Finance, Grants, Deals

GeNeuro of Geneva in French IPO

Country
Switzerland

GeNeuro SA of Geneva, Switzerland has made an initial public offering of €33 million on the Euronext stock exchange in Paris. Part of the proceeds will be used to finance a Phase 2b proof-of-concept trial of an antibody for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Kymab and Heptares to discover antibodies against GPCRs

Country
United Kingdom

In another strategy directed at immuno-oncology, Kymab Ltd has teamed up with Heptares to discover potential antibody therapeutics that target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with a view to strengthening the ability of the immune system to fight cancer. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Forbion closes third life science fund

Country
Netherlands

Netherlands-based Forbion Capital Partners has closed its third life science fund at €183 million, enabling it to step up its investment into companies developing new drugs and medical technologies primarily located in Europe.

Keranova gets funding for ophthalmic instrument

Country
France

Keranova SA, a start-up company with a focus on ophthalmology, has obtained €4 million in Series A funding to develop an instrument for eye surgery that would require a minimum of manual intervention.

MedDay raises €34 million for MS study

Country
France

MedDay SAS, a France-based biotech, has raised €34 million in a Series B financing round to conduct a confirmatory Phase 3 study in the US of its formulation of biotin in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).

Heptares partners early AD compounds

Country
United Kingdom

UK-based Heptares Therapeutics has outlicensed a portfolio of early-stage neurology compounds to Allergan Plc in order to accelerate their development for the treatment of cognitive impairment and neurobehavioural symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders.

Anergis raises CHF 5 million for allergy trial

Country
Switzerland

Anergis SA of Switzerland has raised CHF 5 million (€4.6 million) from its existing investors to finance a further intermediate study of its lead vaccine against birch pollen allergy. The Phase 2b study is expected to start in the fall of 2016 and enroll 450 patients.

Pfizer drops bid while Shire stays firm

Country
United States

A ruling by the Obama administration to further tighten rules against tax inversions has led to the termination of a pending $160 billion merger between Pfizer Inc and Allergan Plc. Meanwhile Shire Plc has said that its merger with Baxalta will go ahead.

Scancell raises £6.1 million for cancer vaccine

Country
United Kingdom

UK-based Scancell Holdings Plc has raised £6.1 million from a private share placement and an open offer to shareholders enabling it to make plans to start a combination study of its lead cancer vaccine called SCIB1 and a checkpoint inhibitor.