Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s deal to take over Cambridge, Mass.-based Semma Therapeutics Inc. for $950 million in cash – thereby bringing aboard a potential cure for type 1 diabetes – may have brought to mind another Cambridge player in the space: Sigilon Therapeutics Inc., which inked a whopper deal with Eli Lilly and Co. in April of last year. Read More
Three separate research teams have failed to replicate a 2016 primate study showing that treatment with a primate version of monoclonal antibody Entyvio (vedolizumab, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.), led to prolonged suppression of viremia in SHIV-infected monkeys. Read More
BEIJING – Despite tensions between the U.S. and China, especially in the tech sector, Oncologie Inc. maintains its plans to pursue drug development in both markets. The clinical-stage startup, led by U.S. scientists and funded with Chinese capital, has stationed itself in both Boston and Shanghai to focus on developing innovative cancer therapies simultaneously in China and the U.S. Read More
SAO PAULO, Brazil – The Latin America market has great potential to contribute to the global biotech sector, but it will have to overcome some big challenges that remain unaddressed, not least of which is how to bridge the gap between science and business. Read More
SAO PAULO, Brazil – A lack of guidelines for interchangeability of biologics in Latin America emerged as a key focus of discussion at the BIO Latin America conference this week. Read More
Alimera Sciences Inc., of Atlanta, said its board approved a proposal to effect a reverse stock split of its common shares to enable the company to attain the minimum $1 per share bid price requirement for continued listing on Nasdaq. The proposal is subject to stockholder approval at a special meeting expected to be called for that purpose. The company's shares (NASDAQ:ALIM) closed Thursday at 37.5 cents. Read More
Novan Inc., of Morrisville, N.C., said Aspire Capital Fund LLC committed to purchase up to $25 million of Novan's shares through a common stock purchase agreement. Read More
Just months after betting up to $1.58 billion on the drug discovery and early development chops of IFM Therapeutics LLC, Novartis AG is again investing in the Boston-based company. This time, it has agreed to pay IFM shareholders up to $840 million for an exclusive option to acquire a subsidiary they launched just months ago to develop new drugs for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, IFM Due (pronounced du-way) Inc. Read More
