The U.S. FDA has removed the partial clinical hold it placed in April 2022, prompted by a patient’s death, on Curis Inc.’s phase I/IIa study of emavusertib in treating leukemia. The company also said it just raised $15 million to keep everything going.
Although biopharma investors pulled back in 2022 – largely a response to freely flowing funds the previous two years during COVID-19 surges – they are cautiously returning to the sector, as the industry has raised $32.8 billion in the first half of 2023, a 23.6% jump over the same period last year.
Astek Diagnostics Inc. has wound up a successful $2 million early stage VC funding round to support the development and launch of a medical device designed for the speedy recovery of patients suffering from urinary tract infections (UTI). The Baltimore-based startup has designed a benchtop analyzer and disposable cartridge called the Jiddu that can detect bacterial infection in urine in one hour.
Adicon Holdings Ltd. raised HK$409 million (US$52 million) in an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock market. Its shares opened at HK$12.32, jumped 12% and closed at HK$13.8 on the first trading day. Hangzhou, China-based Adicon is among the top three independent clinical laboratory (ICL) service providers in China by total revenues. It offers testing services to hospitals and health check centres through a network of 33 self-operated laboratories across China.
The €5.5 million (US$6 million) Escala Medical Ltd. recently received from the European Innovation Council will help the company expand its operations as it looks to officially launch its Apyx device in the U.S. later this year, CEO and founder Edit Goldberg told BioWorld. Already FDA-cleared, Apyx offers incision-free pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment to the women suffering from the often painful and debilitating condition.
Sinotau Pharmaceutical Group raised ¥1.1 billion (US$152 million) in a financing round to develop its radiopharmaceutical drugs for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
European biotechnology firms engaged in the discovery and development of new therapeutics collectively raised $1.9 billion in equity funding during the second quarter (Q2) of the year. Despite the ongoing lack of an IPO market – particularly for European firms – the total is roughly comparable with historic norms, absent the pandemic-related boom years of 2020 and 2021. It represents the fourth highest total raised during the last six years.
Worg Pharmaceuticals (Zhejiang) Co. Ltd. raised ¥1.1 billion (US$152 million) in a series C round to develop its therapies for allergy and autoimmune diseases, as well as to expand into the global market.
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