UK-based Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd has raised £100 million in a private share placement to support the commercial development of its new hand-held device for sequencing whole human genomes at a fraction of the cost of earlier technologies.
The cell-therapy company TiGenix NV has announced plans to make an initial public offering of its shares on the Nasdaq exchange in the US in order to raise money for the clinical development of its portfolio. The company is already listed on Euronext Brussels.
Spark Therapeutics Inc has agreed to make a $10 million cash payment plus an equity investment in Selecta Biosciences Inc for access to a nanoparticle technology that could be used to modulate the immune system and allow repeat dosing of a gene therapy.
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.