The Guangzhou Sino-Israel Bio-industry Investment Fund (GIBF) has raised more than half of its proposed ¥2 billion (US$313 million) round. “The second fund, GIBF2, will focus on Israeli and European biotechnology companies, which are developing innovative drugs and are in phase II to III clinical trials,” Avner Lushi, the CEO and co-founder of the GIBF, told BioWorld. The Chinese RMB fund is managed by The Guangzhou Elim Biotech Industry Venture Capital Management Company, which is controlled by a group of prominent Israeli professionals.

Although 2020 is the highest money-making year on record for the biopharma industry, a direct comparison of the first five months indicates that the amount raised so far in 2021 is 22% ahead of last year, while the number of financings climbed 26%.

LONDON – Iksuda Therapeutics Ltd. sealed its transition from technology licensing company to antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development specialist, closing a $47 million series A financing to move the lead program, IKS-03, into the clinic.

PARIS – Arkhn SAS has finalized a $5 million seed round to help drive health care institutions towards secure and efficient data management. This financing round has been led jointly by the two French venture capital firms, Kurma Partners SA and Newfund SA, though their respective funds Kurma Diagnostics II and Newfund II.

Dermavant Sciences Inc. has announced a $200 million financing deal to clear the way for a potential U.S. launch of its dermatology cream tapinarof, covering a potential milestone payment to Glaxosmithkline plc following a filing in severe psoriasis.

The Guangzhou Sino-Israel Bio-industry Investment Fund (GIBF) has raised more than half of its proposed ¥2 billion (US$313 million) round. “The second fund, GIBF2, will focus on Israeli and European biotechnology companies, which are developing innovative drugs and are in phase II to III clinical trials,” Avner Lushi, the CEO and co-founder of the GIBF, told BioWorld.

The amount of money raised by medical technology companies in 2021 has dropped by about 26% in comparison with the same timeframe last year, although amounts from IPOs and venture capital rounds have more than doubled. By this point in 2020, $31.48 billion was raised through 282 transactions, while 2021 has so far brought in $23.3 billion through 311 financings, a 10% higher volume.