Finance, Grants, Deals

Novartis Pharma AG has entered into an option and collaboration agreement with BioArctic AB to develop an antibody treatment for a neurodegenerative disorder that takes advantage of the Swedish company’s technology for helping drugs cross the blood-brain barrier. The target for the prospective treatment has not been disclosed. But the transporter technology is public and is being used by BioArctic in multiple projects. It is based on the transferrin receptor, a protein responsible for the delivery of iron to cells. This can also enable antibody drugs to cross the barrier.

Anocca AB has raised SEK 440 million ($46 million) from Mellby Gård, a Swedish investment group, and existing shareholders to conduct a programme of trials of T cell immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer. The trials will investigate multiple approaches for targeting mutations in the KRAS gene which is involved in the regulation of cell division. KRAS mutations are drivers of pancreatic cancer, as well as lung and colorectal cancers.

The private equity and investment groups Nordic Capital and Permira, are poised to take over Bavarian Nordic A/S of Denmark in order to help the company scale up its vaccine work globally. An offer of DKK 19 billion ($2.95 billion) was published on 28 July and accepted by the company’s management subject to the approval of shareholders. Bavarian Nordic is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen and also has an American Depository Share (ADS) programme allowing US investors to trade the shares locally.

Merck & Co Inc’s $10 billion acquisition of Verona Pharma Plc is set to close in the 2025 fourth quarter marking one of the larger transactions in the biopharma space in recent times. The deal will give Merck a recently approved asset for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that is on a promising trajectory. When Merck announced its offer on 9 July, some share analysts were already predicting blockbuster status for the asset, Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine), which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on 26 June 2024.

US-based MapLight Therapeutics Inc has raised $372.5 million in a Series D financing to advance its portfolio of drugs for central nervous system disorders. Announced on 28 July, the deal was co-led by Forbion and Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives and stands out as one of the larger private financings of the year. It will support ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials in schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, a condition that is estimated to affect 40% of people with the disease.

Abivax SA has secured new financing of up to $747.5 million from a public offering of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) in the wake of two successful Phase 3 trial results for a small molecule drug for ulcerative colitis. Both trials achieved clinical remissions for a significant number of patients. The offering was initially announced on 23 July with the intention of raising $400 million. But after the trial results were reported, the company’s shares experienced a five-fold increase in value.

Sanofi SA is to expand its portfolio of vaccines to prevent respiratory infections with the acquisition of a UK company pioneering an approach called ‘molecular clamp’ technology. This describes a method for stabilising viral proteins in their native shape, reportedly enabling the immune system to recognise and respond to infections better. Announced on 22 July, the acquisition of UK based Vicebio Ltd expands Sanofi’s portfolio by adding a new modality for targeting respiratory diseases.

Two Norwegian oncology companies announced a merger on 30 June that will generate cash for drug development and advance a joint portfolio of radiopharmaceuticals. The companies are BerGenBio ASA and Oncoinvent ASA. The merger follows BerGenBio’s decision to discontinue its lead cancer product, bemcentinib, and join forces with Oncoinvent to continue Norway’s innovation in radiopharmaceuticals.

US-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc has strengthened its financial position with a public share offering that is expected to raise $25 million. Announced on 3 July, the proceeds will advance an early clinical pipeline of medicines directed against human papillomavirus-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases.

A consortium led by the Danish biotech company, Adaptvac ApS, has received $12.4 million from CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) and the EU to design and test a candidate vaccine that could offer broad protection against several filoviruses. Filoviruses are a family of viruses known to cause severe haemorrhagic fever in humans. The vaccine would be used to protect high risk populations, such as healthcare workers, in areas where filovirus outbreaks are most prevalent. These are primarily in Central and East Africa.