Affimed Therapeutics AG has announced plans to advance a bispecific antibody into a Phase 2 trial in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma with co-funding from the US Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The society will invest up to $4.4 million over two years in the project.
Evotec AG, the Hamburg-based drug discovery and development company, has once again joined forces with scientists at Harvard University – this time to identify compounds that could prevent or slow down the loss of motor neurons in disease.
AstraZeneca Plc has moved to further strengthen its position in ovarian cancer with an agreement to in-license a kinase inhibitor from Merck & Co Inc that is currently being evaluated as a combination therapy in patients with certain types of the disease.
The Debiopharm Group of Switzerland has become the latest company to respond to the global call for new antibiotics with the announcement of an agreement with TCG Lifesciences Ltd to develop treatments for drug-resistant hospital-acquired infections.
Novartis has expanded its presence in the field of cell therapy with the signing of a research collaboration with Regenerex LLC to investigate applications of the US company’s haematopoietic stem cell-based platform.
ThromboGenics NV is set explore a new target for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases following the signing of an exclusive licensing deal with venture capital-backed Bicycle Therapeutics of the UK. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd has reached an agreement to acquire Astex Pharmaceuticals Inc, which has an oncology portfolio as well as fragment-based drug discovery technology. The deal is valued at $866 million.
Acacia Pharma Ltd has raised £15 million in a Series B financing from a group led by Fidelity Biosciences and Novo A/S in order to complete Phase 3 development of one cancer supportive care product, and advance development of two others.
The Biotechnology Value Fund (BVF) LP of the US and affiliates have invested €30 million via a share placement in Evotec AG and taken out an option to buy a further stake from an existing shareholder, which could raise the holding to more than 18%.
AstraZeneca Plc said that its biologics arm, MedImmune, has reached agreement to acquire privately-held Amplimmune of Maryland, US in a move that will strengthen its portfolio of immune-mediated cancer therapies.