It has been a hectic year for Crispr Therapeutics AG, which is ending with a flourish following the announcement that Leverkusen, Germany-based Bayer AG is investing a total of $335 million in order to establish a long-term alliance that will leverage promising CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology. Read More
Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. added Eli Lilly and Co. to the roster of companies angling to develop products incorporating its Enhanze delivery platform, a potential aid in the dispersion and absorption of its injectables. Read More
Aveo Oncology Inc. signed up specialty cancer firm Eusa Pharma Ltd. as its European partner for its VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tivozanib, in a deal that helps validate the biotech’s continued push for the beleaguered cancer drug, which might finally be approaching the finish line, at least in Europe. Read More
LONDON – Diurnal plc has raised £30 million (US$44.7 million) in a listing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in London and a convertible loan, enabling it to complete phase III development of two products based on its modified release version of hydrocortisone for treating congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal insufficiency. Read More
DUBLIN – Medigene AG is getting a slice of the action from sales of Amgen Inc.’s pioneering oncolytic virus therapy Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec), in an intellectual property licensing deal involving its spin-off company Catherex Inc., which Amgen is acquiring for $10.5 million up front plus regulatory and sales-based milestones, as well as single-digit royalty payments on Imlygic sales. Read More
HONG KONG – Japanese and French researchers have discovered the cellular signaling mechanism whereby the balance of disturbed inhibitory synaptic connections is restored, which could have important implications for the management of neurological disorders such as epilepsy and possibly even autism, they reported in the Dec. 17, 2015, issue of Cell Reports. Read More
HONG KONG – Fear of biosimilars, drugs that once launched will potentially capture entire markets with their discounted prices, is not likely to be an issue in some of the poorer countries in Asia and Latin America, where even cheaper biosimilars are too expensive for the general public. With numerous patient access challenges, biosimilars have had a difficult time finding their footing in some of these markets. Read More
Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said it received a $5 million investment from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, in a private equity financing. Read More
Cantabio Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., completed a reverse merger with Gardedam Therapeutics Inc., also of Palo Alto. Cantabio will have an exclusive focus on the discovery and development of Gardedam’s drug pipeline for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Read More
Baxalta Inc., of Bannockburn, Ill., reported that Adynovate (antihemophilic factor [recombinant], pegylated) successfully met its primary endpoint in a phase III study designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the hemophilia A therapy, which gained FDA approval in November. Read More
