Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc did what Gentium SpA was unable to accomplish by bringing the long U.S. saga of Defitelio (defibrotide) to a successful finish.

Zavante Therapeutics Inc. closed a $45 million series A with the goal of moving its broad-spectrum intravenous (I.V.) antibiotic candidate, ZTI-01 (fosfomycin for injection), into a single pivotal U.S. trial to treat complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) in the inpatient setting.

Apricus Biosciences Inc. is halting development of fispemifene after the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) failed to achieve statistical significance in the primary endpoint of erectile function or the secondary endpoint of low libido in a phase IIb proof-of-concept study in men with secondary hypogonadism (HG) and sexual dysfunction.

Cell therapy – especially beta cell regeneration – is one of the hottest areas of exploration for treating, and potentially curing, type 1 diabetes.

Frazier Healthcare Partners led the $40 million series A to launch Iterum Therapeutics Ltd., which will focus on in-licensing and developing anti-infective candidates targeting multidrug-resistant pathogens. Canaan Partners, Sofinnova Ventures and New Leaf Venture Partners joined the round for the newly formed biopharma, which said it licensed global rights from an undisclosed multinational pharma to an anti-infective that previously demonstrated in vitro activity against a variety of gram-negative, gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria that are resistant to other antibiotics.

Corvus Pharmaceuticals Inc. managed to price 4.7 million shares at $15, the low end of its desired range of $15 to $17, to raise $70.5 million and become just the eighth biopharma IPO of 2016, including two offerings of American depositary shares and one on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The lessons learned in developing companion diagnostics (CDx) for cancer – which accounts for all but one FDA-approved in vitro CDx device – are beginning to resonate in other fields, including autoimmune, cardiovascular (CVD), central nervous system and infectious diseases.

Elusys Therapeutics Inc.'s injectable anthrax antitoxin, branded Anthim (obiltoxaximab), became the newest member of the elite club of drugs to gain FDA approval through the agency's Animal Rule.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., of Laval, Quebec, initiated a search to replace CEO J. Michael Pearson but said Pearson will remain in the role and continue to serve as a director in the interim.