Company News

More than six months into new management, Kymab Ltd is taking steps to build a pipeline of therapeutics that is based on a proprietary transgenic mouse platform.

A novel gene therapy developed by bluebird bio Inc of Cambridge, Massachusetts has been administered to a patient with beta-thalassemia, a rare blood disorder. The treatment involves an autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Daratumumab, a candidate antibody therapeutic developed by Genmab A/S, has reached a second milestone under a collaboration with Janssen Biotech Inc triggering a $22 million payment to the Danish company. Daratumumab targets CD38.

Medigene AG has reported a sharply lower loss on higher revenue for 2013, a period during which it shifted its cancer focus to immunotherapies.  During the year the company also expanded an out-licensing agreement to advance the development of EndoTAG-1.

Transgene SA, a developer of oncolytic virus therapies and an indirect subsidiary of the Institut Mérieux Group, has raised €65.5 million in a two-part share offering enabling it to carry forward an ambitious clinical trial programme for its portfolio of immunotherapies.

4SC AG, a small molecule developer with a service operation, reported increased revenues and a smaller loss for 2013 as a result of austerity measures. But its holding of cash and marketable securities at year-end declined sharply.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc has withdrawn its marketing authorisation application in Europe for the combination melanoma treatment trametinib/dabrafenib.

Nanobiotix SA, which produces nanoparticles designed to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy, has increased its capital with a €28.1 million offering on the NYSE Euronext Paris exchange. Proceeds will be used to advance its lead cancer agent – a medical device.

A new medicine and two imaging agents have been recommended for marketing in Europe under the European Union’s conditional licensing procedure – a procedure that enables medicines to reach patients on the basis of a limited data package.

Horizon Discovery Group Plc has raised £68.6 million with an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market, well in excess of the originally targeted £25 million. Horizon will use the funds to expand the sales of its genomics research tools.