DUBLIN – Auris Medical Holding Ltd., an early pioneer of targeted therapy for hearing disorders, is planning to exit the field and pivot into RNA-based therapeutics by acquiring a U.S. firm, Trasir Therapeutics Inc., which has developed an oligonucleotide delivery platform for delivery of short interfering RNA and other therapeutic RNA payloads to sites outside the liver.
Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. has partnered with Amgen Inc. to jointly develop and commercialize KHK-4083, Kyowa Kirin’s phase III-ready anti-OX40 fully human monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of atopic dermatitis. Kyowa Kirin will receive a $400 million up front, while milestone payments could add an additional $850 million. Significant royalty payments on future global sales could sweeten the blockbuster deal.
Morphosys AG is to acquire Constellation Pharmaceuticals Inc., financed by gambling a huge chunk of its income on the U.S. firm’s BET inhibitor pipeline drug – an approach that has to date produced mixed results in cancer.
Veracyte Inc. has agreed to acquire Haliodx SAS in a €260 million (US$318.1 million) deal to accelerate growth and strengthen its global footprint in cancer diagnostics. The cash and stock transaction will give Veracyte a manufacturing presence in Europe and expand its cancer diagnostics scope to eight of the 10 top cancers by U.S. incidence.
Locust Walk Acquisition Corp. CEO and biotech veteran Chris Ehrlich said his firm sifted through more than 90 prospects before setting on a merger with Effector Therapeutics Inc., focused on selective translation regulation inhibitors (STRIs) in cancer.
BEIJING, China and SANTANDER, Spain – Antengene Corp. and Calithera Biosciences Inc. entered a worldwide exclusive license agreement to develop and market the CD73 inhibitor CB-708 (ATG-037), as part of a push to use the small-molecule inhibitor to grab significant market share in Asia Pacific and global markets.
Pieris Pharmaceuticals Inc. is banking $20 million up front and could receive up to $1.4 billion more in preclinical, clinical and commercial milestones from a multi-program collaboration and license agreement in respiratory disease and ophthalmology with Genentech.
PARIS – Biosynex SA signed a binding offer to acquire 100% of the stock in Avalun SAS, a company developing the Labpad in vitro diagnostic device that provides rapid biological test results from small sample volumes. In Europe, Avalun is currently marketing a follow-up test for patients on anticoagulation therapy using antivitamin K agents, and a test for automated antigen detection for COVID-19.
Dariohealth Corp. agreed to acquire Psyinnovations Inc. (dba Wayforward), a behavioral health digital platform, for $30 million. The deal represents Dario's second of 2021, following the acquisition of the digital musculoskeletal company Upright Technologies Ltd. in January. The Wayforward transaction calls for $25 million at closing, with $6 million of that in cash and $19 million in shares of Dario common stock valued at $21.09 per share. In addition, Wayforward will receive another $5 million, if behavioral health revenues exceed a certain threshold in 2022.
BEIJING, China and SANTANDER, Spain – Antengene Corp. and Calithera Biosciences Inc. entered a worldwide exclusive license agreement to develop and market the CD73 inhibitor CB-708 (ATG-037), as part of a push to use the small-molecule inhibitor to grab significant market share in Asia Pacific and global markets.
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