NovaBiotics Ltd of Aberdeen, UK has raised £5 million through a private share placement with the Oxford-based Woodford Investment Management LLP in order to support the development of antifungal and antibacterial treatments for respectively nail infections and cystic fibrosis.
Roche has reached agreement to acquire Trophos SA, a small French company with a clinical-stage product for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare, genetic neuromuscular disease that is usually diagnosed in children.The same drug is being tested in multiple sclerosis.
Roche has acquired rights to an early-stage beta-lactamase inhibitor for use in combination with new or existing antibiotics to treat infections resistant to current drugs. In 2013, Roche in-licensed another asset that targets multi-drug resistant pathogens.
Shire Plc is to strengthen its rare-disease franchise with an agreement to acquire NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc of Bedminster, New Jersey for $5.2 billion. The transaction, announced on 11 January, has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
Cardio3 BioSciences SA has acquired a portfolio of immuno-oncology assets in the US thereby expanding its therapeutic focus to cancer in addition to cardiovascular medicine. The Belgium-based company specialises in regenerative medicine.
The Sweden-based biotechnology company Active Biotech AB has raised SEK 225 million (€24 million) in an oversubscribed rights issue to support development of its clinical-stage portfolio, the lead product of which is in a pivotal trial for multiple sclerosis.
Pieris AG, of Germany has achieved US funding of $13.56 million and a Nasdaq listing by entering into a reverse takeover.
The Roche group is set to broaden its antibody technology holdings with the acquisition of the privately-owned Austrian company Dutalys GmbH which has a new bispecific antibody platform. The deal is valued at up to $489 million including milestones.
Merck & Co Inc has bolstered its oncology portfolio with the acquisition of the privately-held Swiss biotechnology company OncoEthix SA which has a BET bromodomain inhibitor in Phase 1b for the treatment of haematological malignancies and advanced solid tumours.
Geneva-headquartered Index Ventures has invested £2 million in Stealthyx Therapeutics Ltd, a small British company that has developed an encapsulation technology for delivering biologics to the site of a disease. Stealthyx is a spin-out of Queen Mary, University of London.