LONDON – Sosei Heptares is to get $100 million up front in a potential $2.6 billion deal with Neurocrine Biosciences Inc., in which the pair will develop muscarinic receptor agonists in the treatment of schizophrenia, dementia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. San Diego-based Neurocrine is taking rights to a portfolio of small molecules against specific subtypes of the muscarinic receptor family, targeting M1 and M4 alone, plus a dual M1/M4 agonist. Read More

DUBLIN – Sanifit Therapeutics SA has found a taker for its phase III calcification inhibitor for kidney dialysis patients, SNF-472, in the shape of Vifor Pharma AG, which is acquiring the Spanish company outright for €205 million (US$231 million) up front, up to €170 million in potential clinical development, regulatory and market access milestones, as well as undisclosed commercial milestones. Read More

Voronoi Inc. licensed global rights to its monopolar spindle1 (MPS1) inhibitor, VRN-08, and a second undisclosed asset to Pyramid Biosciences Inc. in a deal worth up $846 million that preserves Voronoi’s rights to both assets in South Korea. Read More

Cytovia Therapeutics Inc. and Cellectis SA expanded their existing partnership to include new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) target and development in China by Cytovia’s joint venture firm, Cytolynx Therapeutics Hong Kong Ltd. Read More

The FDA has removed an obstacle to Provention Bio Inc.’s development of teplizumab in treating type 1 diabetes. Read More

Immune system B cells secrete the neurotransmitter gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA), which promotes generation of anti-inflammatory macrophages and blunts the cytotoxic T cell-based response to tumors in mice. Read More

Even as antimicrobial resistance is expected to continue to grow, the development of much-needed novel antibiotics and antifungals remains trapped in a catch-22 in which funding is available for early stage research but not necessarily for the translational work necessary to bring the drugs to market. Read More

A quick look back at top stories. Read More

New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Alkermes, Ampio, Bolt, Connect, Elucida, Fogpharma, Imago, Obseva, Organogenesis, Oryzon, Pharnext, Phasebio, Prolacta, Rafael, Rejuveron, Scorpion, Tenaya. Read More

Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Biocryst, Eyepoint, Mesoblast, Oxurion, Scopus, Vigil. Read More

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: 60 Degrees, Arena, Ascendis, Chimerix, Connect, Dermata, Enanta, Immunic, Immutep, Ionis, Jaguar, Kancera, Oncolys, Plus, Rain, Scancell, Todos, UCB, Vaxart. Read More

Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Abdul Latif Jameel, Acceleron, Advaxis, Appili, Baidu, Biosight, Codexis, Cstone, Decibel, Eqrx, Jiangsu Hengrui, Kamada, Medicinova, Merck, Radiomedix, Regeneron, Saol, Sanofi, Xencor, Zenas, Zephyr AI. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: AB Science, Antengene, Biogen, BMS, Gilead, Gracell, Moderna, Pfizer, Roche. Read More