Switzerland-based Actelion Ltd and Johnson & Johnson Inc have confirmed that they are in discussions about a “potential transaction.” This is the second negotiation involving Actelion in a little over a year.
Novartis has taken steps to broaden its portfolio of drugs treating haematologic disorders with the acquisition of Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corp of the US which has a product for treating a complication of sickle cell disease that recently completed Phase 2.
CureVac AG, which is developing vaccines based on messenger RNA technology, has raised $29.5 million from two new German investors to advance its portfolio. This follows a private share placement in 2015 that raised $110 million.
Syncona LLP, the evergreen investment fund of the Wellcome Trust, is poised to increase its investment in UK life science through a merger with the Guernsey-based investment fund BACIT Ltd. The new group will keep the Syncona name and be listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Belgium-based Promethera Biosciences SA, which is developing cell-based treatments for in-born errors of metabolism and acquired liver disease, has raised €10 million in a Series C-extension financing to expand its portfolio.
Transgene SA aims to raise about €48 million in a rights issue and private placement in order to finance the clinical development of its cancer vaccines, three of which will be investigated in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Barcelona, Spain-based Ysios Capital has raised €126.4 million for a new fund that will invest in biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic companies across Europe, with a special emphasis on Spain. Ysios BioFund II Innvierte is expected to finance up to 15 early-stage companies.
A new Swiss biotech company, Inositec AG, has been launched with seed capital of CHF1.4 million ($1.42 million) to advance a drug candidate into the clinic using a new small molecule technology developed by researchers at ETH Zurich.
Evotec AG, which operates a global drug discovery business, is proposing to acquire Cyprotex Plc, a London-listed contract research organisation, which has developed a service for measuring the performance of drugs under development called ADME-Tox.
Crispr Therapeutics AG, which is preparing nine gene-edited projects for clinical testing, has raised $91 million with an initial public offering (IPO) of shares on the Nasdaq market in the US and a private placement in Europe.