced a first-in-class cancer drug through preclinical studies, is selling some rights and sublicensing others for the dual-kinase inhibitor to Sillajen Inc.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Radiopharm Theranostics Ltd. have launched Radiopharm Ventures LLC, a joint venture (JV) that will develop radiopharmaceutical therapies for cancer. Radiopharm Theranostics owns 51% of shares in the new entity, while MD Anderson owns 49%.
Voronoi Inc. out-licensed its pan-RAF inhibitor program in a deal worth up to $482.2 million with Metis Therapeutics, a company integrating drug discovery and delivery with artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Versantis AG has agreed terms with Genfit SA in an acquisition deal that involves CHF40 million (US$41.4 million) up front, plus up to CHF65 million in milestones, and one third of the proceeds from a potential sale of a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher, should the U.S. FDA grant one.
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