LONDON – Problems with the regulatory framework and a lack of coordination is holding back development of regenerative therapies, delaying both health and economic benefits. Changes are needed to give investors confidence and clear the path to commercialization, according to a report on regenerative medicine in the UK, published last week.

• Nanobiotix SA, of Paris, said it secured €9 million (US$11.7 million) in funding from Bpifrance (formerly OSEO), of which €2.8 million is directly attributable to the company.

Gene therapy pioneer Uniqure BV is banking €31 million (US$39.6 million) through a commercialization and equity deal with Chiesi Famaceutici SpA that involves European and Chinese rights to its approved gene therapy product, Glybera (alipogene tiparvovec), as well as rights in Europe and several other territories to its hemophilia B gene therapy program.

Complix NV raised €12 million (US$15.6 million) in a Series B round to fund development of small-protein therapeutics based on its alphabody scaffold platform.

LONDON – The UK government has given the go-ahead to mitochondrial replacement in in vitro fertilization, a technology that would result in children being born with DNA from three people.

SHANGHAI – Looking to create synergies between its own expertise and growing pool of small and medium biotech ventures in China, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals GmbH (BI) plans to build the first international biopharma contract manufacturing facility (CMO) in the country with mammalian cell technology.

• Kamada Ltd., of Ness Ziona, Israel, said the Israeli Ministry of Health (IMOH) has completed a successful good manufacturing practice (GMP) audit of the company's manufacturing facility in Beit Kama, Israel.

Shares in Morphosys AG surged by more than 17 percent during trading last week on news of a deal with Celgene Corp. for its anti-CD38 multiple myeloma antibody MOR202, worth an immediate €127 million (US$165.5 million) and which could be worth up to €628 million in total.

LONDON – The prospect of being able to control the activity of drugs in body tissues by illuminating them has moved a step closer, with the discovery of a way of using light to activate peptides inside a cell.

LONDON – Heptares Ltd. has raised $21 million in a Series B funding co-led by the Stanley Family Foundation, one of the leading foundations investing in neuroscience diseases.