Regulatory T-cell specialist Quell Therapeutics Ltd. has sealed a potential $2 billion agreement under which Astrazeneca plc is taking rights to two autologous Treg cell therapies for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 1 diabetes. Quell will receive $85 million up front, the majority of which is in cash, with a modest (undisclosed) equity investment. Reaching the $2 billion headline figure will involve a series of development and commercial milestones and royalties on sales.
Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. formed a partnership with Gmax Biopharm International Ltd. to develop obesity candidate GMA-106. As part of the $57 million deal, Sino Biopharm acquired greater China rights to develop and commercialize the drug, in exchange for up-front and milestone payments to Gmax.
Biopharma deal values are continuing to track at a similar pace to last year, down only 0.31% compared to the first five months of 2022, while there have been 173 fewer deals. M&A values are at their lowest value in all years tracked by BioWorld (2016-2023).
In the first five months of 2023, med-tech deal value is at the highest amount in recent years – up 128.219% from last year – while deal volume has decreased by 12.29%. Through May this year, 742 med-tech deals have raised a potential $5.38 billion, compared to 846 deals totalling $2.36 billion last year. The two recent years are vastly more than 2021, when through May there were 661 deals raising $386.69 million.
After winning a brutal proxy battle led by activist investor Carl Icahn, Francis deSouza suddenly resigned as CEO and as a member of the board of Illumina Inc. over the weekend. The company appointed General Counsel Charles Dadswell to serve as the interim CEO while it evaluates internal and external candidates for the position. DeSouza will continue in an advisory role until July 31.
On a quest to boost its renal diseases pipeline with two late-stage drugs, Novartis AG has announced plans to acquire precision medicines drug developer Chinook Therapeutics Inc., offering up to $3.5 billion. The move drove Chinook’s shares (NASDAQ:KDNY) up by 58.3%, or $13.99, on June 12, closing at $37.98.
Biopharma deal values are continuing to track at a similar pace to last year, down only 0.31% compared to the first five months of 2022, while there have been 173 fewer deals. M&A values are at their lowest value in all years tracked by BioWorld (2016-2023).
Merit Medical Systems Inc. is making progress on its acquisition badge, with a $100 million purchase of assets from Angiodynamics Inc. following shortly on the heels of its acquisition of a catheter system from Bluegrass Vascular Technologies Inc. for $32.5 million. The acquisitions strengthen Merit’s position in the specialty dialysis devices market and are expected to boost the company’s revenues $13 million to $15 million through Dec. 31, 2023, and by $30 million on an annualized basis going forward.
Gene therapy developer Kate Therapeutics Inc. (KateTx), which is developing next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors that target skeletal and cardiac muscle, has unveiled $51 million series A round and a licensing deal with Astellas Pharma Inc.
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